Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of a metallic workpiece includes (a) a transport structure which includes a mounting portion and a platform portion, the platform portion, which is the part of the transport structure on which the workpiece to be treated is positioned, being electrically insulated from the mounting portion, and (b) a hollow furnace which includes heating elements and two spaced apart electrodes, the furnace being constructed to allow the platform portion of the transport structure to be located within the hollow furnace during its operation while the mounting portion remains exterior thereto.

Abstract: In a glow-discharge workpiece-treating system's control system, the existence of a direct short-circuit between workpiece and glow-discharge treatment chamber is ascertained. This is done by comparing a voltage-indicating signal and a current-indicating signal against respective threshold levels, and generating a short-circuit signal when the voltage-indicating signal falls below its threshold level and the current-indicating signal exceeds its threshold level. Preferably, the threshold level for the voltage-indicating signal, although lower than the arc-discharge voltage of the system, is higher than the glow-discharge voltage of the system.

Abstract: The method comprises the measurement of the actual temperature of the workpiece in the container, forming a time derivative value proportional to the rate of change of the measured actual temperature value, comparing the time derivative value with a predetermined or desired treatment temperature value to produce a comparison value and continuously readjusting the glow discharge current proportionally to the comparison value so that no abrupt changes in the glow discharge current takes place.