As mentioned in the first part of this article maintenance plays a crucial role in the performance of using a vacuum furnace. Below I will discuss the frequency during maintenance.
As you can well imagine the frequency of maintenance activities is closely dependent on the number and type of thermal processes running in the system; also the quality of the parts that make up the oven, the quality of the gas used and the skill of the operators themselves influence on the maintenance intervals .
Every furnace, depending on its specification and design , requires specific preventive measures; below I will try to draw the guidelines for the maintenance and prevention of failures , with suggestions of checks and inspections to be carried out with different temporal frequency .
Every day is a good idea to inspect , clean and lubricate the seal on the oven door – check the insulation of the hot spots for damage or deterioration – check the functioning of the equipment
Weekly: Check the operation of thermocouples – inspect the interior and exterior of the oven – check the oil level and contamination of the pumps – check for fluid leaks , abnormal noises or vibrations – verify functionality of the tools
Monthly: check any deterioration of the hot zone – checking of vacuum – control of the thermocouples
Every six months: Change the vacuum pump oil – change filters – replace / re-calibrate thermocouples – check the cooling lines (pipes and display ) – see the indicators of emptiness – check and lubricate the moving parts – check and clean sensors empty – check the tightness of the valves
Annually: thorough checks inside and outside of the oven – check the cooling water – check the connections eletrici – and check noise absorption engines and handling – verify vacuum sealing and depth controls .
Most of these controls can be run directly by the user, especially the controls fraquenza up to six months; for higher-level controls is advisable to contact a qualified service center , which can provide a good support for preventive activities not easily performed by internal staff .
