Case Study: Industrial Preheat Tunnel Oven for Architectural Panels
Customer Background
| Company: | Classified |
| Part to be Preheated: | Architectural Interior Panel |
| Part Material: | Classified |
| Part Dimensions: | N/A |
| Part Weight: | N/A |
| Target Preheating Temperature: | 400°F |
| Number of pieces to be heated at one time: | One |
| Required preheat time frame: | None Specified |
Project Background
A manufacturer of interior architectural panels contacted us seeking a custom industrial tunnel oven for preheating a newly designed product. The panel was made of a special polymer material that became pliable at a temperature of 300F- 400F. The selling concept of the product was that it could be shaped into a variety of forms and shapes to accommodate different types of interior structural spaces. The length of the product presented preheating challenges because the industrial oven required had to be 100" long, and had to open on both ends to facilitate placement of the part inside the oven and removal.
For this particular application we designed a custom industrial preheating oven and called it the "Tunnel Oven". This preheat oven had to be unique and completely custom for the product so that client's product design objectives could be met. The first challenge we encountered with designing the oven was the length, and how the part was to be loaded into the oven.
We designed a long, perforated steel tray that could slight out from the oven when pulled, enabling the part to be loaded on the tray then pushed into the oven for heating. The perforations allowed the heat to permeate the oven and surround the part evenly. The center of the oven had to be strengthened to prevent sag in the middle and buckling.
This custom oven is useful for a variety of purposes. The temperature range can be modified for any application. A programmable digital controller was installed for this oven so the temperature reading would remain very accurate and the temperature control could be adjusted for different applications.
Industrial Tunnel Oven Specifications
| Part Number: | #010310 |
| Full Description of Oven: | TUNNEL OVEN |
| Voltages Available: | 240V |
| Temp Range F | 0-500 Degrees F |
| Wattage: | 8800 |
| Thermostat Type: | Micro Processor |
| Thermometer: | DIGITAL Controller READ OUT |
| Insulation: | 3" MINERAL WOOL AND THERMAL INSULATING WOOL |
| Interior Dims: | 11" DIAMETER x 100" LENGTH |
| Exterior Dims: | 16" W x 17 "H x 106 "L (FROM THE FRONT WITH JCT BOX 23"W AND 24"H WITH JCT BOXES) HEIGHT WITH LEGS 54" |
| Net Weight: | N/A |
| Shipping Dims: | N/A |
| Shipping Weight: | N/A |
| Power Cord Length: | 10 FEET |
| Does it have a Pilot Light? | YES |
| Unique features: | ON/OFF SWITCH HIGH TEMP LIMIT |
Industrial Tunnel Oven Construction
Exterior
The industrial tunnel oven is a heat treating oven constructed of carbon steel throughout. The oven exterior has a highly durable, powder-coat finish in blue that is resistant to scratching and corrosion. This a front and rear-loading, floor-positioned preheating oven and is designed to be stored on a floor for ease of access to the parts being preheated. Perforated, removable shelving was installed on this batch oven to evenly distribute the heat around the part to be preheated. The lid hinges are tack-welded to ensure smooth operation for many years. The control panel which houses the digital PID is mounted on the side of the oven with heavy-duty rivets. A standard "ON/OFF" indicating light was also provided, which is bright enough to be seen from a distance. A variety of temperature control methods are available. The Tunnel Oven preheating oven rests on tack welded steel legs in the front and back to provide stability for the oven.
Interior
The interior of the Tunnel Oven is unique and features a custom-designed extendable shelving system. The interior is cylindrical for the entire length of the oven and can be used for a variety of applications. The elements are installed at the bottom of the oven which allows the heat to radiate around the oven. The heating elements are housed in element guards to protect users from coming in contact to the elements. The interior of the K-TL30 preheating oven is painted with a reflective, galvanized paint and the interior welds are touched up with high-temperature aluminum paint.
All our preheating ovens are made in the USA and feature a 1-year limited manufacturer's warranty. Parts are readily available.
Design And Build Your Own Custom Industrial And Welding Ovens
Each customer often has a specific process that requires the heat treating of parts, components or materials prior to assembly. Their parts are unique in size and shape, and a customized heat treatment oven specific to the part and application is often the only solution to streamline the process. Keen is your solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a preheat oven?
We use the term preheat oven to describe an oven that is used for preheating parts before they are used in some type of application. Most of our preheat ovens are custom-designed according to the specific application being performed by a client. Many processes require the preheating of weldments before they are bonded to some other type of metal. This preheating is required to change the property of the metal part and enable it to be installed onto another part. Our ovens are used in many applications. The K-450TL hatchable oven used on ships is just one example. We have designed ovens for bowl shafts, cylinder heads, cylinder blocks, military tank transmissions and for many other types of parts.
Why is preheating steel before welding a necessary procedure?
It depends on the application requirements. Many steel components for a variety of industries require preheating to prevent problems in the weld after the job is complete. Keen's custom preheat ovens are an excellent preheating solution to many welding applications. Rather than heat each part at a time, we often have customers that load an oven with many parts at once and leave the oven on all the time. This way they have parts ready whenever they need them, at the right temperature. Each welding application has its own thermal treatment requirements, so be sure to check what is need for your next procedure.
Can this oven be modified for other applications?
Yes, absolutely. Many of our custom ovens have resulted from client requests to modify an existing oven they have seen on our website, or to one of our standard welding electrode ovens that a client may be using for welding applications. The process usually begins like this: a client finds one of our ovens that has an interior size close to what can accommodate the parts that need to be preheated, and then inquires if modifications can be done. Our engineers get to work to provide suggestions to the client as to what modifications can be done. If the modifications are not suitable, we design a new oven from scratch to fit the users needs.
Do you provide CAD drawings for review?
Yes. Keen's custom oven design process typically begins with a discussion of the various solutions we are able to provide to the client. If the client wants to proceed, we then do a CAD drawing for review that clearly outlines the custom oven design for the client to review.
Do you manufacture gas-fired ovens?
No. We only manufacture electrical ovens with a maximum temperature range of 1000°F
Are your products made in USA?
Yes. We manufacture our ovens in Louisiana.
How long have you been in business?
Henkel Enterprises, LLC, manufacturer of the Keen brand of welding ovens, flux ovens, and custom preheat ovens has been in business since 1923.
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