Vacuum Aluminum Brazing (VAB) and Vacuum Deoiling (VD) Furnaces

Vacuum Aluminum Brazing (VAB) furnaces from Consarc are used for fluxless brazing of Aluminum components in a high vacuum environment. Consarc® VAB furnaces have ribbon-style heating elements and trimmable heating zones that offer precision temperature control and uniform heating characteristics throughout the workpiece.

Product Details

Overview

Vacuum Aluminum Brazing (VAB) is a process in which two aluminum base metal pieces are joined using a filler metal with a melting point below that of the base metal. The filler metal – often referred to as the “braze alloy” – is melted in a high-vacuum environment and drawn into the space between the base metal via capillary action. The process demands tight control of temperature uniformity together with low vacuum leak rates and high repeatability. VAB produces components with very clean, high quality, and high-strength brazed joints without using any corrosive flux.

Vacuum Aluminum Brazing furnaces are designed for a range of high vacuum fluxless brazing applications such as:

Aerospace heat exchangers and fluid coolers
Automotive radiators, evaporators, condensers, and oil coolers
Electronic cold plates
Microwave components
Cryogenic heat exchangers
Petrochemical heat exchangers
Compressor oil coolers
Research and development

Consarc® VABs can adjust the vertical and horizontal heat inputs to match thermal characteristics of the work and fixture, accomplished using multiple “trimmable” heat zones. Closely spaced ribbon heating elements with edges facing the work provide optimal heating characteristics.

Features

Temperature Uniformity

The shortest brazing cycles produce the best brazing results. It is essential that the rate of heat input in VAB furnaces is maximized while maintaining good uniformity. Uniformity values of +/-5°F (3°C) across the work zone at brazing temperature are typical for this process. Uniformity is determined by the design of the hot zone heaters and the degree of accuracy of furnace instrumentation and controls.

To give full utilization of the hot zone space, VAB furnaces are built with six-sided heating element panels. Each side may also be sub-divided into multiple zones each with its own dedicated power supply and control loop. This gives the optimum design for fast and uniform heating of the workload.

Zone Trimming

The use of multiple “trimmable” heating panels with individual power adjustments has been developed to allow for balance of heat input matching the workload and fixture thermal characteristics. Uniform heating is accomplished by adjusting the temperature profile both vertically and horizontally. Flexible hot zone control allows the heat input to be trimmed to match components/charge loads of varying height, resulting in faster heating, more uniform temperatures and uniform brazing in the work assembly.

Vacuum Pumping Systems

Consarc designs vacuum pumping systems to match the size of the furnaces and their corresponding charge loads. These systems are designed to achieve working vacuum in the low 10^-5 torr (1.3×10^-5 mbar) range.

For superior vacuum performance, hot zone shields have gas passage louvers to permit easy escape of gases from the work assembly. Both the internal volume and surface areas of aluminum components must be evacuated of moisture vapor and air to ensure a high quality braze joint.

Controls and Automation

All Consarc furnace installations are supplied with a fully integrated and interlocked control system for safe and efficient operation of the furnace specifically designed for aluminum brazing. Modern Vacuum Aluminum Brazing furnace controls are also fully automated. The braze cycle is carried out by recipe-driven schedules that are optimized to the individual component being brazed.

Tech Specs

Aerospace (Hot Zone Usable Space)

Model No.	Height	Width	Depth
VAB 22-24-22	16” (405 mm)	18” (455 mm)	16” (405 mm)
VAB 28-34-26	22” (560 mm)	26” (660 mm)	26” (660 mm)
VAB 34-28-36	27” (685 mm)	20” (510 mm)	26” (660 mm)
VAB 36-41-60	28” (710 mm)	37” (940 mm)	54” (1370 mm)
VAB 41-36-60	33” (840 mm)	30” (760 mm)	54” (1370 mm)
VAB 53-46-60	44” (1115 mm)	40” (1015 mm)	54” (1370 mm)
VAB 48-40-100	42” (1065 mm)	36” (915 mm)	95” (2410 mm)

Automotive (Hot Zone Usable Space)

Model No.	Height	Width	Depth
VAB 73-2×21-144	50” (1270 mm)	2×15” (2×380 mm)	129” (3275 mm)
VAB 72-2×22-99	60” (1525 mm)	2×18” (2×455 mm)	93” (2360 mm)
VAB 88-2×26-167	70” (1770 mm)	2×12” (2×290 mm)	144” (3630 mm)
VAB 88-24-157	64” (1640 mm)	17” (425 mm)	136” (3450 mm)

Cryogenic (Hot Zone Usable Space)

Model No.	Height	Width	Depth
VAB 75-61-264	60” (1525 mm)	48” (1220 mm)	248” (6300 mm)
VAB 109-83-341	79” (2000 mm)	71” (1800 mm)	311” (7900 mm)
VAB 98-71-305	83” (2100 mm)	59” (1500 mm)	275” (7000 mm)

Accessories

Interested in this product? Connect with an Inductotherm Group company in your region to learn more.

Inductotherm Group Australia

62 Bardia Avenue, Seaford. Victoria 3198
Australia

+61-3-9786-6000 | furnaces@inductotherm.com.au

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Inductotherm Group China

Inductotherm Industries (Shanghai) Ltd.
50 Guoshoujing Road, Zhangjiang High-tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai
+86-021-3895-3220 I sales@inductotherm.com.cn

Inductotherm Group China Ltd.
92 Ximei Road, Xinwu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu

+86-510-8523-1010 | sales@inductotherm.com.cn

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Inductotherm Group Taiwan

10, Gongye W. 5th Rd. Lukang
Changhua County 505004 Taiwan (R.O.C.)

+ 886-4-7811630 | sales@inductothermgroup.com.tw

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Inductotherm Group Japan

1-3-10 Mibemibefu,
Nishi-Ku, Kobe 651-2116 Japan

+81-78-974-2552 | info@inductothermgroup.jp

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Inductotherm Group Korea

188 Dasansandan-ro, Dasan Myeon
Goryeong-gun Gyeongsangbuk-do Korea 40113

+82-54-954-5682 | inductotherm@inductotherm.co.kr

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Consarc Engineering

9 Woodside, Eurocentral, Holytown
North Lanarkshire, ML1 4XL Scotland UK

+44-1698-730430 | sales@consarceng.com

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Inductotherm Group India

INDUCTOTHERM (INDIA) PVT. LTD.
Plot No. SM-6&7, Road No.11 Sanand-II, Industrial Estate, BOL Village, Sanand Ahmedabad- 382170
Toll free: 1 800 419 2900
Sales: +9193745 78586
Spares: +9193279 80564

+91 271 762 1000 | sales@inductothermindia.com

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