CaseMaster Evolution – integral oil quench vacuum furnaces for low pressure carburizing
Double- or triple-chamber sealed quench vacuum furnace for low pressure carburizing (LPC), including integrated oil quenching, designed for high-volume production.
CaseMaster Evolution (CMe) is double- or triple- chamber vacuum furnace configuration design for low pressure carburizing (LPC) combined with integral oil quenching (OQ).
This configuration is intended for applications where maximum cooling intensity is required, particularly for steels with lower hardenability or for components that demand relatively high core hardness and stable microstructural formation.
By integrating oil quenching directly into the vacuum furnace, CaseMaster Evolution OQ enables high cooling performance without transferring the load between separate devices, supporting repeatable results in high‑volume and demanding heat treatment applications.
- Overview
- Advantages
- Configurations
- Features
- Specification
- Options
- Processes
- Automation
- System integration
- Industries
- Materials
The CaseMaster Evolution (CMe) has been designed with the state-of-the-art construction and selections for two or three chambers in order to provide maximum flexibility in heat treatment and continuous batch processing. They are compatible with AMS2750 and CQI9 standards.
There are two types of CaseMaster Evolution:
- The two-chamber furnace, called D type, provides a dual chamber with one for processing and a second chamber for oil or gas quenching.
- The three-chamber furnace, called T type, provides the same chambers as the D type plus a third pre-heating chamber that can be used for faster processing.
Process challenge:
In carburizing applications involving steels with limited hardenability or components requiring deep effective case depth (ECD), gas quenching may not provide sufficient cooling performance.
Oil quenching is selected whenever metallurgical requirements dictate cooling rates beyond the practical limits of gas quenching. It provides rapid and consistent heat extraction, enabling manufacturers to achieve the required hardness and microstructural properties across a broad range of steel grades and component geometries.
While high-pressure gas quenching has become the preferred choice for many distortion-sensitive applications, oil quenching remains an essential technology for parts where hardenability requirements, section thickness, or material characteristics demand more intensive cooling.
By combining vacuum heat treatment with advanced oil quenching technology, manufacturers benefit from excellent process repeatability, reliable metallurgical results, and proven performance in high-volume production environments.
Process outcome:
The integral oil quench configuration allows manufacturers to achieve required metallurgical properties when cooling rates exceed the practical capabilities of gas quenching, while maintaining process integration and repeatability.
/ Maximum cooling intensity
Oil quenching provides the highest cooling rates after LPC, enabling proper hardening of steels with limited hardenability.
/ Reliable hardening performance
Delivers consistent hardness and microstructural properties across demanding carburizing applications.
/ Suitable for challenging materials and sections
Preferred when material grade, section thickness, or hardenability requirements demand intensive cooling.
/ Integrated quenching inside the furnace
No external quench tanks or load transfer.
/ Proven solution for demanding applications
Established technology for heavy-duty carburizing and hardening applications.
This configuration should be selected when maximum cooling intensity is required after low pressure carburizing.
It is particularly suitable for components made of low-hardenability steels, applications requiring relatively high core hardness, or metallurgical specifications that cannot be fulfilled using high-pressure gas quenching alone.
The features below describe the construction and functional elements of a vacuum furnace designed for low-pressure carburizing with integral oil quenching, focusing on high cooling intensity, process integration and metallurgical performance.
Automation & Compliance
/ Fully automated processing
/ Compatible with AMS2750, CQI-9
Furnace Design & Construction
/ Horizontal, double-, and triple-chamber design
/ Compact, modular design
/ Graphite heating chamber
/ Electric heating system
/ Low heat losses by increased thermal insulation
Process Integrity & Speed
/ Vacuum and pressure-tight inner doors ensure high purity of process and parts
/ Shorter evacuation times by independent pumping systems for each chamber
/ Short workload-transport time within the furnace
Quenching Technologies
/ High-pressure gas quenching (N₂ or He) – up to 25 bar abs
/ Uniform quenching and distortion reduction by adjustable pressure settings
/ Guiding tunnel for optimized oil flow through the charge
/ Uniform quenching and distortion reduction by stepless control of oil circulation system
The specification below applies to the LPC furnace configuration with integral oil quenching and defines the technical limits, operating parameters and available furnace sizes.
Technical data of standard CaseMaster Evolution furnaces series
| Type | Size | W [mm] | H [mm] | L [mm] | Charge Weight [kg] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D, T | 446 | 400 | 400 | 600 | 200 |
| D, T | 669 | 600 | 600 | 900 | 600 |
| D | 9129 | 900 | 1200 | 900 | 1200 |
| D, T | 9912 | 900 | 900 | 1200 | 1600 |
| V | 1625 | fi 1600 | 2500 | – | – |
| Temp in the heating chamber: -1250°C | Vacuum in the heating chamber: -10-2 mbar | ||||
| Customized version can be produced to the furnace chamber dimensions requested by customer. | |||||
Available options for CaseMaster Evolution furnaces series
| Feature | Furnace Type | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Low Pressure Vacuum Carburizing (LPC) | D, T | all |
| LPCN | D,T | all |
| GQ – up to 1,5 bar abs | D, T, V | all |
| Convection heating | D, T | all |
| Gas cooling over oil bath | D, T | all |
| Load Thermocouples | D | all |
| High vacuum (10-4 mbar) | D, V | all |
| HPGQ – 6, 12 bar abs | D HYBRID | 669,9912 |
| HPGQ – 25 bar abs | T, D | 6810 |
/ Short transfer time to oil
Load transfer from the heating chamber to the quench tank in as little as 30 seconds, ensuring optimum hardening conditions.
/ Fully adjustable oil agitation
Variable oil circulation control from 0 to 100% allows cooling intensity to be precisely matched to process requirements.
/ Advanced oil flow distribution system
Designed to ensure uniform oil contact with the load and consistent cooling performance throughout the batch.
/ Wide oil temperature control range
Precise temperature regulation enables optimization of quenching conditions for different materials and applications.
The following heat treatment processes are supported in the LPC furnace configuration with integral oil quenching, enabling high cooling intensity and deep case hardening where required.
Surface Treatment & Case Hardening
/ Low Pressure Carburizing (LPC) using FineCarb with oil or gas quench
/ Low Pressure Carbonitriding (LPCN) with oil or gas quench
/ Low Pressure Carburizing (LPC) with subcritical annealing (pearlitizing) for grain refinement
/ Low Pressure Carburizing (LPC) with slow cooling (without martensite transformation)
/ High-temperature carburizing up to 1050°C using LPC for common case hardening steels
/ Oxidation in the pre-heating chamber (only in T type furnace)
Core Heat Treatment Processes
/ Hardening with oil quench or gas quench
/ Bright thorough hardening
/ Tempering
/ Annealing (with gas cooling)
/ Automotive including: transmissions components, gears, shafts, pinions and bearings
/ Commercial Heat Treatment
/ Aerospace including: landing gears, high-precision and high-quality components
/ Fabricted metal products
/ Machine-building: including: parts exposed to wear and mechanical stress.
/ Fasteners
/ Mint
/ Case hardening steels
/ Carburizing steels
/ Hardening steels
/ Structural streel
/ Bearing steel
/ Tool steels
/ HSLA
/ Alloyed steels
/ Stainless steels
/ Alloys and super alloys
/ Titanium alloys
/ AISI: 1015; 1020; 3310; 5115; 5117; 5120H; 8620; 8622; 8627/H; 9310
/ Armco
/ EN: 14CrNi14; 14CrNiMo13-4; 15CrNi6; 15NiCrMo16-5; 16MnCr5; 17Cr3; 17CrNiMo6; 17CrNiMo7; 18CrMo4; 18CrNi8; 18MnCr5; 20CrMnTi; 20CrNiMo2; 20MnCr5; 21NiCrMo2; C15; C22; X19NiCrMo4
/ GOST: 15; 15G; 15H; 16ChG; 18ChGT; 19ChGN; 20; 20Ch; 20ChG; 20ChGNM; 20G
/ PN: 12H2N4A; 12HN3A; 14NiCrMo 13-4; 15; 15G; 15H; 15HGM; 15HGN;; 15HN; 15NiCrMo16-5; 16HG; 17CrNiMo6; 17HGN; 17HNM; 18H2N2; 18H2N4WA; 18HGM; 18HGT; 20; 20G; 20H; 20H2N4A; 20HG; 20HN3A; 20HNM; 22HNM; 25H2N4WA;
/ Pyrowear Alloy 53, Ferrum C61, Ferrum C64, M50Nil, Ferrum 675
/ Werkstoff: 1.0401; 1.0402; 1.0467; 1.2764; 1.5919; 1.6523; 1.6587; 1.6657; 1.6723; 1.7016; 1.7027; 1.7131; 1.7147; 1.7242; 1.7243;
/ Environmental & Safety Advantages
- Environmentally friendly process
→ No harmful by-products, clean operation. - No emission of climate-warming gas CO₂
→ No ENDO generator or combustion gases. - No emission of harmful gases (CO, NOx)
→ Safer for operators and the environment. - Safe, no flammable and poisonous atmosphere
→ No risk of explosions or toxic leaks. - No open fire
→ Eliminates fire hazards completely.
/ Process Quality & Efficiency
- Fast and uniform LPC of densely packed loads
→ High productivity with precise case depth. - Nitrogen quench (neither oil nor helium is needed)
→ Clean, cost-effective, and eco-friendly cooling. - High lifespan of hot zone components – graphite
→ Lower maintenance and waste. - No decarburization or oxidation, elimination of IGO
→ Perfect surface quality without extra cleaning. - Flexible, on-demand operation
→ No continuous gas flow or idle furnace losses.
