Frequently Asked Questions

From box furnaces to carburizing, metal heat treatment processes and terminology can be confusing. Here are a few of the questions we get asked most often.

  • For vacuum heat treatment, some of the most common are tool steels (AISI D2, AISI O1, and AISI H13, among others), stainless steels (AISI 440C, AISI 304, 15-5 PH), and alloy steels (4340, 300M, and 4140). Atmosphere heat treatment has a lot of overlap in tool steels and stainless steel but also works for carbon steel (1040) and case hardening steels.

  • While we primarily focus on metals such as steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, we can also treat other materials like plastics and ceramics.

  • Despite uniform expansion or contraction, along with possible warping or bending during the heat treating process, our monitoring technology and straightening process minimize changes to part specs. We can work with you to create custom solutions or custom fixturing to further aid in reducing dimensional changes.

  • While growth varies depending on the case depth, quenching method, and alloy, carbonizing usually falls between 0.001 to 0.003 inches per inch of the dimensions of the parts. For nitriding, the growth is much smaller, 0.0002 to 0.0005 inches per part inch.

  • Most orders are processed within 2–4 business days. If you need a faster turnaround, contact us to discuss expedited options.

  • Yes, we do! See our Pickup & Delivery page for more details.

  • That depends on your project! Our team of experts is here to help you navigate what kind of treatment would be the best choice. You can also research on sites like Engineers Edge and The Engineering Toolbox to get an idea of the specs you’ll need.