by Staff | Jul 26, 2012 | Aircraft, Control Systems, CSI, Furnaces and Ovens, Yaskawa VFDs
THE MYSTERY An aircraft parts manufacturer had an aluminum heat treat oven that wasn’t meeting its surveys. The customer surmised that what the oven needed was more airflow, and they called ACES to make the adjustment. THE CLUES The fan was running 500 rpm, and being...
by Staff | Oct 27, 2011 | Control Systems, CSI, Furnaces and Ovens
THE MYSTERY A manufacturer of specialized motors had an oven that was way out of calibration. The mid-sized electric oven, used to cure epoxy for motor windings, was 30º out of range, a huge discrepancy for an oven that’s rated ±2½ºF. THE CLUES The first thing the...
by Staff | Sep 29, 2011 | Aircraft, Control Systems, CSI, Furnaces and Ovens
THE MYSTERY An ACES customer producing carbon fiber molding for the aircraft industry had a large oven (18′ x 10′ x 10′), which they thought was working just fine — however, they had an opportunity to land a new contract if they could prove their...
by Staff | Mar 18, 2011 | Aircraft, Control Systems, CSI, Furnaces and Ovens
THE MYSTERY ACES performs the annual gas train safety checks on the ovens and autoclaves for an aerospace parts provider. One of steps of the safety checks is the combustion blower airflow or pressure-proving switch. When the ACES Control System Investigator was...
by Staff | Jul 30, 2010 | Control Systems, CSI, Furnaces and Ovens
THE MYSTERY A manufacturer of large metal extrusions for the aircraft industry called ACES to the scene of a 40’ drop bottom furnace. The furnace had failed its most recent NADCAP audit because the hot junctions of the thermocouples recording the high and low limits...
by Staff | Jul 16, 2010 | Aircraft, Control Systems, CSI, Furnaces and Ovens
THE MYSTERY The temperature controller of a 20-year-old vacuum furnace had gone completely dark. This furnace was a critical piece of equipment for the owner, a local aircraft plant. The original manufacturer of the controller no longer supported it — but they would...