Solar Manufacturing, Souderton, Pa., has completed a new Model HFL-5772-EQ vacuum furnace specially designed by Solar for processing mu-metal shields at Magnetic Shields Ltd. for electronic applications. Mu-metal is a nickel-iron soft magnetic alloy with very high permeability suitable for sensitive electronic equipment shielding. The new furnace, with hot-zone dimensions 36x36x72 inches, will operate in partial pressure hydrogen or high vacuum in the 10–5 Torr range.
The furnace has full CE rating to the strict European code. The furnace incorporates the new SolarVac 5000 electronic controls with touchscreen overview programming. SolarVac 5000 enables precise temperature control from ambient to 2400°F, then down through the critical order-disorder transformation range for mu-metals, and finally to the nitrogen fan blower quench, to ambient.
According to Magnetic Shields CEO Colin Woolger, “High vacuum performance is also provided for nickel brazing of complex mu-metal assemblies.” Magnetic Shields is the largest supplier of this type of electrical shielding in Europe, as well as worldwide..
“The furnace design is based on Magnetic Shields’ years of mu-metal heat treating experience,” says William R. Jones, CEO of Solar Atmospheres. “It allows for minimum furnace power loss and minimum hydrogen consumption.”
