Troubleshooting guide

34
Pro Series Furnace Operations Manual
Argon Gas Requirements and
Installation (Pro 100 only)
USE ONLY ARGON GAS IN THE PRO 100 FURNACE.
ATTACHING ANY FLAMMABLE OR NOXIOUS GAS
TO THIS FURNACE COULD CAUSE EXPLOSION
OR PERSONAL INJURY!
The best source of Argon is from your local bottled gas
dealer. Usually the same dealer who furnishes Oxygen
can also supple Argon. If not, he can recommend a reliable
source. There are generally three grades of Argon available
and your dealer can tell you the cost of each. Most furnace
buyers use the lower cost commercial or industrial grade
of Argon.
The same dealer should be able to supply a regulator for
the bottled Argon. The regulator should be similar to the
one on an Oxygen tank. It should have a gauge showing the
pressure inside the tank, and a smaller gauge showing the
pressure applied to the outside system. The smaller gauge
should be no more than 120 PSI maximum.
The furnace requires between one and two PSI of Argon
gas pressure. The use of more pressure will not improve the
performance of the furnace. If you plan to use the Argon gas
feature of this furnace you should purchase a low-pressure
Argon post regulator kit.
The low-pressure post regulator kit attaches to the regulator
supplied by your gas supplier. Installation of the low-
pressure regulator is as follows:
DO NOT REMOVE THE REGULATOR SUPPLIED BY
YOUR BOTTLED GAS SUPPLIER. THE LOW-
PRESSURE REGULATOR IS IN ADDITION TO THE
REGULATOR SUPPLIED WITH YOUR BOTTLE.
1. The regulator supplied by the bottled gas company
usually has a hose barb fitting to attach your hose.
Remove this fitting.
2. The low-pressure regulator kit has a
1
/
4
inch male
pipe thread fitting supplied on one end. The other end
has a hose barb fitting for the supply hose to the fur-
nace. Attach the male pipe thread end to the regulator
on the bottle. The first gauge reads the bottle pressure,
the second gauge reads the pre-regulator pressure,
and the third gauge reads from 0 to 15 PSI.
DO NOT ATTACH THE GAS TO
THE FURNACE YET.
3. Attach one end of the supplied hose to the
low-pressure regulator.
DO NOT ATTACH THE OTHER END
TO THE FURNACE YET.
4. Turn on the gas supply to the regulators.
5. Adjust the pre-regulator (supplied by your gas dealer)
to around 20 PSI.
6. Pull the red locking ring on the low-pressure regulator
towards the black knob on the bottom of the regulator
to release the knob. Turn the black knob fully counter-
clockwise. The pressure should be 0.
7. Turn the black knob clockwise until the low-pressure
gauge reads between 1.0 and 1.5 PSI.
8. Push the red locking ring up towards the gauge.
This will lock the pressure setting.
9. Turn off the gas supply from the bottle. Be sure to turn
off the supply when the gas is not being used to avoid
the loss of gas due to fitting leaks.
10. Attach the hose to the Argon connector on the
back of the furnace.
The furnace is now ready to run titanium and sintering
programs, which require Argon gas.
Note: The pressure reading may jump higher than
1.5 PSI between firing and at times during the purging
process. This is normal. Pressure may be checked
during the inert cool step in the firing sequence. At
that time Argon is being applied at a constant pressure
to the furnace. The gauge should read between 1 and
1.5 PSI. You may adjust the regulator at this time.
15946 Pro Series English.indd 34 5/9/08 2:51:13 PM