A roller hearth tube annealing furnace was recently installed and commissioned at an aerospace and defense products manufacturer. This manufacturer fabricates the most critical precision tubular products, and the high temperature roller hearth furnace quench anneals superalloy tubing for their drawing operation.
Additionally, the electrically heated furnace is atmosphere tight and is operated with an argon protective atmosphere. The high-speed roll drive quickly transfers the tubing from the furnace to the water-spray quench.
The furnace, provided by Abbott Furnace Company, allows the manufacturer to increase production, processing a greater number of tubes between tubing draws. “On a daily production basis," says Mr. George Ray, chairman of the manufacturing company, "the Abbott Furnace is 300% more efficient than the previous furnace.” He indicates that with the +/- 5 F furnace temperature uniformity and the uniform water spray, the new furnace also provides better uniformity of hardness than the retired furnace.
