HS8 Series Dual-Chamber Furnace

January 12, 2017
HS8 Series Dual-Chamber Furnace

Lucifer Furnaces Inc. has designed and delivered a dual-chamber furnace ideal for heat treating high-speed steels. The HS8 series, built with rugged 12-gauge sheet steel and reinforced throughout, heats to 2,450° F in the upper chamber with silicon-carbide heating elements mounted across the roof and below the hearth. Elements are a solid bar-type with termination connections for easy service via removable covers on both sides of the furnace. 

The upper chambers of these high-temp furnaces are insulated with 6.5” of combined ceramic fiber hot face and mineral wool cold face insulation for lower power demand, with staggered seams to block direct heat flow to minimize outer shell temperature. The lower chamber of the HS8 series is a recirculating oven reaching up to 1,600° F with a high volume rear mounted fan directing air flow horizontally through the chamber for temperature uniformity. A stainless steel liner isolates the coiled heating elements from the workload. Heating elements are mounted in removable holders for easy replacement.  

Lower chamber insulation consists of multilayered lightweight insulating firebrick hotface and mineral wool backup, dry fit to allow for thermal expansion. The double-pivot horizontal swing door on the upper chamber and lower chamber horizontal swing door are both insulated and secured with cam locks for a tight seal. Safety switches shut off power when doors open. Temperature sensing in the upper chamber is achieved with a type R platinum thermocouple for fast accurate response and extended life at elevated temperatures; the lower chamber is standard with a type K thermocouple. 

Standard controls, mounted in a side mounted NEMA 1 panel, include a Honeywell DC2500 time proportioning controller for each chamber as well as an SCR power supply for the upper chamber to regulate power demand for steady state control, an alternative to tap switches. This furnace, Model HS82-M24 with inside chamber dimensions of 12”H x 12” W x 24” L, will be used at a large corporation in a newly built tool room. The HS8 series can be customized by chamber size and with controls, recording features and door arrangements to meet a customer’s need.

Related Glossary Terms

  • computer-aided manufacturing ( CAM)

    computer-aided manufacturing ( CAM)

    Use of computers to control machining and manufacturing processes.

  • high-speed steels ( HSS)

    high-speed steels ( HSS)

    Available in two major types: tungsten high-speed steels (designated by letter T having tungsten as the principal alloying element) and molybdenum high-speed steels (designated by letter M having molybdenum as the principal alloying element). The type T high-speed steels containing cobalt have higher wear resistance and greater red (hot) hardness, withstanding cutting temperature up to 1,100º F (590º C). The type T steels are used to fabricate metalcutting tools (milling cutters, drills, reamers and taps), woodworking tools, various types of punches and dies, ball and roller bearings. The type M steels are used for cutting tools and various types of dies.

  • payload ( workload)

    payload ( workload)

    Maximum load that the robot can handle safely.

  • tap

    tap

    Cylindrical tool that cuts internal threads and has flutes to remove chips and carry tapping fluid to the point of cut. Normally used on a drill press or tapping machine but also may be operated manually. See tapping.