Operation process of vacuum sintering furnace

The operation process of a vacuum sintering furnace is a delicate and critical process that involves multiple steps to ensure the smooth progress of the sintering process and the quality of the sintered products. The following is a typical operation process of a vacuum sintering furnace:
1. Preparation stage
Check equipment:
Check if all parts of the vacuum sintering furnace are in good condition, including the vacuum pump, heating elements, cooling system, etc.
Ensure that the cooling water sources for the intermediate frequency power supply, vacuum furnace body, and induction coil are sufficient, clean, and free of impurities.
Check the power system of the vacuum pump, the tightness of the belt pulley, the oil level of the vacuum pump, etc., to ensure that the vacuum pump can work normally.
Start the cooling system:
Start the water pump to ensure normal water circulation of the intermediate frequency power supply, vacuum furnace induction coil, and furnace cooling system, and adjust the water pressure to the specified value.
Check the furnace environment:
Clean the interior of the vacuum furnace to ensure first-class hygiene standards.
Check whether the insulation of the induction coil is good, and whether the sealing vacuum tape has elasticity and qualified size.
Check whether the lever handle of the vacuum furnace body starts flexibly and whether the rotating Maxwell vacuum gauge meets the requirements.
2. Loading and sealing
Prepare samples:
Prepare the samples to be sintered and ensure that they meet the sintering requirements.
If necessary, remove the molding agent (such as oil or paraffin) from the sample to prevent adverse consequences during the sintering process.
Furnace loading:
According to different sintered products, corresponding furnace loading methods should be adopted, and the plates should be loaded according to the relevant material loading rules, and should not be changed arbitrarily.
To maintain a constant temperature and prevent thermal radiation, two layers of carbon fiber can be added to the heating crucible, followed by a heat shield.
Cover with vacuum sealing tape to ensure sealing.
Sealed furnace door:
Operate the lever handle to tightly align the vacuum furnace top cover with the furnace body, lower the top cover, and lock the fixing nut.
3. Vacuum pumping and heating
Vacuum pumping:
Open the vacuum system of the vacuum sintering furnace, slowly open the butterfly valve, and extract air from the furnace body until the vacuum degree reaches the specified value.
Be careful to start the vacuum butterfly valve slowly to avoid excessive pumping and oil leakage.
Heating:
After the vacuum degree reaches the required level, start the frequency converter, adjust the intermediate frequency power, and start heating.
During the heating process, always observe the induction coil from the side of the furnace to see if there is any arcing phenomenon. If any abnormalities are found, they should be dealt with immediately.
4. Sintering and cooling
sinter:
Perform heating, insulation, and cooling operations according to the sintering regulations for the relevant materials.
During the sintering process, it is necessary to maintain stable temperature and vacuum degree inside the furnace.
Cooling:
After sintering is completed, stop the frequency conversion and turn off the heating system.
Allow the sintering furnace to cool naturally or use other cooling methods to lower the furnace temperature to room temperature.
During the cooling process, do not open the furnace door to prevent the sample from being affected by sudden changes.
5. Sample extraction and subsequent processing
Take out the sample:
After the sintering furnace has completely cooled down, open the furnace door, take out the sample tray and check its quality.
Subsequent processing:
Follow up processing of the sample as needed, such as cleaning, cutting, testing, etc.
6. Safety and Maintenance
During the entire operation process, attention should be paid to operational safety to avoid accidents such as electric shock and burns.
Regularly maintain and upkeep the vacuum sintering furnace, including cleaning, inspecting, and replacing vulnerable parts, to ensure its long-term stable operation.
Through the above steps, it is possible to ensure the standardized, safe, and efficient operation process of the vacuum sintering furnace, thereby obtaining high-quality sintered products.