Vacuum stress relieving tool steel

[Voyager687]

I need to stress relieve some CPM4 die inserts prior to hardcoating. Vacuum stress relieving eliminates the oxidised layer which has to be polished off before hardcoat is applied, but I can't find a local heat treater offering this service and need very quick turn around time. My question is, has anyone tried using a shop-made vacuum or inert gas chamber placed inside a standard tempering furnace. Also, can anyone see a reason why it would not work.

Alan L. Bass, toolmaker

 

[unclesyd]

We have thousands of tool steel carrying extremely close tolerances components in operation everyday and all the stress relief being done during tempering.

There are several ways to accomplish what you propose.

Can you comeback with a little more information as to exactly what you are try to accomplish?