Laboratory Testing

The MIM-Vac M™ is Centorr/Vacuum Industries latest offering in its line of custom-engineered high temperature vacuum / controlled atmosphere furnaces designed specifically for the Metal Injection Molding Market. Following the success of its graphite hot zone Injectavac™ which CVI pioneered in the early 1980's for the debind and sinter of parts containing 1st and 2nd stage MIM binders, today's MIM-Vac™ furnaces are the result of more than 20 years of experience in MIM technology and over 40 years debinding and sintering PM parts. The core design is based on Centorr/Vacuum Industries Workhorse® Metal Hot Zone furnaces, which have been sold worldwide for the sintering of powdered metals, and the binder removal technology of Sintervac® units developed for the Tungsten Carbide industry (with over 1000 in use worldwide). The MIM-Vac™'M' is designed primarily for 2nd stage binder removal and sintering, and has a number of design improvements specific for use with MIM Feedstocks. Tight partial pressure control and even gas flow in conjunction with effective event-based programming and sound retort design allows the entire load to view the same series of conditions as a function of time. This results in consistent microstructures and repeatable carbon control. Depending on the customer's process requirements, a variety of wax and polymer condensation strategies have been developed, including vacuum delube/condensation; Sweepgas™; Injectavac™ BRS™; MIM-Vac™ BRS™; and Thermal Incineration.

The Workhorse AM™ is Centorr Vacuum Industries production- oriented offering specifically designed for the secondary heat treating, annealing, stress-relieving, de-gassing, and quench cooling of 3D printed and Additive Manufactured parts. Because DLS (direct laser sintering) and SLM (selective laser melting) processes involve localized high-temperature melting of small spots within the overall part, micro-stresses can buildup up in the parts that must be eliminated in order to achieve enhanced physical properties such as fatigue strength, hardness, durability, and ductility. Annealing and stress-relieving in a vacuum or controlled atmosphere of inert gas provides that necessary reduction in stresses. The ultra-clean vacuum environment also assures no oxidation or decarburization, and a shiny part surface when compared to heat treatment in common atmosphere box furnaces.

The Workhorse AM™ has a long list of optional equipment that makes this one of the most versatile custom-designed furnaces available today. The basic design comprises of the standard hot zone rated for 1315°C with an optional upgrade to 1650°C for processing higher melting materials such as superalloys and Titanium. The Workhorse AM™ even has an option for operation in positive pressure for processing specific alloys in a controlled atmosphere of pure inert gas. For quick-quench gas cooling requirements, the furnace can be outfitted with a 2BAR gas quench cooling system consisting of a large rotary fan and water-cooled heat exchanger. The furnace chamber is mounted on legs for a compact and highly efficient design and is a "front-loading" orientation which offers better ergonomics and temperature uniformity compared with vertical top/bottom loaders or cylindrical hot zones.