Centorr Vacuum Industries, Nashua, N.H., has developed the MIM-Vac, a custom-engineered high temperature vacuum/ controlled-atmosphere furnace designed specifically for metal injection molding. Tight partial pressure control and even gas flow in conjunction with effective event-based programming and sound retort design allow the entire load to undergo the same series of conditions as a function of time. This results in consistent microstructures and repeatable carbon control. The MIM-Vac is designed primarily for second-stage binder removal and sintering, and has a number of design improvements specific for use with MIM feedstocks.
The revolutionary new gas-plenum retort has rows of perforations allowing even gas flow across all the work trays, and features alumina ceramic support members for ease of construction and replacement. The work grid assembly also incorporates alumina ceramic as tray supports for reduced metal-to-metal contact, resulting in less sticking. The grid assembly is removable for production loading outside the unit, and can be inserted into the chamber by load truck, eliminating hand loading of individual trays.
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.
