The Brew Division of Thermal Technology recently designed and manufactured several very high vacuum furnaces for
heat treat and brazing applications for the medical field. Our customer needed special
features such as 1 x 10-7 torr vacuum with a rate of rise of 0.1 microns per hour when at
room temperature, clean, empty and outgassed.
The horizontal furnace system has a full opening front door with
automatic latching clamps provided with protective covers. The furnace assembly includes a
wall mount flange to directly interface with the customer's Class 10K clean room. The hot
zone has tungsten heating elements on all six sides (surrounded by molybdenum heat
shields). The useable work volume is 24" wide by 24" high by 24" deep. The
furnace is capable of continuous automatic operation from 100șC to 1450șC ±25șC or
better within the useable work volume.
The furnace was supplied with a 16" diffusion pump, Chevron baffle
with Polycold™ refrigerate cooling system, Stokes Model 412 roughing pump (300 CFM),
holding pump and all necessary plumbing and manifolding to complete the vacuum system. The
furnace is designed so that the rear bolted cover can be easily detached and rolled back
from the furnace on a dolly assembly. Since the heat zone components (elements, heat
shields, hearth support and electrical power feed-throughs) are connected to the rear
cover, the servicing and maintenance can be performed outside the Class 10K clean room
area. This is an extremely beneficial feature to anyone considering processing in a clean
room environment. |
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To assure the extremely low rate of rise and to attain 5 x 10-7 torr
within one hour, the system was supplied with dual Viton "O"-rings on the front
door and rear cover.
Working closely with the customer, other special features such as the
type, size and location of residual gas analyzer, auxiliary ports, computer interface,
water manifold interface, inert gas cooling, etc. were discussed in detail prior to
manufacturing. These furnace systems now give our customer a competitive edge in the
marketplace by allowing for processing of larger work pieces and increased throughput
capability surpassing that of previous equipment.
Both the Astro and Brew furnace divisions of Thermal Technology
welcome the opportunity to work closely with your manufacturing engineers and colleagues
to help your business prosper.
Thermal Technology, Brew Division
90 Airport Road
Concord, New Hampshire 03301-7302
Telephone (603) 225-6605
Fax (603) 224-3798
E-mail: sales@thermaltechnology.com |
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