The Spanish manufacturer of engine components for aviation has ordered a specially adapted Vector vacuum furnace, which will be used in the Partner's research center to investigate methods to improve aviation parts.
Building an R&D center with SECO/WARWICK
This Partner currently operates a SECO/WARWICK vacuum furnace used in the production of aircraft engine parts. The Partner planned to build a new research center, equipped with a specialized vacuum furnace used for laboratory materials testing.
“Once again, our solutions are delivered to R&D departments and research centers. Compact, specially adapted Vector furnaces are suitable for both scientific institutes and production plants that are looking for new material solutions and want to improve their components. This furnace will not be used in series production, but in development processes, contributing to the creation of innovative solutions for the aerospace industry. SECO/WARWICK is one of the few manufacturers, who maintains a very extensive R&D Department, and makes it available to Partners if they want to test specific solutions or check whether a given furnace is the right choice for them,” – said Maciej Korecki, Vice-President of the Vacuum Furnace Segment at SECO/WARWICK.
Personalized design
The Partner owns a modern plant with a long tradition of producing engine components in the aviation industry. The Vector for the newly built research center has been modified to meet the Partner’s specific requirements.
SECO/WARWICK’s furnace is equipped with an efficient cooling system. The Group also rebuilt the heating chamber so that the dimensions of the working space are 1000x400x1000 mm, allowing for effective development processes. SECO/WARWICK installed a temperature uniformity system for temperatures reaching above 1300oC. The purpose of personalization is to enable the system to produce the most effective heat treatment of dedicated parts provided for the investment project, i.e. specifically R&D research on aircraft engine parts.
Vector – the design characteristics
The Vector vacuum furnace is one of the most versatile solutions in the SECO/WARWICK portfolio. Its design, refined over the years, ensures reliable and efficient operation. At the same time, it allows for numerous modifications to be made depending on needs, thereby turning a standard unit into a unique furnace.
The Vector for this Partner is characterized by the use of two gases — argon for partial pressure (ensuring the process purity, required by restrictive aviation standards) and nitrogen for hardening. It also has a dew point sensor for each gas. This is a system which solves one of the very critical aspects of heat treatment, which is to prevent water vapor condensation, which can cause the processed load surface oxidation.
The furnace is equipped with isothermal quenching, which allows the cooling process to operate with better control of the load temperature and blower control using a frequency inverter. An additional advantage is the use of the SECO/PREDICTIVE system — the modern furnace monitoring and diagnostics option, i.e. an intelligent and advanced equipment control system. This module allows users to detect the risk of failure before it occurs and thus minimizes unplanned downtime.
