Vacuum heat treating process includes heat treating in a vacuum chamber and then quenching the heat treated material with a gas, such as helium or nitrogen. The benefits of vacuum heat treating are minimal distortion, bright and clean parts and ability to heat treat finished parts.

You can use vacuum chambers for various applications such as heat treating, sintering, tool hardening, brazing, annealing, degassing, stress relieving, tempering and ceramic to metal brazing. The industries that use vacuum heat treatment include automotive, aerospace and medical.

Some important parameters you must consider before buying vacuum furnaces and chambers are:

1. The application in which you need to use vacuum heat treating
2. The type of the vacuum chamber
3. The pumping system of the vacuum chamber
4. Temperature range of the vacuum chamber or furnace
5. The control system of the vacuum chamber
6. The type and dimensions of the hot zone of the vacuum furnace

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Evaluate services offered by reputable vacuum heat treating service providers

Once you consider your requirements regarding vacuum heat treating, you can use the services of reputable service providers.

I recommend: Solar Atmospheres is a vacuum heat treating specialist, providing consultation and services for vacuum heat treatment. Another leading service provider is Specialty Heat Treating. You can also go to Modern Industries, a reputable vaccum heat treater. Bodycote provides many industrial services including vacuum heat treatment. You can use vacuum heat treating services of Metlab Potero, another leading service provider that also offers vacuum heat treating. In addition, you can also check out services offered by Midsouth Metallurgical, one of the major providers of vacuum heat treatment solutions.

Buy vacuum furnaces and vacuum chambers from reputable suppliers

If your need for vacuum heat treatment is long term, you can buy a vacuum chamber or a vacuum furnace from reputable suppliers.

I recommend: You can buy vacuum chambers and vacuum furnaces from T-M Vacuum Products. Thermal Product Solutions is another reputable provider of vacuum furnaces including front load horizontal vacuum furnaces and top load vertical pit vacuum furnaces. You can buy vacuum furnaces from SECO/WARWICK Corporation, another leading manufacturer of industrial furnaces including vacuum furnaces. In addition, you can also check out products offered by Elnik Systems, a custom manufacturer of vacuum furnaces.

Buy used vacuum heat treating equipment from reputable suppliers

Buy used vacuum heat treating equipment offered by reputable suppliers for a cost effective solution.

I recommend: You can buy used vacuum heat treating equipment from Centorr Vacuum Industries, a leading supplier of reconditioned vacuum furnaces. Grammer Vacuum Technologies provides a wide array of used vacuum heat treating furnaces including bottom load vacuum furnace, 2-bar vacuum furnace, 5-bar vacuum furnace and 6-bar vacuum furnace. You can also check out the product line of The Furnace Source, a reputable provider of new and used vacuum furnaces. In addition, you can also buy used vacuum heat treating furnaces from AVS.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use vacuum manipulators in conjunction with the vacuum chambers, to move or position the components in the vacuum chambers.