Quintus, a provider of Hot Isostatic Press (HIP) solutions, introduces at Formnext, the HIP QIH 200 URC® model which integrates multiple heat treatment processes into a single system cycle.
As you may guess, Hot Isostatic Pressing improves the ductility and fatigue resistance of critical, high-performance materials. The process has proven to be of particular value in the densification of components produced by AM across a broad spectrum of industries, from aerospace to medicine to energy.
Read more: The use of HIP for critical 3D printed parts: introduction and applications
Production of wrought, cast, powder metallurgy (PM), and AM components has traditionally involved several post-HIP heat treatment steps, often outsourced to a third party.
Quintus’s new large-format press incorporates heat treatment and cooling in a proprietary process, High-Pressure Heat Treatment™ (HPHT™), that combines stress-relief (SR), HIP, high-temperature solution-annealing (SA), high-pressure gas quenching (HPGQ), and subsequent aging or precipitation hardening (PH) in one integrated furnace cycle.
These capabilities allow multiple functions to be performed at a single location, removing bottlenecks, saving energy, lowering capital costs, significantly reducing lead time, and enhancing product quality.
Quintus’s exclusive Uniform Rapid Cooling (URC®) and superior control systems with full digital connectivity assure repeatable performance of customized heating, densification, and cooling regimes.
“Our new press model QIH 200 URC produces faster throughput and higher workpiece quality,” says Peter Henning, Director of Marketing and Sales, Quintus Technologies. “Having fewer pieces of equipment on the production line enhances efficiency and dramatically reduces per-unit processing costs while generating significant savings in space, energy, and infrastructure. We expect this press to become a cornerstone of lean production lines for AM, casting, and PM HIP industries.”
The hot zone of the model QIH 200 URC measures 34.6 inches (880 mm) in diameter and 84.6 inches (2150 mm) in height. With an operating pressure of around 207 MPa (30,000 psi) and a temperature of around 2,552°F (1,400°C), the press can achieve 100% of the maximum theoretical density and improve the ductility and fatigue resistance of critical, high-performance materials. The components made from casting (PM/AM) regardless of method (EBM, SLM, etc.), all experience significant benefits from HIP.
“As the industry leader in advanced Hot Isostatic Pressing technology for over 70 years, we have noted exceptional interest in new manufacturing approaches that improve quality, lower operational cost, and significantly reduce both lead times and environmental impact,” says Johan Hjärne, who was recently appointed CEO of Quintus Technologies. “Our new QIH 200 URC press due to our strong focus on materials science and materials processing research, and we are very pleased to support our customers’ goals for innovation, productivity, and sustainability.”
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