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  1. Asked: July 21, 2023In:

    Difficulty In Reaching Appropriate Vacuum Level.

    Answer it Forward Challenge Official Account of VacuumFurnaces.com
    This answer was edited.

    It sounds like you're dealing with a tricky vacuum issue. Since you've already been leak-checking the furnaces and haven't found any significant leaks when they’re cold, a few potential factors to consider could be: Thermal expansion-related leaks: As the furnace heats up, thermal expansion may causRead more

    It sounds like you’re dealing with a tricky vacuum issue. Since you’ve already been leak-checking the furnaces and haven’t found any significant leaks when they’re cold, a few potential factors to consider could be:

    1. Thermal expansion-related leaks: As the furnace heats up, thermal expansion may cause small leaks to appear that aren’t detectable when the furnace is cold. Check for areas where seals or joints might be affected by high temperatures.
    2. Outgassing: Sometimes, when a furnace heats up, materials inside the furnace (including lining materials or residues) can outgas, leading to a loss in vacuum. Cleaning or baking out the furnace may help reduce this.
    3. Pump or valve issues: Since you’re having trouble reaching vacuum or maintaining it, your vacuum pumps or valves may need maintenance or replacement. Have you checked the functionality of your pumps (e.g., diffusion, turbomolecular, or backing pumps)? Pump oil contamination or wear may also cause degraded performance.
    4. Backstreaming of oil: If you’re using oil-based vacuum pumps, backstreaming (where oil vapor moves into the furnace chamber) can degrade vacuum quality. Check the pumps for signs of oil contamination.
    5. Quench systems: If there is an issue with your quenching system (since it uses high pressure), check the integrity of seals and valves related to the quench system as well, as it may interfere with vacuum integrity.

    Regarding hands-on help, you might consider contacting a vacuum furnace manufacturer for troubleshooting or a service technician visit. They have detailed knowledge and can offer specialized support for diagnosing and repairing the problem.

    Alternatively, if you’re looking for local or regional expertise, industrial furnace service providers specializing in vacuum furnaces can assist with diagnostics and repair.

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  2. Asked: September 7, 2022In:

    For bright annealing of 304 StSt, should I use a full backfill of hydrogen or perform a partial pressure control?

    Answer it Forward Challenge Official Account of VacuumFurnaces.com
    This answer was edited.

    For bright annealing of 304 stainless steel (StSt), partial pressure control of hydrogen is often the more practical approach. However, it depends on the specific setup of your furnace and process requirements. For most applications, partial pressure control with hydrogen is recommended, as it proviRead more

    For bright annealing of 304 stainless steel (StSt), partial pressure control of hydrogen is often the more practical approach. However, it depends on the specific setup of your furnace and process requirements. For most applications, partial pressure control with hydrogen is recommended, as it provides a balance between cost, safety, and the required surface finish. However, if your process has specific requirements for ultra-high brightness, you could consider increasing the hydrogen concentration, though not necessarily a full backfill.  

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  3. Asked: October 5, 2023In:

    What are The Main Types of Vacuum Pumps and their applications?

    Answer it Forward Challenge Official Account of VacuumFurnaces.com
    This answer was edited.

    Regardless of the technology, the essential functioning principle of an industrial vacuum pump stays the same. Air molecules (and other gasses) are removed from the vacuum chamber using vacuum pumps (or the outlet side if a higher vacuum pump is connected in series). The removal of extra molecules gRead more

    Regardless of the technology, the essential functioning principle of an industrial vacuum pump stays the same. Air molecules (and other gasses) are removed from the vacuum chamber using vacuum pumps (or the outlet side if a higher vacuum pump is connected in series). The removal of extra molecules gets progressively difficult when the pressure in the chamber is lowered.

    As a result, an industrial vacuum system must be capable of operating across a significant percentage of a very wide pressure range, often ranging from 1 to 10-6 Torr / 1.3 to 13.3 mBar of pressure. This is extended to 10-9 Torr or below in research and scientific applications. In a normal vacuum system, multiple types of pumps are employed to do this, each covering a section of the pressure range and working in series at times.

    How to Choose a Vacuum Pump?

    Several factors must be addressed while choosing a vacuum pump. To begin with, your choice should be personalized to your intended purpose, enabling you to choose the technology, lubrication, chemical resistance, vacuum level, and required flow rate.

    When choosing a vacuum pump, the quality and goal vacuum level should be considered the most significant elements. The three types of vacuum are a rough or low vacuum, a high vacuum, and an ultrahigh vacuum. The scarcity of the number of molecules obtained, which is defined by residual gas pressure, is the difference between the three. As the pressure falls, the number of molecules per cm3 decreases. As a result, vacuum quality increases.

    READ MORE: https://www.linquip.com/blog/types-of-vacuum-pump/ Source: Linquip Technews

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