Ultra clean vacuum furnace for aerospace and medical sectors
Solar Atmospheres has announced the installation of a new, state of the art, all molybdenum hot zoned vacuum furnace at its heat treating facility in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, USA. The furnace was built exclusively for the critical materials often encountered in the aerospace, medical and semiconductor arenas that are sensitive to vacuum levels and the potential contact of carbon particles.
The all stainless steel chamber with a 61 cm (w) x 61 cm (h) x 91 cm (d) hot zone rated at 1370°C is equipped with an oversized pumping system. The company stated that unlike other vacuum furnaces, this pumping system has a series of isolation valves which concentrates the critical vacuum levels within the location that matters most, namely the vacuum chamber.
To enhance the unshielded processing of critical parts at vacuum levels lower than 5X10-6 Torr without any contamination, Solar Atmospheres will construct an environmentally controlled room surrounding this furnace. The room will be temperature, humidity and positive pressure controlled which will aid in eliminating water vapour, dust, and debris (FOD) concerns. New and clean dedicated fixturing will be used exclusively for this furnace, never leaving the premises.
“This brand new furnace and environs will enable us to guarantee bright clean work while eliminating the safety hazard of handling razor sharp stainless steel foils. Now that this furnace is fully operational, in 2017 we look forward to adding the MedAccred medical accreditation to our ever expanding list of approvals,” stated Bob Hill, President of Solar Atmospheres of Western PA.
“I would like to thank our sister company Solar Manufacturing for designing and constructing this outstanding, pristine furnace that will enable us to produce parts that will significantly add even more value to our customer’s operations,” added Hill.
