The One-to-two Sintering Furnace is a Highly Efficient and Energy-saving Heat Treatment Apparatus.
Release time:
2026-01-19
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Abstract
The one-to-two sintering furnace is a highly efficient and energy-saving heat treatment apparatus, extensively employed in batch production across industries such as cemented carbide, metal powder metallurgy, magnetic materials, and ceramics. Its core structure comprises a single shared heating and vacuum/atmosphere control system, simultaneously driving two independent furnace chambers (or working zones), enabling either alternating or synchronous operation. This design significantly enhances equipment utilisation. Whilst one furnace chamber undergoes high-temperature sintering, the other can perform auxiliary processes such as loading, vacuum extraction, or cooling. This effectively reduces non-productive time and increases production capacity by over 30%. It is particularly suited for products requiring extended process cycles, elevated temperatures (typically 1300–1600°C), and stringent atmosphere purity specifications—such as YG-grade cemented carbide cutting inserts, neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnets, or structural ceramic components. This configuration ensures thermal field uniformity and process repeatability while reducing both energy consumption per unit and labour costs.
In practical application, the technical crux of dual-chamber sintering furnaces lies in the synergy between thermal field isolation and control systems. Whilst both chambers share power supplies, vacuum units and gas pipelines, they must remain mutually non-interfering through high-performance valves, independent temperature control modules and thermal barriers. This prevents operations on one side from compromising temperature stability or atmosphere purity on the other. For instance, during cemented carbide sintering, if one chamber undergoes high-temperature holding while the other abruptly initiates gas-cooling, pressure fluctuations in shared pipelines may occur, potentially compromising product density. Consequently, advanced equipment typically incorporates dual independent vacuum systems, compartmentalised temperature control, and intelligent scheduling protocols to ensure precise, independent process parameters for both stations. Furthermore, furnace structures must balance sealing integrity with thermal efficiency. Molybdenum and graphite are commonly employed as heating elements, while multi-layered metal or carbon felt serves as thermal insulation. Critical interfaces utilise metal seals or high-temperature ceramic fiber packing to withstand thermal fatigue challenges arising from frequent temperature cycling.
The one-to-two sintering furnace, while requiring higher initial investment than single-chamber units, demonstrates significant advantages in high-volume, continuous production scenarios. It not only conserves factory floor space and supporting resources (such as cooling water and electrical capacity) but also facilitates automation integration—enabling automated loading and unloading via robotic arms to establish compact, flexible production lines. For small and medium-sized enterprises, this equipment offers flexibility for small-batch, multi-variety production, allowing rapid adaptation to different material sintering curves through programme switching. However, its operational and maintenance complexity is relatively high, requiring regular checks on dual-furnace synchronisation, valve response times, and thermocouple calibration status to prevent batch quality issues arising from control deviations. Overall, the one-to-two sintering furnace represents the trend towards intensified and intelligent development in sintering equipment, serving as a crucial technological pathway for enhancing manufacturing efficiency and product consistency within the powder metallurgy industry.
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2026-01-21
Zhuzhou Chi Carbon Automation Equipment Co., Ltd
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