The Choice of Aerospace Industry Component Suppliers and Manufacturers

Despatch is a proven supplier of Drop Bottom Solution Heat Treat Furnace Systems with over 180 systems designed, installed and certified worldwide over the past 75 years. The Aerospace, Military and Automotive industries rely on Despatch as a low risk supplier of this type of equipment.

Designed for heat treating large and small batches of aluminum parts, from castings to thin wall aerospace components, the systems usually include a bottom-load furnace with glycol and/or water only quench tanks, water rinse tanks, load cars to hold the work rack, and work racks. Despatch offers chiller systems to cool the quenchant solution for customers processing thin walled aerospace components as well as heated quenchant systems for processing thicker walled items such as castings.

These systems eliminate the material handling aspects related to salt bath type solution heat treat systems and allow companies to solution heat treat thin walled aluminum component parts with a quench cycle that is 7 seconds or less.

Typical designs utilize a connected quench tank, rinse tank and load cars that move together on a rail system beneath the furnace assembly. Crane systems can be provided to transfer the parts racks to and from the load/unload area, load car, quench tanks and rinse tank. A load hoist mounted inside the furnace lifts the parts rack up into the furnace, and then lowers the heated parts into the selected quench tank within seven seconds of the end of the heating cycle.

The glycol quench tank uses a heat exchanger/chiller system to control solution temperature. Hot water quench tanks utilized immersion heaters and heat exchangers to control water temperature at the required elevated temperatures. Quench tanks are designed to provide a uniform, “bottom up” solution circulation system for immediate cooling of treated parts. PAG reclamation/separation systems (poly alkylene glycol) can be provided with any Despatch solution heat treat system.

All systems are PLC controlled for semi-automatic or automatic operation and can be tailored for specific customer needs. All systems include the quality built Despatch Age Ovens and are designed for compliance with AMS 2750 and AMS 2770 requirements.

Designed to Meet your Specifications

With a large base of installed units in the aerospace field, the performance of Despatch equipment has proven to exceed process requirements for even the most demanding customer needs. As a result of this large installed base, Despatch has the ability to offer previously designed Drop Bottom furnace sizes at reduced cost and shorter lead-times than other suppliers would be able to provide. These previously designed systems have been designed, installed and certified for operation. By utilizing a previously installed system, new customers can be placed at ease, knowing that their purchase is a proven performer and that the risk of non-certification is eliminated.

Popular previously designed systems work space dimensions.

Other sizes available by custom order.

Furnace work spaces have been designed, installed and certified as large as 54 feet in length, 12 feet in height and 6 feet in width. Direct gas heating has been utilized for aluminum castings that have secondary machining operations.

Standard Specifications

• Temperature range:
  Operating = 315°C - 538°C
  Maximum = 649°C (1200°F)
  Uniformity = ± 2.8°C (± 5°F)
• Unlimited hoist capacity
• SCR controlled electric coil type heating elements
• Seven second quench cycle
• PID control with touch screen and independent hi-limit
• Chartless recording controller
• Vertical down airflow with adjustable louvers in supply and   return ducts
• Softwall construction with layered blanket type ceramic   insulation, 18cm (7 in) thick
• 0.48cm (3/16”) mild steel shell
• Pneumatic powered bi-parting doors with clamping cylinders   to hold the doors tight to the furnace body
• Pneumatic/mechanical two point lifting system with load bar
• Plug type recirculation fan class 732°C rating
• Stainless steel ductwork

Rail systems can be mounted at grade or in a recessed pit which allows for greater visibility to operators.