Custom 1.4852 Heat Treatment Baskets for Italian Customer | FH® Alloy

Custom 1.4852 Heat Treatment Baskets with Reinforced Wire Mesh for an Italian Customer
Customer Case Study | Engineering Redesign, Manufacturing, Inspection & Delivery
Customer Location: Italy
Product: Custom Cast Heat Treatment Basket with Wire Mesh
Basket Material: 1.4852 Heat-Resistant Alloy
Wire Mesh Material: 1.4845
Approx. Basket Size: 650 × 620 × 63 mm
Quantity: 20 pcs
Maximum Working Temperature: 950°C
Load per Basket: 25 kg
Average Cycle Time: Approx. 6 hours
Project Scope: Application Review → 3D Design → Manufacturing → Final Inspection → Delivery
Manufacturer: Wuxi Junteng Fanghu Alloy Technology Co., Ltd. (FH® Alloy)

Project Overview
FH® Alloy received an inquiry from an Italian customer for 20 custom heat treatment baskets based on an existing basket currently used in their production.
The customer did not have a complete manufacturing drawing.

Instead, they provided:

• a photograph of the existing basket,
• approximate external dimensions,
• required materials,
• furnace operating temperature,
• loading weight,
• stacking arrangement,
• wire mesh specifications,
• and several specific structural improvement requirements.

The customer wanted the new baskets to be more robust than the existing design, while retaining a similar overall loading concept.
Based on this information, FH® Alloy developed a completely new 3D engineering model, optimized the cast basket structure, incorporated the required wire mesh arrangement, and then proceeded with manufacturing, final inspection and shipment.

Customer Requirements
The customer provided the following main project parameters:

One requirement was especially important:

• The wire diameter must not be less than 2 mm, and the wire mesh must extend up to and around the top of the basket.

This became one of the key design inputs for FH® Alloy.

Customer Challenge
This was not a simple replacement order.
The customer wanted FH® Alloy to use the existing physical basket as a reference while improving the design for future production.

The main challenges were:
1. No Production Drawing
The customer had only a physical reference product and technical requirements.
FH® Alloy therefore needed to translate:
Photo + Size + Operating Conditions + Loading Method
into a production-ready 3D model.

2. Existing Basket Needed to Be More Robust
The customer specifically stated that they wanted the new basket to be stronger and more robust than the existing version.
The existing casting alone weighed approximately:
8.5 kg
Rather than simply copying the original product, FH® Alloy reviewed the structural layout and support areas to develop a more suitable casting geometry.

3. 950°C Heat Treatment Service
Each basket is used at temperatures up to:
950°C
with an average heat treatment cycle of approximately:
6 hours
At this temperature, basket performance depends not only on alloy grade but also on:

• structural rigidity,
• support distribution,
• wall and rib geometry,
• mesh attachment,
• and thermal expansion behavior.

4. 10-Layer Stacking
During production, the customer uses:
10 baskets stacked together
and one batch consists of:
2 columns × 10 baskets
This means stacking compatibility is particularly important.
The new design needed to provide consistent:

• stacking position,
• vertical alignment,
• support contact,
• and handling stability.

FH® Alloy Engineering Solution
Based on the customer’s reference photo and operating requirements, FH® Alloy developed the final 3D model shown in this case.
The new design uses a cast open-grid frame with integrated positioning and stacking features.
The structure was developed to balance:
Strength + Weight + Heat Flow + Stacking + Wire Mesh Support

Reinforced Cast Basket Structure
The final basket incorporates an open grid structure formed from interconnected cast ribs.
This design provides several advantages.
Improved Load Distribution
Each basket carries approximately:
25 kg of workpieces
The interconnected ribs help distribute this load across the frame instead of concentrating it at a few local points.

More Robust Structure
The customer specifically requested a stronger basket.
FH® Alloy therefore optimized the geometry of:

• perimeter sections,
• internal grid members,
• stacking supports,
• and critical transition areas.

Open Furnace Circulation
The open-grid design allows furnace atmosphere to circulate through the basket and loaded parts more effectively than a closed structure.

Critical Wire Mesh Requirement
The wire mesh was one of the most important parts of the project.
The customer clearly specified:
Wire Diameter
Minimum 2 mm
Using wire thinner than 2 mm was not acceptable.
Mesh Size
Approximately:
Ø2 mm wire × 7 × 7 mm mesh opening
Wire Mesh Material
1.4845
Full Perimeter Coverage
The mesh was required to continue upward and surround the top perimeter of the basket rather than only lying flat on the bottom.
This requirement was important for retaining the loaded parts securely during handling and heat treatment.

1.4852 Basket + 1.4845 Mesh Combination
The project used two different heat-resistant materials for different structural functions.
Cast Basket Frame: 1.4852
The main cast structure was specified in 1.4852 heat-resistant alloy.
This material is used for demanding high-temperature furnace tooling because of its combination of:

• high-temperature strength,
• oxidation resistance,
• and thermal stability.

Wire Mesh: 1.4845
The wire mesh was specified in 1.4845.
Using different materials for the cast frame and mesh allows each component to be selected according to its specific function.

Designed for Repeated 950°C Cycles
The customer’s baskets operate at approximately:
950°C
for an average cycle of:
around 6 hours
Repeated high-temperature exposure can gradually cause:

• deformation,
• thermal fatigue,
• mesh distortion,
• and dimensional changes.

For this reason, FH® Alloy did not treat the project as a room-temperature load problem only.
The structure was developed according to the actual heat treatment application.

Designed for Stacking
Because the baskets are used in stacks of 10, the final 3D design incorporates multiple peripheral positioning and support features.
The objectives were to achieve:

• consistent basket alignment,
• reliable load transfer between layers,
• stable stacking,
• and practical assembly and handling.

This is particularly important when multiple baskets are repeatedly loaded and unloaded during industrial production.

From Existing Product Photo to New 3D Design
The customer did not provide a finished CAD drawing.
Instead, the project began with:

• an existing product photograph,
• approximate dimensions,
• operating conditions,
• mesh specifications,
• and improvement requirements.

FH® Alloy followed this workflow:
Existing Basket Review
↓
Customer Requirement Analysis
↓
High-Temperature Application Review
↓
Structural Optimization
↓
Wire Mesh Integration
↓
3D Modeling
↓
Design Confirmation
↓
Manufacturing
The final 3D model converted the customer’s existing concept into a clearly defined and manufacturable new basket.

Manufacturing
After the design was confirmed, FH® Alloy proceeded with production of the 20 customized baskets.

Manufacturing included both:

• heat-resistant alloy cast basket structures,
• and matching heat-resistant wire mesh.

During production, key attention was given to:

• casting dimensions,
• structural consistency,
• stacking features,
• mesh wire diameter,
• mesh installation,
• and overall basket geometry.

Final Quality Inspection
Before shipment, FH® Alloy carried out final inspection of the finished products.
Dimensional Inspection
The overall basket dimensions and important structural positions were checked against the approved design.
Structural Inspection
The cast frame, internal ribs and stacking features were inspected for consistency.
Wire Mesh Inspection
Special attention was given to the customer’s critical mesh requirements:

• wire diameter not less than 2 mm
• correct mesh arrangement
• mesh extending around the basket perimeter
• secure integration with the basket structure

Final Conformity
The completed baskets were compared with the approved engineering design before being released for shipment.

Project Specifications

Project Highlights
Designed Without Customer Drawings
FH® Alloy developed the production-ready 3D model using the customer’s physical reference basket and process requirements.
Stronger Basket Structure
The customer wanted a more robust replacement for the existing basket, so structural optimization was a central part of the project.
Critical Mesh Requirement Controlled
The mesh had to use:
wire ≥ 2 mm
and extend around the top perimeter of the basket.
Designed for 10-Layer Stacking
The structure was developed for repeated stacking and industrial batch operation.
Complete Project Execution
FH® Alloy handled the complete workflow:
Engineering Design → Manufacturing → Final Inspection → Shipment

More Than Copying an Existing Basket
This project demonstrates an important difference between simple copy manufacturing and application-based engineering.
The customer provided an existing product photo but wanted a stronger new solution.
FH® Alloy therefore evaluated:
Existing Structure + Temperature + Load + Mesh Requirement + Stacking Method
before creating the new design.
This type of service is especially useful for customers whose existing furnace tooling:

• has no original drawing,
• needs structural improvement,
• is reaching the end of its service life,
• or needs to be reproduced with updated specifications.

Custom Heat Treatment Baskets by FH® Alloy
Wuxi Junteng Fanghu Alloy Technology Co., Ltd. (FH® Alloy) designs and manufactures customized heat treatment tooling for industrial furnace applications, including:

• Cast Heat Treatment Baskets
• Wire Mesh Baskets
• Heat Treatment Trays
• Furnace Baskets
• Stackable Furnace Fixtures
• Vacuum Furnace Tooling
• Continuous Furnace Fixtures
• Pit Furnace Fixtures
• Custom Heat-Resistant Alloy Components

We can develop products from:

• complete drawings,
• incomplete sketches,
• existing samples,
• photographs,
• or operating-condition information.

Need to Redesign an Existing Furnace Basket?
If you have an existing basket but no production drawing, FH® Alloy can help develop a new solution based on your actual application.
Please provide information such as:

• existing product photos,
• external dimensions,
• material,
• working temperature,
• workpiece load,
• cycle time,
• stacking method,
• mesh specifications,
• and existing service problems.

FH® Alloy can support:
Existing Product Review → 3D Redesign → Manufacturing → Inspection → Delivery

About FH® Alloy
Wuxi Junteng Fanghu Alloy Technology Co., Ltd. (FH® Alloy) specializes in customized heat-resistant alloy furnace tooling for global industrial heat treatment customers.
Our capabilities include engineering design, heat-resistant alloy casting, wire mesh fabrication, machining, assembly and final inspection.

Custom Design | Heat-Resistant Casting | Furnace Basket Manufacturing