Grate: The "Core Working surface" of Combustion Equipment. Analysis of Its Multiple Functions and Energy-saving efficiency Enhancement Paths

The heat treatment frame is a key tooling device used to carry, fix and transport workpieces during the heat treatment process. Its design and performance directly affect the quality, efficiency and safety of heat treatment.The following is its core role：
1. Carrying and supporting workpieces
Evenly distribute the load: the material frame structure (such as grid, bracket, fixture) can stably fix workpieces of different shapes and sizes (such as gears, bearings, plates, etc.) to avoid deformation or collapse of the workpieces due to their own weight or high temperature softening.
Adapt to batch processing: multi-layer or multi-station design supports one-time processing of multiple workpieces to improve heat treatment efficiency, especially suitable for large-scale production.
2. Guarantee heating uniformity
Optimize heat transfer: the material frame material (such as heat-resistant steel and superalloys) has good thermal conductivity, and the structural design (such as hollow and gap layout) can reduce the thermal resistance, ensure uniform temperature around the workpiece, and avoid local overheating or underheating.
Avoid adhesion of workpieces: Through reasonable spacing design, the workpieces are prevented from sticking or forming “shaded areas” due to contact during heating (affecting medium penetration, such as carburizing and nitriding).
3. Protect the surface and performance of the workpiece
Reduce oxidation and pollution: If the material frame adopts anti-oxidation coating (such as ceramic coating) or material (such as stainless steel), the contact area between the workpiece and the air at high temperature can be reduced, and the generation of oxide skin can be reduced; in chemical heat treatment (such as nitriding and boron infiltration), adverse reactions between the workpiece and the material of the material frame can be avoided.
Prevent mechanical damage: the material frame design with smooth edges and no burrs can avoid scratches or bumps on the surface of the workpiece during loading, unloading or heat treatment.
4. Adapt to complex process requirements
Resistant to extreme environments: under high temperature (such as quenching and annealing above 1200℃), corrosive atmosphere (such as carburizing CO/CO环境 environment) or high pressure (such as hot isostatic pressure), the material frame must have high temperature resistance, creep resistance, and corrosion resistance (such as nickel-based alloys and silicon carbide composite materials).
Cooperate with quenching and transfer: Part of the material frame is designed to be directly immersed in the quenching medium (such as oil, water, and polymer solution) to quickly transfer the workpiece to control the cooling rate and ensure uniform phase transition (such as martensitic transition).
5. Improve operation convenience and safety
Easy to load, unload and transport: the material frame is equipped with handles, hooks or forklift interfaces to support mechanization and automation of loading and unloading (such as cooperation with robots and conveyor belts) to reduce the intensity of manual operation and the risk of burns.
Standardization and customization: The material frame can be customized according to the furnace size and workpiece characteristics (weight, shape) of the heat treatment equipment (box furnace, well furnace, vacuum furnace, etc.) to improve space utilization and process adaptability.
6. Extend equipment life
Reduce furnace wear: the material frame serves as a buffer between the workpiece and the furnace wall and the bottom of the furnace to avoid the workpiece falling or collision damage to the lining of the equipment (such as refractory bricks and ceramic fibers).
Simplify cleaning and maintenance: the material frame can be disassembled and cleaned separately to prevent workpiece debris and oxide skin from accumulating in the furnace and maintain stable equipment performance.
summary
The heat treatment frame is not only the “carrier” of the workpiece, but also an important part of the heat treatment process. Its design needs to comprehensively consider the characteristics of the workpiece, the heat treatment process (temperature, atmosphere, cooling method), the type of equipment and the production efficiency. Through material selection (such as heat-resistant steel, superalloys, ceramic matrix composites) and structural optimization (such as load-bearing strength, breathability, corrosion resistance), the balance of workpiece quality, production efficiency and cost is finally achieved.