Keith Company products

Aluminum Solution Heat Treating Furnaces

Keith - Electric Drop Bottom Furnaces for AMS 2750F

Solution heat treating of aluminum in electric heated drop bottom furnaces may require a smaller upfront investment but may have higher energy cost then gas fired furnaces. The load is heated by convection. Metallic heating elements in the form of coiled resistance wire (aka wire wound heating elements) are exposed to an air stream generated by a fan. The heat is transferred from the heating element into the air stream and then into the part. Radiation shields protect the load to meet all process specifications created by AMS, BAC, RPS or Milspec.

Keith - Gas Fired Drop Bottom Furnaces

If AMS, BAC, RPS or Milspec process specifications for solution heat treating aluminum allows for products of combustion in the air stream, then a direct gas fired furnace is the most economic choice. If no products of combustion are allowed in the air stream, then an indirect fuel gas fired or electric heated furnace must be used. Our furnaces and ovens meet class 1 requirements of AMS 2750F (previously AMS 2750E), NADCAP AS7102, MILSPEC H6088, BAC 5621, Rolls Royce RPS 953 and DPS 1.700.

Keith - Belt Furnace for Aluminum Solution Heat Treating AMS 2750

Keith Company belt furnaces represent an economical multi functional alternative for solution heat treating of small aluminum parts. They are engineered for continuous or batch processing. The dual mode capability is made possible by control options that can monitor and record each batch separately. The belt speed can be programmed through the PLC to accommodate different heating profiles as required by different AMS 2750F and NADCAP specifications.

Keith - Precipitation Hardening / Aging / Annealing Ovens

Precipitation hardening of aluminum alloys occurs at temperatures between 225°F and 460°F where the copper precipitates in the aluminum and hardens it. This precipitation occurs over several hours resulting that one oven can process multiple loads of solution heat treated aluminum parts. Precipitation hardening and aging processes need to meet AMS 2750F class 1 requirements. Available gas fired or electric heated. Annealing aluminum alloys involves heating the material and then let it cool slowly (example: aluminum 6061 heat up to 775°F then controlled cooling at 50-500°F / hour) to make it more malleable. This process can be done in a dedicated annealing oven, precipitation hardening / aging oven or in a solution heat treat oven without using the quench function. Available gas fired or electric heated.

Special Atmosphere Heat Treat Furnaces

Keith - Retort Furnaces for Titanium & Stainless Steel Parts

Retort furnaces have a sealed vessel that is placed over or around the product and separates the product and process space from the system insulation and heat source. Retort furnaces allow accurate and efficient control of the work space Argon or Hydrogen atmosphere and provide low atmosphere usage due to the closed nature of the system. Max temperatures of 1300°C/2400°F; dew point of -60°F or better.