A vacuum consumable electrode arc furnace creates a vacuum inside the furnace chamber by using a vacuum system to extract gases, lowering the internal pressure below atmospheric pressure. It is a heating device that operates in a vacuum environment. The sealed furnace chamber—using a metal shell or quartz glass cover—is connected to a high-vacuum pumping system through pipelines.
What advantages does a vacuum consumable electrode arc furnace offer?
- Prevents oxidation and decarburization
During heating, the workpiece surface is completely protected from oxidation and decarburization, resulting in a clean surface without altered layers. This is particularly beneficial for cutting tools that are ground on only one side, as it significantly improves cutting performance.
Additionally, the equipment uses materials that do not pollute the environment and does not produce waste requiring treatment. - High temperature-measurement accuracy
Temperature measurement and monitoring precision are greatly improved. The thermocouple reading and actual furnace temperature can reach an accuracy of ±1.5°C.
Even though temperature differences may exist between different locations on the workpiece, forced circulation of a rarefied gas can limit the temperature variation to within ±5°C. - High level of electromechanical integration
With high-precision temperature control, operations such as workpiece movement, pressure control, and power adjustment can be pre-programmed to carry out quenching and tempering automatically.
Energy consumption is low—often even lower than a salt-bath furnace. Modern advanced vacuum furnaces use high-quality insulation materials for the heating chamber to concentrate heat within the chamber, achieving excellent energy-saving performance.