Described herein are glass forming apparatuses with cooled muffle assemblies and methods for using the same to form glass ribbons. According to one embodiment, a muffle assembly for a fusion forming apparatus may include a muffle frame comprising a back wall, a front wall opposite the back wall, and a pair of sidewalls joining the front wall to the back wall in a closed-loop. At least one first cooling tube may extend through the back wall and the front wall across the closed-loop. At least one second cooling tube may extend through the back wall and the front wall across the closed loop such that the at least one second cooling tube is spaced apart from and parallel with the at least one first cooling tube.

A method firing green ware. The method for firing includes setting a kiln oxygen concentration set point for an atmosphere of a ware space of a kiln during an oxygen-consuming event in the ware space of the kiln. An oxygen flux control mode is initiated that includes measuring an oxygen concentration of the atmosphere of the ware space in the kiln, comparing the oxygen concentration to the kiln oxygen concentration set point to determine a difference between the oxygen concentration and the kiln oxygen concentration set point, and adjusting a flow of secondary gas into the ware space to set an oxygen flux in the atmosphere in the ware space of the kiln based on the difference between the oxygen concentration and the kiln oxygen concentration set point. A kiln for firing the ceramic green ware and a manufacturing system including the kiln for manufacturing ceramic ware are also disclosed.

A method firing green ware. The method for firing includes setting a kiln oxygen concentration set point for an atmosphere of a ware space of a kiln during an oxygen-consuming event in the ware space of the kiln. An oxygen flux control mode is initiated that includes measuring an oxygen concentration of the atmosphere of the ware space in the kiln, comparing the oxygen concentration to the kiln oxygen concentration set point to determine a difference between the oxygen concentration and the kiln oxygen concentration set point, and adjusting a flow of secondary gas into the ware space to set an oxygen flux in the atmosphere in the ware space of the kiln based on the difference between the oxygen concentration and the kiln oxygen concentration set point. A kiln for firing the ceramic green ware and a manufacturing system including the kiln for manufacturing ceramic ware are also disclosed.

A waterless portable precision heating device includes an ingredient container to contain a food-related, a health-related, or a crafting-related ingredient; a thin heating element configured to surround and contact the ingredient container; an insulation layer configured to surround and contact the heating element; an outer shell surrounding the insulation layer; a lid that encloses the product container and fluidly seals it from the environment; at least one sensor configured to detect the temperature of the device; and a circuit board with a controller that controls the heating of the heating in response to signals received from the at least one sensor indicating whether the product container has reached a threshold temperature.

A waterless portable precision heating device includes an ingredient container to contain a food-related, a health-related, or a crafting-related ingredient; a thin heating element configured to surround and contact the ingredient container; an insulation layer configured to surround and contact the heating element; an outer shell surrounding the insulation layer; a lid that encloses the product container and fluidly seals it from the environment; at least one sensor configured to detect the temperature of the device; and a circuit board with a controller that controls the heating of the heating in response to signals received from the at least one sensor indicating whether the product container has reached a threshold temperature.

Apparatus and methods for debinding articles. The apparatus and methods may transform binder from furnace exhaust before the exhaust is discharged to the atmosphere. The apparatus may include a furnace retort and a reactor. The furnace retort may be configured to: exclude ambient air; and receive a carrier gas. The reactor may be configured to: receive from the retort (a) the carrier gas and (b) material removed in the retort from the article; and combust, at a temperature no greater than 750 C., the material. The material may be decomposed binder. The material may be hydrocarbon from binder that is pyrolyzed in the retort. The carrier gas may include gas that is nonflammable gas.

Apparatus and methods for debinding articles. The apparatus and methods may transform binder from furnace exhaust before the exhaust is discharged to the atmosphere. The apparatus may include a furnace retort and a reactor. The furnace retort may be configured to: exclude ambient air; and receive a carrier gas. The reactor may be configured to: receive from the retort (a) the carrier gas and (b) material removed in the retort from the article; and combust, at a temperature no greater than 750 C., the material. The material may be decomposed binder. The material may be hydrocarbon from binder that is pyrolyzed in the retort. The carrier gas may include gas that is nonflammable gas.

A furnace system for printing an object using additive manufacturing. The furnace system may include a furnace chamber; an outlet fluidly coupled to the furnace chamber for removal of an exhaust gas from the furnace chamber; a conduit fluidly coupled to the outlet; an oxygen injector fluidly coupled to the conduit; an isolation system fluidly coupled to the conduit between the furnace chamber and the oxygen injector; and a catalyst enclosure comprising an oxidizing catalyst.

The invention relates to a facility for producing a metal component having at least two regions of different strength properties, said facility consisting of a heating unit (2) comprising heat-producing radiation sources (4) as well as a positioning device for at least one base body (1) consisting of metal, and a protecting device comprising at least one covering part for the contactless protection of a pre-determined surface region of the base body (1), the protecting device being arranged in the heating unit such that it remains therein during a temperature control of the base body (1) before the forming of the base body in a forming tool, the protecting part comprising a plurality of separately manipulatable covering parts (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e) which are respectively used to protect a predetermined surface region (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) of the Base Body (1), and a Manipulator (5) is Provided for Each Covering Part (3a to 3e), by means of which the covering part (3a to 3e) can be moved, independently from the other covering parts (3a to 3e) in the heating unit (2), into a covering position in which it covers the pre-determined surface region (1a to 1e), or into an uncovering position in which it uncovers the pre-determined surface region (1a to 1e) for the irradiation of the radiation sources (4).

The invention relates to a facility for producing a metal component having at least two regions of different strength properties, said facility consisting of a heating unit (2) comprising heat-producing radiation sources (4) as well as a positioning device for at least one base body (1) consisting of metal, and a protecting device comprising at least one covering part for the contactless protection of a pre-determined surface region of the base body (1), the protecting device being arranged in the heating unit such that it remains therein during a temperature control of the base body (1) before the forming of the base body in a forming tool, the protecting part comprising a plurality of separately manipulatable covering parts (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e) which are respectively used to protect a predetermined surface region (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) of the Base Body (1), and a Manipulator (5) is Provided for Each Covering Part (3a to 3e), by means of which the covering part (3a to 3e) can be moved, independently from the other covering parts (3a to 3e) in the heating unit (2), into a covering position in which it covers the pre-determined surface region (1a to 1e), or into an uncovering position in which it uncovers the pre-determined surface region (1a to 1e) for the irradiation of the radiation sources (4).