Carbon and graphite
Review cleanliness, load support, hot-zone compatibility, temperature class and the permitted vacuum or gas route.
VTSL vertical bottom-loading platform
VTSL Bottom-Loading Vacuum Sintering Furnace
A configurable high-temperature vacuum furnace for compact, heavy, tall or fixture-intensive loads. The carrier, graphite hot zone, vacuum train, lift mechanism and controls are defined around the real load and qualified process.
VTSL-120Ø350 × H400 mm / ≤200 kg
VTSL-8012Ø800 × H1,200 mm / 1,500 kg
Large-capacity VTSLØ2.3 m × H1.4 m / 2,000 °C / 12 bar
Architecture fit
Start with the load, not the furnace shell
Bottom loading combines external fixture preparation with controlled vertical transfer into the hot zone. Use these four inputs to match the furnace architecture to the production load.
01
Complete load envelope
Define part, setter, tray and fixture dimensions as one working envelope, including loading clearance.
02
Total carrier mass
Confirm parts, tooling and carrier mass together so the lifting system and support structure are sized around the real load.
03
Thermal and atmosphere route
Specify temperature, dwell, vacuum, argon backfill, cooling and any pressure-capable requirement by process stage.
04
Handling and acceptance boundary
Agree carrier preparation, lift sequence, interlocks, FAT evidence, site utilities and SAT responsibilities before fabrication.
Clarify another route first when
- Axial force is required for densification; compare a vacuum hot press furnace.
- Binder removal or off-gas management is a primary process step; define the collection and cleaning scope first.
- The material or setter system is not yet qualified; establish the thermal and atmosphere window before fixing equipment size.
Configuration comparison
Match working zone, load and process class before selecting a VTSL route
Compare VTSL configurations by usable work zone, total loaded mass, temperature, vacuum and gas capability. SYNHTE matches the chamber, carrier, hot zone and controls to the required production cycle.
| Configuration | Working zone | Load basis | Temperature | Vacuum / atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VTSL-120 | Ø350 × H400 mm uniform zone | ≤200 kg including tray | 1,800 °C maximum; ≤1,650 °C high-temperature operation with W-Re thermocouple control | High-vacuum performance data plus argon backfill up to 0.8 bar |
| VTSL-8012 | Ø800 × H1,200 mm uniform zone | 1,500 kg including tooling | 1,350 °C use temperature | Configured for the required production process and atmosphere cycle |
| Large VTSL | Ø2.3 m × H1.4 m working space | Sized for the complete carrier and fixture assembly | 2,000 °C working temperature | 12 bar gas-pressure capability |
| Custom VTSL | Configured around the complete production envelope | Parts, trays, fixtures and carrier included | Class and measurement method defined by process | Pump train, gas handling and pressure boundary defined by project |
Configuration matching: complete loaded envelope, thermal cycle, atmosphere and acceptance requirements.
Controlled handling
Prepare, raise, seal and return the complete load through one defined path
Bottom loading separates fixture preparation from the sealed thermal cycle. The sequence protects the load geometry while coordinating carrier movement, chamber closure, vacuum, heating and cooling.
01
Review the loaded assembly
Confirm part orientation, setters, trays, fixtures, center of mass, clearance and total loaded mass.
02
Prepare on the lower carrier
Arrange the complete load outside the chamber where access and inspection are clearer.
03
Raise, align and seal
Move the carrier on its guided path, confirm position and complete the chamber-closing sequence.
04
Evacuate and run the thermal recipe
Coordinate pumping, heating, dwell, optional argon backfill and the configured control limits.
05
Cool to the agreed release condition
Complete controlled cooling and any permitted backfill before opening or carrier movement.
06
Lower, inspect and unload
Return the carrier for documented inspection and safe removal of parts, trays and fixtures.
Integrated movement and process interlocks
Carrier position, chamber closure, vacuum, temperature and cooling permissives are coordinated in the control sequence and verified during equipment acceptance.
System architecture
Loading hardware and thermal hardware must qualify together
The carrier, fixture, hot zone, vacuum train, gas system and controls are engineered as one operating system for repeatable loading and thermal execution.
Carrier + guided liftSupports the complete load and defines the movement path into the chamber.
Graphite hot zoneResistance heating and composite graphite-felt insulation support high-temperature vacuum processing.
Vacuum + gas handlingPumps, valves, instruments and backfill hardware are arranged for the specified cycle and test condition.
Controls + recorded evidenceRecipes, alarms, interlocks and records coordinate loading and thermal execution.
Material and process fit
Use the material, setter system and required result to define the furnace
VTSL configurations can support graphite and carbon products, technical ceramics, powder-metallurgy components and refractory materials when the validated route requires controlled loading, vacuum or argon and programmable thermal execution.
Technical ceramics
Define setter design, green-part fragility, shrinkage, packing density, temperature uniformity and controlled cooling.
Powder and refractory materials
Confirm binder or volatile content, vacuum and atmosphere stages, dwell, load geometry and the evidence used to accept density or dimensional results.
Process integration: feedstock, forming route, setter interaction, binder behavior and the required part result are incorporated into the thermal and atmosphere design.
Acceptance planning
Agree how the furnace will be proven before fabrication
The acceptance plan connects equipment functions to measurable evidence, identifies the test condition and assigns each result to FAT, SAT or later process qualification.
Measured acceptance evidence
VTSL-120 data includes a nine-point temperature-uniformity result at 1,000 °C together with ultimate-vacuum, hot-working-vacuum and pressure-rise measurements. The acceptance plan records the configuration, test load, instruments, tolerances and limits for the supplied furnace.
Gate 01
Technical agreement
Confirm material, loaded envelope, mass, process stages, utilities, interfaces, records and responsibilities.
Gate 02
Function and safety checks
Demonstrate carrier movement, chamber closure, permissives, alarms, interlocks, controls and relevant utilities.
Gate 03
Thermal and vacuum evidence
Measure the agreed temperature, vacuum, pressure-rise, heating, dwell, cooling or gas-performance items under defined conditions.
Gate 04
FAT, delivery and SAT
Complete equipment records, site-readiness checks, interface commissioning, training and SAT evidence.
VTSL-120 configuration
VTSL-120 technical data
A compact bottom-loading configuration with a Ø350 × H400 mm uniform zone, load capacity up to 200 kg including the tray, graphite resistance heating and argon backfill capability.
Measured performance points
Ultimate vacuum, hot working vacuum, pressure-rise rate and temperature uniformity are recorded as separate acceptance items with their stated test conditions.
Discuss VTSL-120 requirements- Uniform zone / load
- Ø350 × H400 mm; ≤200 kg including tray
- Temperature
- 1,800 °C maximum; ≤1,650 °C high-temperature operation with tungsten-rhenium thermocouple control
- Ultimate vacuum
- 7.9 × 10-5 Pa
- Hot working vacuum
- 4.8 × 10-3 Pa at 1,650 °C in an empty furnace
- Pressure-rise rate
- 0.08 Pa/h
- Temperature uniformity
- +2.7 / -2.6 °C at 1,000 °C using a nine-point test
- Heating / insulation
- 3-10 °C/min heating rate; 100 mm insulation; 45% hold output at 1,650 °C
- Power / argon
- 150 kW / 380 V heating power and voltage; argon backfill up to 0.8 bar
- Hot-zone structure
- Graphite resistance heating with composite soft- and hard-graphite-felt insulation
Engineering RFQ
Send the inputs that determine the carrier, hot zone and acceptance plan
Provide the details below to receive a configuration proposal matched to the load, thermal cycle, atmosphere and site conditions.
01
Material, forming route and binder or volatile content
02
Green and finished part dimensions
03
Tray, setter and fixture arrangement
04
Total load mass including tooling and carrier basis
05
Temperature, heating, dwell and cooling cycle
06
Vacuum, argon and any pressure-capable stages
07
Batch frequency, throughput and handling method
08
Utilities, site layout, documentation, FAT and SAT
Next engineering step
Get a VTSL configuration matched to your sintering load
SYNHTE reviews the loaded envelope and thermal process, then defines the recommended working zone, carrier, hot zone, vacuum train, gas system, controls and service scope.
Technical questions
Frequently asked questions
When is a bottom-loading vacuum sintering furnace the right architecture?
Bottom loading is suited to compact, heavy, tall or fixture-intensive loads that benefit from preparation on a lower carrier and controlled vertical movement into the hot zone. Selection is based on the material, tooling, total load mass, thermal cycle and site interfaces.
What performance data is available for VTSL-120?
VTSL-120 provides a Ø350 × H400 mm uniform zone, a load of up to 200 kg including the tray, 1,800 °C maximum temperature, 7.9 × 10-5 Pa ultimate vacuum, 4.8 × 10-3 Pa working vacuum at 1,650 °C in an empty furnace, and a 0.08 Pa/h pressure-rise rate.
Can the VTSL platform be configured for larger production loads?
Yes. Available VTSL configurations include a Ø800 × H1,200 mm uniform zone with a 1,500 kg load including tooling, and a large system with a Ø2.3 m × H1.4 m working space, 2,000 °C working temperature and 12 bar gas-pressure capability.
What should be included in a technical RFQ for a VTSL furnace?
Provide the material, green-part and finished dimensions, fixture and tray layout, total load mass, target thermal cycle, vacuum or argon requirement, throughput, utilities, site layout, documentation and acceptance requirements.
Configure the VTSL system
Turn the real load and acceptance plan into an equipment scope
Share the material, loaded envelope, mass, thermal cycle, atmosphere, throughput and site interfaces. SYNHTE will prepare the carrier, working-zone, hot-zone, vacuum, control and service scope for technical review.