Case Study: Preheat Oven for Cylinder Heads K-PH43A
Customer Background
| Company: | Valley Speed Machine Shop Ltd. |
| Part to be Preheated: | Cylinder Heads |
| Part Material: | Cast Aluminum |
| Part Dimensions: | 10" W x 9" H x 33" L |
| Part Weight: | 40 lbs |
| Target Preheating Temperature: | Range 250°F - 500°F |
| Number of pieces to be heated at one time: | 1 |
| Required preheat time frame: | None Specified |
Project Background
Valley Speed Machine Shop in Kamloops, BC Canada discovered PreheatOvens.com while searching for an oven that could preheat cylinder heads. They had difficulty finding a heat treat oven in the length they needed elsewhere, and were happy to know we could provide a customized heating solution for their needs. Valley Speed performs weld repairs on cylinder heads, and has to preheat the blocks to around 400F before they do any repairs.
They noticed one of our ovens had the length they needed - the KPH-43 - but the width and height were not quite the right size. We simply increased the shell of KPH-43 preheat oven from 12" W x 12" H to 16" W x 16" H. Only a few extra inches were needed, but Valley Speed needed some extra room to maneuver the part into the oven and to remove it. The KPH-43 was modified and became the KPH-43A for this project.
K-PH43A Preheat Oven Specifications
| Shelving Style: | Flat, perforated |
| Temperature Control: | Dial-Adjustable on control panel |
| Voltage: | 240V |
| Cycle: | 50 or 60 |
| Wattage: | 1,100 Watts |
| Thermometer: | Bi-Metal thermometer in door |
| On/Off Light: | Yes |
| Insulation: | 2" |
| Temp Range: | 150F-550F |
| Interior Dims: | 16" W x 16" H x 44" Deep |
| Exterior Dims: | 27" W x 26" H x 51" Deep |
| Net Weight: | 237 lbs. |
| Shipping Weight: | 330 lbs. |
| Shipping Dimensions: | 35"W x 35" H x 60" L |
Oven Construction
Exterior
The K-PH-43A heat treating oven is 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 is a front-loading, bench-top style preheating oven and is designed to be stored on an elevated surface for ease of access to the parts being preheated. The door hinges are tack-welded to ensure smooth operation for many years. The control panel which houses the dial adjustable thermostat 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 at preheatovens.com.
Interior
The shelf in the KPH-43A is the base itself. It is perforated which allows the heat from underneath to radiate through the shelf and heat the part effectively. Various shelving styles are available at preheatovens.com suitable for almost any custom preheating application. There are two 1000W tubular elements located at the base of the KPH-43A preheat oven, and they are protected by the shelf itself. The interior of all our preheating ovens are 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.
contact our experts
Our staff is available to answer any questions, or locate a Keen distributor in your area.
Give us a call at 1-888-512-2870 or send us a message and our team will be in touch shortly!
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