Annealing produces a uniform microstructure and
softens metal to improve machinability.
(For information on annealing plastics visit our annealing
page)
Stress Relieving reduces internal stresses in metal
caused by cold working or non-uniform cooling.
Aging, also referred to as precipitation hardening
increases the hardness and strength of metal alloys. Both timing and
temperature are critical during the hardening process. Uneven
heating can create cracks and other defects, often starting from the
corners or edges of the material. Materials that have been unevenly
cooled, or soaked, can cause dark, vertical cracks that are
irreparable.
Tempering is a process used to reduce the
brittleness and increase the tensile strength of metal alloys after
hardening.
Benefits of Despatch ovens and furnaces for heat
treating:
Heat treating often requires processing at high temperatures for
extended periods making energy efficiency a high priority.
Despatch ovens and furnaces have thick wall insulation,
heavy-duty high temperature door gaskets and air that is
recirculated through the heater box and back into the chamber
for greater energy efficiency.
The consequence of uneven heat distribution during heat treating
can be disastrous. Choosing a Despatch oven or furnace will
ensure you that temperature uniformity will be well within
specification. Despatch ovens feature high velocity uniflow
airflow, meaning that the air moves both horizontally and
vertically, offering exceptional temperature uniformity.
Adjustable louvers direct heated air for a precise airflow
pattern suited to specific parts.
Despatch ovens are available with a gas or electric heater and
are available with Class A (NFPA 86) flammable solvent handling
capabilities. They are built to withstand the rigors of
industrial metal manufacturing with sturdy, welded, double wall
construction.
Custom Heat Treat Furnaces
PNF
Inert Atmosphere Oven for Aging Beryllium Copper
Despatch received an order for a PNF Inert Atmosphere
Furnace for its beryllium copper aging process. A
precondition of the order was that a test be performed to
confirm that a uniformity of +/- 10℃ at 1000℃ could be
maintained.
PNF inert atmosphere furnace
A Despatch engineer was sent to the customer’s facility to
perform a field nine-point temperature uniformity test on
the Despatch furnace currently in use. The oven was
programmed to ramp and soak at three different temperatures
and data collected. The furnace performed even better than
expected with temperature uniformity between +/- 4.3℃ and
6.8℃ (2.4℉ and 3.8℉). The furnace is designed with
adjustable recirculating air louvers that allow fine tuning
to ensure uniform airflow.
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