High Performance Muffle Furnace (FP302)

Laboratory Ovens & Applications: Uses for Gravity, Forced Air, and Convection Ovens

While oven applications are very diverse, it is possible to break down their uses into a few main categories:

  1. Drying
  2. Baking
  3. Curing
  4. Testing Applications

Drying

The goal is to remove moisture from the chamber as quickly as possible in order to dry samples. The more air you are able to move over samples along with the more air you are able to evacuate from the chamber the faster you will be able to dry. This is why the Shel Lab ovens come with adjustable intake and exhaust ports for quick evacuation of chamber air when necessary.

Baking

The object is to heat samples over a period of time without drying them out. This is best accomplished by keeping the exhaust port closed. The other key to this process is minimizing heat loss because the heated air is holding the moisture necessary. For this reason, Shel Lab ovens use a unique wrap-around insulation method that leaves no seams or gaps for air to escape.

Curing

The process of slowly heating materials to alter chemical or physical properties. In other words, this method is aimed at baking samples while slowly drying as well. Again, the amount of air allowed to evacuate the chamber plays a key role in the success of this process.

The Shel Lab families of ovens range in size from 2 cubic feet to 40 cubic feet with multiple levels of performance.

High-Performance Horizontal Air Flow Ovens

Industrial laboratory ovens deliver precision thermal processing for applications. Equipped with 24-step ramp and soak controller for applications requiring multiple temperature set points, this series of ovens are rugged and convenient. A high volume blower system circulates air through stainless steel air ducts, providing horizontal one pass airflow. This horizontal airflow provides superior temperature uniformity and fast heat-up capabilities.

The horizontal airflow provides rapid heat and recovery for rapid drying. Heated air is continuously circulated by twin turbo blowers. Blowers also circulate air to motor bearings to prolong motor life. Punched stainless steel shelves are adjustable. Adjustable three air intake and exhaust ports can be opened for faster drying of high-moisture content samples. Fiberglass insulation on all sides minimizes heat loss.

SHEL LAB High-Performance ovens provide drying operations at temperatures up to 260°C. Factory-set overtemperature protection prevents control failure from damaging contents and guards against burnout. The controller provides a 24-step ramp and soak, 0.1°C control with multiple levels of operator access and automatic resumption following a power failure. A three-digit LED displays time and temperature for fast and accurate settings. A sealed membrane touch-pad control panel is water and acid-resistant.

Applications: Extreme Operational Temperatures

• Aging
• Burn-in
• Drying
• Asphalt Testing
• Baking and Curing
• Moisture and Stability Testing
• ASTM, UL, and Life Testing

High-Performance Cleanroom Ovens

These ovens share the same design benefits as the High Performance Forced Air Ovens but have unique application-specific features. The model CR1-2 is built to meet the needs of a Class 100 (ISO 5) Cleanroom. Cleanroom laboratory ovens come standard with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to screen out 95% of the airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. To further minimize surface particulates, the cleanroom oven has a stainless steel exterior. The model HF2-2 is designed for inert atmosphere applications. This unit is similar to the CR1-2 minus the stainless steel exterior and internal HEPA filter.

Ovens for Medical Device Applications

  • Adhesive curing and coating curing on pacemakers 
  • Curing the coating on stents 
  • Polymerizing contact lenses 
  • Curing the coating on eyeglass lenses

Drying Ovens for Manufacturing

  • Curing, drying, heating wafers and electronic components
  • Epoxy and adhesive curing 
  • Die bond curing 
  • Baking of coatings

Digital Gravity Convection Ovens

SHEL LAB Gravity Convection Laboratory Ovens are recommended for critical scientific and analytical use in laboratory and pilot plant product research. Typical applications include aging, curing, drying, baking, pre-heating, conditioning, and life cycle testing. Choose from three cabinet sizes, each with forced-air circulation and reserve heating power for quick recovery after door openings.

Gravity ovens are ideal for processing powders and other products that may be disturbed by forced air.

  • Aging & Lifecycle Testing
  • Industrial
  • Analytical
  • General Laboratory Applications

General Purpose Lab Ovens

These ovens are sometimes referred to as Laboratory Ovens and are used in a variety of applications including general lab work, component testing, drying glassware, and sterilizing. The models CE3 & CE5 are available in both Forced Air Convection and Gravity Convection configurations. Gravity Convection units are preferable for applications with lightweight samples (powders, lightweight films, and granular materials) because they do not have an internal fan that will blow these samples around within the chamber.

Large Capacity General Purpose Lab Ovens

The Shel Lab FX14-2 features 14 cubic feet of general purpose space. The FX28-2 at 28 cubic feet is the largest general-purpose oven on the market. These large capacity units are perfect for high volume sample processing and drying applications including production processes.

Oven Applications

  • Batch Testing
  • Aging Tests
  • Sterilizing
  • Electronic Burn-In
  • Conditioning
  • Preheating Process
  • Components Processing
  • Stability Testing
  • Glassware Drying
  • Asphalt Testing

Vacuum Ovens

Benchtop Vacuum Oven

Yamato Scientific ADP-300C
  • Self-diagnostic and overheating prevention functions
  • Independent overheating prevention devices for each circuit
  • N2 Customizable gas inlet and communication port
  • Easy input of parameters and settings
  • Auto Start and Auto Quick Stop

Forced Air Lab Oven

Shel Lab 115V Forced Air Lab Oven, 5.0 Cubic Ft.
Shel Lab SMO5

The CE Oven Series incorporates the Sure Load shelf system, triple wall construction, and easy-to-read microprocessor controls.

Users can adjust the air exhaust from the chamber without being near the heat source. Even at operating temperatures of 225°C, the outer skin of this unit meets all CE requirements, so workspaces remain cool.

High Performance Forced Air Oven

Shel Lab SMO14HP-2

The SMO14HP-2 has rugged, welded construction with a double-walled, corrosion-resistant stainless steel interior and a powder-coated exterior.

Adjustable three air intake and exhaust ports can be opened for fast drying of high-moisture content samples. The 3.5-inch thick wrap-around fiberglass insulation on all sides minimizes heat loss.

PAC (that’s us) is an authorized dealer for Yamato Scientific and Shel Lab.

Shop and Compare: Laboratory Ovens Side by Side Features and Pricing >>

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Mel Meadows

Mel Meadows

Mel Meadows is a product specialist with over 14 years of experience. She’s a central source of expertise for thousands of industrial and critical-class products featured on the Production Automation web store. By working directly with manufacturers, Mel deciphers technical documentation and outlines product use in real-world environments. View her profile to learn more about proper techniques, protocol, and product usage in both industrial and cleanroom facilities.

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