Custom Vacuum Furnace Heat Treatment Fixtures for Russian Customer | FH® Alloy

Custom Vacuum Furnace Heat Treatment Fixtures for a Russian Customer
Customer Case Study | Design, Manufacturing and Delivery
Customer Location: Russia
Product: Custom Vacuum Furnace Heat Treatment Fixtures / Trays
Application: High-Temperature Vacuum Heat Treatment
Operating Temperature: 1200–1300°C
Cooling Method: Nitrogen Jet Cooling
Loading Weight: 200–300 kg
Project Type: Engineering Design Without Existing Drawing
Manufacturer: Wuxi Junteng Fanghu Alloy Technology Co., Ltd. (FH® Alloy)

Project Overview
FH® Alloy received an inquiry from a customer in Russia for custom trays for a vacuum furnace installation.

The customer did not provide a finished production drawing. Instead, they shared the actual operating conditions of the furnace and explained the problem with their existing trays. Their current trays were made of 2.4879 steel, but under the working temperature of 1200–1300°C, the trays bent seriously during service.

Based on the customer’s furnace conditions and loading requirements, FH® Alloy was asked to:

• analyze the application conditions,
• design a new vacuum furnace heat treatment fixture,
• provide a commercial solution,
• manufacture the products,
• and complete delivery.

The final solution developed by FH® Alloy was a multi-layer vacuum furnace trays fixture system, designed to improve structural stability under high-temperature service and nitrogen cooling conditions.

Customer Requirements
The customer provided the main operating information instead of a complete drawing.
The key project conditions were as follows:

The customer’s core concern was not only price, but also whether FH® Alloy could provide a more reliable fixture solution with better service performance than their existing trays.

Customer Challenge
This project was a typical engineering redesign case rather than simple build-to-print production.

The main customer problems were:
1. No Existing Drawing
The customer had no finished drawing for a new fixture. Only furnace operating data and application requirements were available.
2. Very High Working Temperature
The fixture had to work continuously in a vacuum furnace at 1200–1300°C, which is a very demanding temperature range for heat treatment tooling.
3. Existing Trays Were Deforming
The customer clearly stated that their current 2.4879 trays bend strongly under these conditions. This means the previous solution did not provide enough structural rigidity or long-term resistance to thermal deformation.

4. Need for Commercially Viable Solution
The customer also asked for:

• cost,
• production time,
• and expected service life.

So the final design had to balance performance, manufacturability and project feasibility.

Engineering Analysis by FH® Alloy
After reviewing the customer’s working conditions, FH® Alloy focused on the two most important aspects of the project:
high-temperature structural stability and load-bearing performance.
High-Temperature Service at 1200–1300°C

At this temperature range, ordinary structural concepts can easily lead to:

• sagging,
• bending,
• thermal deformation,
• and shortened service life.

The fixture must maintain its shape and support the load during repeated heat treatment cycles.

Nitrogen Jet Cooling
The customer’s cooling method is nitrogen jet cooling.
Compared with slower cooling processes, nitrogen cooling can create strong temperature changes and thermal stress in the fixture. This means the design must consider not only heat resistance, but also repeated thermal cycling stability.

Load Requirement of 200–300 kg
The required loading weight was 200–300 kg, which is not a light-duty application. The fixture structure needed to support this load reliably while remaining suitable for repeated high-temperature use.

Existing 2.4879 Tray Bending Issue
Since the customer specifically reported deformation of the existing 2.4879 trays, FH® Alloy treated this as a key engineering reference point. The redesign therefore focused on:

• improving structural rigidity,
• optimizing load transfer,
• and reducing deformation risk under high-temperature conditions.

FH® Alloy’s Design Solution
Based on the customer’s application data, FH® Alloy designed a custom multi-layer tray-type fixture for vacuum furnace use.

The final structure includes:

• a base tray,
• multiple load-carrying tray layers,
• and vertical support columns / positioning posts to form a stable multi-level loading system.

Multi-Layer Loading Structure
The final design uses a layered structure, which helps improve loading efficiency while keeping the parts arranged in an organized and stable way.

Open Structural Pattern
The tray surfaces adopt an open structural pattern, which helps reduce unnecessary self-weight while improving thermal flow and cooling performance.

Reinforced Vertical Support Design
The vertical posts and support locations were designed to improve the overall structural stability of the fixture and reduce bending during service.

Design for Vacuum Furnace Conditions
The final fixture concept was developed specifically for vacuum furnace use, taking into account:

• high operating temperature,
• nitrogen cooling conditions,
• load distribution,
• and long-term structural reliability.

From Furnace Conditions to Final Drawing
One of the most valuable aspects of this project is that FH® Alloy completed the fixture design without an existing customer drawing.

The project workflow followed this path:
Customer Operating Conditions
→ Existing Problem Analysis
→ Structural Concept Development
→ 3D Design
→ Manufacturing
→ Inspection
→ Delivery
The customer first shared the working conditions and service issue of the old trays. FH® Alloy then used that information to create the new engineering design and final 3D drawing.
This demonstrates FH® Alloy’s ability to support customers who know their furnace conditions but do not yet have a finalized tooling design.

Manufacturing and Delivery
After the final design was confirmed, FH® Alloy proceeded with manufacturing.

The scope of supply included:

• custom fixture design,
• production according to the final drawing,
• quality inspection,
• and shipment to the customer.

This completed the project from requirement analysis to finished delivery.

Project Specifications

Project Highlights
Designed Without Existing Drawings
FH® Alloy completed the engineering design based only on the customer’s operating conditions and problem description.
Solved High-Temperature Deformation Concerns
The design was developed specifically to address the customer’s concern about tray bending under extreme temperature conditions.
Suitable for Vacuum Furnace Service
The final fixture was designed for 1200–1300°C vacuum furnace operation with nitrogen jet cooling.
Integrated Engineering and Manufacturing
FH® Alloy provided one-stop support from technical analysis and design through to manufacturing and shipment.

Why Choose FH® Alloy for Vacuum Furnace Fixtures?
Wuxi Junteng Fanghu Alloy Technology Co., Ltd. (FH® Alloy) specializes in custom furnace fixtures and heat-resistant alloy products for high-temperature industrial applications.

Our product range includes:

• Vacuum Furnace Fixtures
• Heat Treatment Trays
• Furnace Baskets
• Continuous Furnace Baskets
• Salt Bath Furnace Fixtures
• Radiant Tubes
• Furnace Rollers
• Other Custom Heat-Resistant Alloy Components

We support customers with:
Application Review → Engineering Design → 3D Drawing → Manufacturing → Delivery
Whether the customer already has complete drawings or only operating conditions, FH® Alloy can help develop a practical fixture solution.

Need a Custom Vacuum Furnace Fixture?
If your current vacuum furnace trays are deforming, or if you have working conditions but no drawing, FH® Alloy can help design a more suitable fixture solution.

Useful information for design includes:

• furnace type,
• working temperature,
• cooling method,
• loading weight,
• product dimensions,
• existing fixture problems,
• and target service-life requirements.

With this information, FH® Alloy can develop a customized design based on your real operating conditions.

About FH® Alloy
Wuxi Junteng Fanghu Alloy Technology Co., Ltd. (FH® Alloy) is a manufacturer of customized heat treatment fixtures, furnace trays, radiant tubes, furnace rollers and other heat-resistant alloy products for industrial furnace applications.
We focus on practical engineering solutions, reliable manufacturing and custom high-temperature tooling for global industrial customers.

Custom Design | Custom Manufacturing | Heat-Resistant Alloy Solutions

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