Case Study: Preheat Oven for Scrapers and Molds for Mixer-Truck-Mounted Concrete Conveyors K-900FS/T
Customer Background
| Company: | Westcon Mfg. Inc. / Theam Conveyors |
| Part to be Preheated: | Scrapers and Molds for Mixer-Truck-Mounted Concrete Conveyors (see photos below) |
| Part Material: | Cast Aluminum Molds, Resin Epoxy Scrapers |
| Part Dimensions: | Red Finished Scrapers are 16"L, molds are 20"H |
| Part Weight: | Total weight of parts in oven 100-150 lbs |
| Target Preheating Temperature: | 100°F - 500°F |
| Number of pieces to be heated at one time: | 12 sets |
| Required preheat time frame: | 8 hours to be shut off with timer |
Project Background
Westcon Mfg. Inc. in Brunswick, Maine manufactures the THEAM brand of concrete mixer-truck mounted conveyors (see truck photo). Their product is designed to unfold and extend from the truck to deliver concrete to the pouring location. Westcon is a repeat customer and knew where to go when they had a new parts preheating oven requirement. The red scrapers for the conveyor needed to be be set on a mold inside the oven at 100°F-150°F, then placed on shelves to cure and harden for 8 hours. The molds needed to stand upright at the bottom of the preheating oven, and the scrapers after taken off the mold needed to lay flat on removable shelves. We suggested the K-900 preheat oven, but modified to suit their unique requirement.
The standard K-900 heat treat oven has hexagonal shelving for storing welding rods, and elements in the base, but the size was just what Westcon needed. For the custom oven modification, the elements were moved to the lower part of both side walls so that the molds could stand upright on the bottom. Three removable, flat perforated shelves were installed above to lay the scrapers flat after they were done setting on the molds. A preheat oven timer was required for this application so that the preheating oven could be left on overnight for 8 hours and shut off at the correct time. A digital ramp and soak, programmable PID controller was installed in the side control box.
K-900FS/T Preheat Oven Specifications
| Shelving Style: | Flat, perforated |
| Temperature Control: | Digital PID with Ramp and Soak features |
| Temp Range: | 150F-550F |
| Voltage: | 240V |
| Cycle: | 50 or 60 |
| Wattage: | 3000W |
| Thermometer: | PID Digital Display |
| On/Off Light: | Yes |
| Insulation: | 2" |
| Interior Dims: | 18"L x 19"W x 36"H |
| Exterior Dims: | 26"L x 27"W x 43"H |
| Shipping Weight: | 310 lbs. |
| Shipping Dimensions: | 35"L x 35"W x 53"H |
Oven Construction
Exterior
The K-900FS/T 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 a front-loading, floor-positioned preheating oven and is designed to be stored on a floor for ease of access to the parts being preheated. Forklift slots are welded to the bottom of the oven to facilitate movement 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. The K-900FS heat treat oven has a digital PID controller that can be programmed for ramp and soak preheating applications. A timer was installed in the side control box that can be set from 0-1 hour, 0-6 hour, and 0-12 hours.
Interior
The K-900FS/T preheating oven has a unique interior in that it has 3 upper shelves, and elements on the side at the bottom so that the floor space can be used for parts. The shelves are also perforated which allows the heat from underneath to radiate through the shelf and heat the parts effectively. Various shelving styles are available at preheatovens.com suitable for almost any custom preheating application.
There are four 1000W tubular elements on the side walls of the K-900FS heat treat oven that are protected by perforated steel covers. 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.
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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