Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania, Hermitage, and Solar Manufacturing Inc., Souderton, Pa., are building the world’s largest commercial heat treating vacuum furnace. The working hot zone of this high-vacuum furnace (which has three 35-inch Varian diffusion pumps) is 80 inches in diameter by 48 feet long, with a maximum operating temperature of 2400°F.
Thirty five points of temperature will be surveyed to within +/- 10°F per the stringent AMS 2750E specification. The robust U.S.-patented dual load car design will have the capacity to transfer up to 150,000 pounds of material in and out of the furnace. For dimensionally critical, near-net-shape jobs, the dual load car design will also have the capability to maintain the critical support needed at elevated temperatures to keep parts flat to within 0.030 inches.
All of the major components have been delivered and installed. The gas and water systems are in place. The remaining installation of all the electrical components and wiring will occur over the next several weeks. This multi-million dollar project is expected to be completed in June with the commissioning of the furnace into production in July of 2016. This unique piece of equipment will not only open up new production opportunities within the North American vacuum heat treating markets, but also internationally.
