TWO-STAGE SINTERING FURNACE AND METHODS OF OPERATING THEREOF

A sintering and debinding system includes a debinding chamber configured to switch between an open state and a closed state, the open state being configured to permit receipt or removal of at least one part within or from the debinding chamber and a sintering chamber operably connected to the debinding chamber and being vertically positioned above or below the debinding chamber. The sintering system also includes a shelf structure configured to receive the at least one part, the shelf structure being movable between the debinding chamber and the sintering chamber and a gate valve configured to switch between an open state and a closed state, the gate valve being configured to selectively permit or block fluid communication between the debinding chamber and the sintering chamber. The gate valve is configured such that: when the gate valve is in an open state, fluid communication between the debinding chamber and the sintering chamber is permitted and the shelf structure is movable between the debinding chamber and the sintering chamber. The gate valve is further configured such that, when the gate valve is in the closed state, fluid communication between the debinding chamber and sintering chamber is restricted, and at least one of: (i) movement of the shelf structure between the debinding chamber and the sintering chamber is restricted or (ii) the debinding chamber is configured to permit receipt within and removal of the at least one part from the debinding chamber.