Industrial Heat Treatment Furnace Selection Guide: 4 Core Dimensions to Avoid Mistakes from Capacity to Process

I. Select by Heat Treatment Process: Match Core Functions

• Annealing/Normalizing: Prioritize box-type resistance furnaces or pit-type furnaces. These devices offer uniform heating and flexible adjustment of holding time, suitable for batch processing to improve material machinability, compatible with low-carbon steel, cast iron, and other materials.
• Quenching/Tempering: Recommend mesh belt continuous furnaces or pusher-type furnaces. Featuring high automation, they enable continuous "heating-quenching-tempering" operations with a temperature control accuracy of ±1℃, ideal for mass production of auto parts and standard components.
• Nitriding/Carburizing: Must select specialized gas nitriding furnaces or vacuum carburizing furnaces. These furnaces provide strong atmosphere tightness, precise control of nitrogen/carbon concentration, and oxidation prevention, suitable for surface hardening of precision components.
• Precision Small Parts Processing: Optional vacuum furnaces or ion nitriding furnaces. The vacuum environment prevents workpiece oxidation and decarburization, while the low-temperature processing of ion nitriding furnaces ensures dimensional accuracy, making them suitable for electronic components and aerospace parts.

II. Select by Production Capacity: Balance Efficiency and Cost

• Small-Batch Production (Daily Output < 500 Pieces): Choose box-type furnaces or pit-type furnaces. With low equipment investment (RMB 100,000-300,000), flexible operation, and quick process switching, they are suitable for customized and multi-variety production.
• Medium-Batch Production (Daily Output 500-2000 Pieces): Select bogie hearth furnaces or roller hearth furnaces. Balancing flexibility and efficiency, they have a single loading capacity of 50-200kg, ideal for large-scale production in small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Large-Batch Production (Daily Output > 2000 Pieces): Opt for mesh belt continuous furnaces or stepping furnaces. Offering automated assembly line operations, they achieve a capacity of 1-5 tons/day with low energy consumption and high consistency, suitable for standardized production in large manufacturing enterprises.

III. Select by Material Characteristics: Avoid Process Failure

• Low-Carbon Steel/Medium-Carbon Steel: Conventional resistance furnaces or gas-fired furnaces are optional, featuring low cost and meeting basic heat treatment requirements.
• Alloy Steel/Stainless Steel: Prioritize vacuum furnaces or atmosphere-protected furnaces to avoid oxidation and decarburization, ensuring material corrosion resistance.
• Precision Castings/Thin-Walled Parts: Choose low-temperature uniform heating furnaces (e.g., infrared heating furnaces) to reduce deformation and cracking caused by thermal stress.

IV. 2 Key Indicators Not to Be Ignored

1. Temperature Control Accuracy: For core processes (e.g., nitriding, quenching), select equipment with an accuracy of ±1℃; for general processes, it can be relaxed to ±3℃.
2. Energy Consumption Index: Prioritize Class 1 energy-saving furnaces (energy consumption ≤ 500kWh/ton) equipped with waste heat recovery systems, which can save over 30% on electricity costs in long-term use.