Designing and building some equipment for the brazing of highly technological components was a new challenge for us, especially since these are some components intended for a process carried out under high vacuum.
High vacuum brazing
This highly sophisticated process consists of welding two or more metals by melting the filler metal, called brazing, under vacuum. I n fact, the vacuum kiln allows the melting temperature to be reached with extreme precision, by the optimisation of the brazing metal wettability and consequently the filling of the joint.
The capillarity sucks the liquid brazing agent (also called filler) into the cavities, which are obtained by mechanical processing at the points where the joint has to be made. The liquefied filler diffuses into the metal, creating an intermediate layer placed exactly in the joint groove.
Furthermore, the vacuum process eliminates the usual problems of corrosion and oxidation resistance of the alloy to be welded, in this way maximizing the cleanliness and therefore the performance of the joint.
Brentech’s contribution
We cannot share images of the manufactured equipment, but we can describe it: brazing process requires extremely precise tolerances on the pieces to be joint, therefore the equipment must guarantee an extremely perfect positioning.
Another issue is represented by the contact points between the equipment and components, which must be designed with appropriate measures avoiding any mutual sticking.
Taking these critical issues into account, we focused on the design of the equipment for the positioning of parts to be connected, planning the components which the customer then created at his own premises.
We did not limit ourselves to this, but we designed as well (and built with the customer) the equipment for the preparation of the components, creating another piece of equipment dedicated to the calibration and mechanical processing of some small diameter tubes; also in this case the challenge was represented by the respect of the very tight tolerances required!
Planning these devices and seeing them built, considering the design challenges which we were asked for, was a great satisfaction; all this was possible thanks also to the perfection by which the customer created the components as well as to the team of excellent suppliers with whom we collaborate.
Do you have one or more technical challenges for us? Contact us, we can’t wait to face them!
