Custom 1.4852 Heat Treatment Baskets Designed for France Customers

Customer Case Study | Heat Treatment Basket Engineering & Structural Redesign
Customer: France
Product: Custom Heat Treatment Basket
Material: 1.4852 Heat-Resistant Alloy
Working Temperature: 950°C
Process Condition: Approx. 1.2% C, Oil Quenching
Basket Weight: Approx. 31.5 kg including inner mesh
Load per Basket: Approx. 70 kg
Furnace Loading: 9 baskets per batch
Service: Structural Analysis + Fixture Redesign + Engineering Drawing
Supplier: Wuxi Junteng Fanghu Alloy Technology Co., Ltd. (FH® Alloy)

Project Overview
FH® Alloy received an inquiry from France Customers for the redesign of heat treatment baskets used in a high-temperature oil-quenching process.

The customer was already using conventional fabricated baskets, but after repeated service, several structural problems had appeared, particularly side-wall deformation and weld-related damage.

Instead of simply reproducing the existing basket, the customer asked FH® Alloy to evaluate whether the structure could be improved.

The customer provided us with:

• Main basket dimensions
• Existing basket weight
• Material requirement
• Furnace loading arrangement
• Load per basket
• Operating temperature
• Quenching process
• Photos of used and deformed baskets
• Problem areas around welded joints

Based on this operating information, FH® Alloy developed a new structural concept and prepared the final 3D engineering drawing for the customer's review.

Customer Operating Conditions
The customer provided detailed information about the actual furnace operating environment.

The customer also indicated potential future quantities of 20, 50 and 100 baskets if the trial design and performance met expectations.

Existing Basket Problems
The existing baskets were manufactured using a traditional fabricated structure consisting mainly of a base frame and side walls assembled by welding.
After repeated high-temperature operation and oil quenching, the customer observed several problems.

Side-Wall Deformation
Photos of the used baskets showed visible deformation around the lower side sections.
Repeated heating and quenching cycles can generate substantial thermal stress in heat treatment fixtures, especially around:

• Long unsupported sections
• Side-wall members
• Connection areas
• Welded joints

Over time, these areas can gradually distort.

Weld Bead and Joint Problems
The customer also reported problems with weld beads, particularly around the shorter sides of the basket.

The original construction method relied on multiple welded joints between the base and surrounding frame.

Under repeated thermal cycling, welded regions can become stress concentration points because the weld metal, heat-affected zone and surrounding parent material do not always respond identically during heating and cooling.

For this reason, France Customers specifically asked FH® Alloy:
Could the basket be redesigned with a more integrated structure to reduce dependence on welded joints?
This became one of the main engineering objectives of the project.

Customer Requested a More Integrated Structure
France Customers was interested in the possibility of using a more monobloc-style or integrated structural concept instead of relying entirely on conventional welded fabrication.

The goal was not simply to eliminate every weld, but to reduce unnecessary welded connections in the critical load-bearing areas.

For FH® Alloy, the engineering objective therefore became:
Reduce Welded Stress Points + Improve Structural Rigidity + Control Fixture Weight + Maintain Loading Capacity

Engineering Analysis by FH® Alloy
Before preparing the final drawing, FH® Alloy reviewed the customer's existing structure and actual failure areas.
Several factors had to be considered simultaneously.
1. High-Temperature Strength
The basket operates at approximately 950°C.
At this temperature, the fixture material must maintain adequate mechanical strength while carrying both its own weight and the workpiece load.
The specified material was:
1.4852 heat-resistant alloy
This material is widely used for furnace components and heat treatment tooling exposed to elevated temperatures.

2. Oil-Quenching Thermal Cycling
Unlike fixtures that cool gradually in air, these baskets are subjected to oil quenching.
That means the structure repeatedly experiences:
Heating → High-Temperature Holding → Rapid Cooling → Reheating

This thermal cycle can contribute to:

• Thermal fatigue
• Warping
• Local distortion
• Weld cracking
• Structural relaxation

The basket therefore required more than simple static load strength.

3. Load Distribution
Each basket carries approximately:
70 kg of workpieces
while the basket itself weighs approximately:
31.5 kg including the internal mesh.
The supporting structure therefore needed to distribute the load across the base rather than creating excessive localized stress.
FH® Alloy reviewed the relationship between:

• Bottom frame
• Side walls
• Internal support members
• Vertical support locations
• Cross members

before establishing the new structure.

4. Stacking Stability
The customer loads 9 baskets into the furnace, arranged as:
3 stacks × 3 baskets high
This means the bottom baskets not only support their own workpieces but also participate in transmitting the load of the baskets stacked above.
The redesigned structure therefore needed to provide reliable:

• Vertical load transfer
• Stack alignment
• Positioning
• Structural rigidity

while remaining suitable for repeated furnace operation.

Reinforcement of the Side Structure
One of the most important design improvements was the reinforcement of areas where the customer had previously experienced deformation.

The used basket photos clearly indicated deformation near the lower side structure.

Based on these observations, FH® Alloy incorporated additional structural support into the redesigned basket.

The objective was to:

• Reduce excessive side-wall movement
• Improve lateral rigidity
• Better distribute loads
• Reduce stress concentration
• Improve dimensional stability after repeated thermal cycles

Reduced Reliance on Critical Welded Joints
Another major design consideration was the customer's concern about weld beads.
Instead of directly copying the original welded basket, FH® Alloy developed a structure using more integrated heat-resistant alloy components in the primary frame, combined with connecting and reinforcing elements where necessary.
This approach is intended to reduce the number of critical welded areas exposed to repeated thermal stress.
The redesigned concept therefore focused on:
Structural Integration + Strategic Connections + Reinforcement
rather than conventional frame fabrication alone.

From Used Basket Photos to a New 3D Design
A key feature of this project was that the customer did not simply provide a complete production drawing.
Instead, France Customers supplied:

• Existing basket information
• Furnace operating parameters
• Photographs of used baskets
• Actual deformation locations
• Welding problems
• Loading requirements
• Stacking method

FH® Alloy used this information as the basis for engineering development.

The project followed the process:
Existing Basket Analysis
→ Failure Area Identification
→ Operating Condition Review
→ Structural Optimization
→ 3D Modeling
→ Engineering Drawing
The final 3D model developed by FH® Alloy incorporated the revised supporting and reinforcing structure based on the customer's actual service conditions.

Final Fixture Design
The final design included several functional structural areas.
Integrated Base Structure
The bottom frame provides the main load-bearing foundation for the basket and distributes the workpiece load.
Reinforced Side Frames
The surrounding frame was optimized to increase rigidity and address the deformation previously observed by the customer.
Cross-Support Members
Additional transverse supports help control structural movement while distributing loads across the basket.
Internal Support Structure
The internal structure provides support for the customer's workpieces and removable or integrated mesh arrangement.
Stacking Features
The basket geometry was designed to support stable multi-layer stacking inside the furnace.

Why 1.4852 Was Specified
The customer specified 1.4852 heat-resistant alloy for the project.
For high-temperature heat treatment tooling, material selection is critical because the fixture must resist both mechanical loading and repeated thermal cycling.

1.4852 is used in high-temperature industrial applications because of its combination of:

• High-temperature strength
• Oxidation resistance
• Thermal stability
• Resistance to repeated heating cycles

For this project, material selection and structural design had to be evaluated together rather than independently.

Project Engineering Summary

Engineering Instead of Simple Copying
This project demonstrates an important difference between simple OEM manufacturing and application-based fixture engineering.
France Customers did not require FH® Alloy to simply reproduce the existing basket.
The customer wanted us to analyze why the existing design was deforming and whether the structure could be improved.
FH® Alloy therefore approached the project from the perspective of:
Operating Conditions + Existing Failure Modes + Loading Requirements + Manufacturing Feasibility
and converted this information into a new fixture design.

Custom Heat Treatment Fixture Design by FH® Alloy
Wuxi Junteng Fanghu Alloy Technology Co., Ltd. (FH® Alloy) provides customized engineering and manufacturing solutions for heat treatment tooling, including:

• Heat Treatment Baskets
• Heat Treatment Fixtures
• Furnace Trays
• Oil-Quench Baskets
• Carburizing Furnace Fixtures
• Vacuum Furnace Fixtures
• Stackable Furnace Baskets
• Heat-Resistant Alloy Cast Components

Customers can provide either complete drawings or basic operating information.
If an existing fixture has deformation, cracking or short service-life problems, FH® Alloy can also evaluate the existing structure and develop an optimized design.

What Information Do We Need for Fixture Design?
For a custom heat treatment fixture project, the following information is useful:

• Furnace type
• Working temperature
• Furnace atmosphere
• Quenching method
• Loading zone dimensions
• Maximum furnace load
• Workpiece dimensions
• Workpiece weight
• Quantity per basket
• Number of stacked baskets
• Required fixture material
• Existing fixture photos
• Existing failure or deformation locations

Based on this information, FH® Alloy can support:
Application Review → Material Evaluation → Structural Design → 3D Drawing → Manufacturing

About FH® Alloy
Wuxi Junteng Fanghu Alloy Technology Co., Ltd. (FH® Alloy) specializes in heat-resistant alloy components and customized furnace tooling for industrial heat treatment applications.
Our product range includes heat treatment fixtures, furnace baskets, furnace trays, radiant tubes, furnace rollers, centrifugal cast components and other customized high-temperature alloy parts.
Custom Design | Heat-Resistant Alloys | Casting | Machining | Furnace Tooling