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Aluminium solution treatment ovens

A specially designed industrial oven for solution treatment of thin aluminium alloy panels with minimal temperature loss between the heating cycle and quenching
The oven processes a wide variety of skin panels up to a max size of 3 x 2m.
As the maximum thickness of the material is only 1.6mm, quenching must be within 5 seconds of leaving the oven to ensure the metallurgical properties are maintained
A solution treatment cycle generally lasts one hour at a temperature of 500°C
Air circulation is provided by 8 heavy duty impellers and air guides, giving a temperature uniformity nominally rated at +3°C
A typical charge weighs 80kg

For processing of aluminium components
Solution treatment oven
Top loading chamber
Temperature range : 50 - 600°C
Power rating : 96kW
Ageing oven
Top loading chamber
Temperature range : 50 - 200°C
Power rating : 42kW
Both units have air circulation
Chamber dimensions: 1800mm (h) x 1600mm (w)x 1100mm (d)
Work baskets are lowered into the chamber from above and located in a stainless steel basket guide assembly
Electrically powered sliding door on the oven top provides access to the heating chamber
Controls are linked to a remote PC

Heat treatment oven designed for a leading UK manufacturer of aluminium aerospace components
Maximum operating temperature 600°C
Chamber capacity 1400mm (h) x 1400mm (w)x 2000mm (d)
Temperature uniformity within the chamber is better than the ± 5°C required by BS2M54 and other UK & overseas standards, such as AMS 2750 & MIL-STD-6088
Quenching at the end of the heating cycle is achieved via a one-piece door which is rapidly lifted by an electric motor, providing good access to the chamber for unloading quenching charges quickly at the end of the heating cycle
Maximum power rating 54kW

Designed to provide in-house heat treatment of aluminium alloy fabrications for the aerospace industry
Chamber capacity : 120mm (h) x 1500mm (w) x 1500mm (d)
Maximum operating temperature 600°C
Used for solution heat treatment at 475-530°C, annealing at 360-450°C and precipitation hardening at 120-175°C
Process times range from 20 minutes for annealing up to 14 hours for hardening
Heating is provided by incolloy sheathed rod elements positioned behind the side duct sheets and isolated from the working area to prevent heat radiating directly on to any part of the furnace charge
Temperature uniformity of better than ±3° is achieved via an air ciculation system with heavy-duty fans providing a horizontal airflow through the chamber
For ease of handling and to ensure the products are held firmly in place, a stainless steel basket is used which fits on tracks in the base of the chamber
At the end of the cycle, the basked is pulled manually onto a platform immediately in front of the oven, which automatically lowers it into a water quench tank below
Quenching is performed within the 10 seconds required by the aerospace industry

Batch chamber ovens

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Continuous/conveyor ovens

Inert atmosphere ovens