Vacuum Process Engineering, Inc.

Hot Pressing Process
A brief overview of the hot pressing process:

-The metal or ceramic powder is placed into a stationary die within the vacuum furnace.
-The furnace is heated and ran at a specific temperature profile, while simultaneously pressing vertically down upon the powder with a hydraulic ram.
-While the force is applied vertically, there is also radial pressure created against the die wall, and these pressures together with the heat result in effective particle joining.
-The densification begins with particle rearrangement and plastic flow at the particle contacts, and progresses into grain boundary diffusion, creating the finished material.
-Finished parts do usually require some diamond grinding to achieve the final shape tolerances.

Vacuum Process Engineering (VPE) encourages exploration and experimentation, always striving to be leaders of metallurgical innovation. Furthermore, we are proud to be at the vanguard of technological creativity in the fields of thermal engineering, materials joining/bonding, heat exchangers, specialized coatings, advanced thermal processing, as well as unique assembly methods.

VPE is a thermal engineering and manufacturing company that specializes in the metallurgical services of precision brazing, diffusion bonding, hot pressing, heat treating, thin film coating, complex assemblies, specialty cleaning, as well as materials testing & analysis.

We provide comprehensive contract manufacturing services, covering everything from executing specific processes or assembly tasks with customer-supplied components to delivering full-scale, high-quality turnkey assemblies. Acting as your prime contractor, we manage all critical manufacturing elements to ensure project success.

Our capabilities include:
-Advanced metallurgical expertise for both R&D and production
-Strategic use of R&D and prototyping budgets for maximum efficiency
-Solutions for product design challenges and production issues
-Turnkey manufacturing based on your drawings and specifications
-End-to-end solutions, from concept design and prototyping to full production
-Flexible production runs, from single prototypes to high-volume orders