Abstract
This article examines heat treatment processes for molds, dies, and tools fabricated from H11 and H13 steel and comprehensively analyzes valid standards based on NADCA, FORD, and GM requirements, highlighting the critical differences between these specifications. The research showcases a modern single-chamber vacuum furnace with a dynamic cooling system operating at high gas pressures of 15/25 bar, detailing its advanced performance capabilities and achieved cooling rates. The furnace's integrated dynamic cooling system enables programmable gas inflow direction changes and isothermal quenching, while an integrated simulator allows real-time prediction and tracking of the cooling process. Demonstrating the complexity of tool heat treatment, the study illustrates how advanced technologies such as vacuum nitriding and carburizing can be comprehensively executed in a single vacuum furnace cycle.
