Solar Manufacturing, Souderton, Pa., announces that it has contracted with Refrac Systems, Chandler, Ariz., to help design and build a large 100-ton-load gas fan quench vacuum hot press (GFQVHP) system for its aerospace structures diffusion bonding operation. Refrac engineers, working with Solar’s engineering team, selected a derivative of the Solar Manufacturing standard HLF-5748-2IQ internally quenched two-bar vacuum furnace as the base design. The new system contains many new engineered designs that are needed to build a versatile and robust system that can process aerospace structures by both automated vacuum hot pressing and by superplastic forming/diffusion bonding.
Amity Industries, Douglassville, Pa., built the furnace chamber for the unit. Beckwood Press & Machinery/Triform, Saint Louis, Mo., was selected to build the large 100-ton “Four Post” hydraulic press frame. Optima Stantron, Lawrenceville, Ga., built the control console unit.
According to Norm Hubele, President of Refrac Systems, “Solar Manufacturing and Beckwood Press & Machinery are both industry leaders with robust engineering experience. We have worked closely together to design and build this one-of-a-kind GFQVHP.”
“Norm put together a team of engineers to design and build this furnace back in 2013,” says William Jones, CEO of the Solar Atmospheres family of companies. “This state-of-the-art GFQVHP contains many innovations that will be discussed at a later time. Throughout the entire process, Norm has personally reviewed all aspects of the design and added considerable insight to the development of this unique vacuum furnace system.”
Solar Manufacturing expects to ship the GFQVHP unit in July, and final assembly, testing, and startup are projected for the 4th quarter 2016 in Chandler.
