Graphite Hearth Rails Are Perfect For Higher Temperatures And Larger Workloads

Ipsen's improved graphite hearth rails are specially designed to handle very large workloads at high temperatures in VFS model furnaces. Before this innovation, heat treaters had to rely on molybdenum rails for heavy loads. However, moly rails are subject to thermal expansion at high temperatures, causing the rails to warp.

But Ipsen has successfully eliminated this problem. The Ipsen design utilizes multiple graphite support bars held in place by moly work support pins. The top of the graphite support bar can be supplied flat or milled to accept either segmented moly rods or ceramic heavy wall tubes. Work baskets or grids rest directly on these rods or tubes, and can slide or roll over them when thermal expansion occurs, eliminating gauling and sticking.

This hearth feature has been tested and proven in numerous field installations. It's just one more innovation Ipsen has introduced to minimize maintenance and make vacuum heat treating more reliable.