Furnace system and method of use

A method for operating a sintering furnace, comprising,

• receiving a part precursor in a retort of the sintering furnace, wherein the part precursor is adhered to a build plate by an adhesive material;
• heating the retort to a first debinding temperature, wherein the retort is maintained at the first debinding temperature for a first debinding time, wherein the part precursor releases from the build plate during the first debinding time;
• heating the retort to a second debinding temperature greater than the first debinding temperature, wherein the retort is maintained at the second debinding temperature for a second debinding time, wherein binder is removed from the part precursor during the second debinding time;
• and
• at a sintering temperature that is greater than the second debinding temperature, sintering the part precursor to form a part;
• wherein the retort is arranged within a chamber, wherein the retort defines a retort volume, wherein the chamber defines an intermediate volume between the retort and the chamber that excludes the retort volume, the method further comprising, during or after at least one of the first debinding time or the second debinding time, introducing an oxidizing agent into the intermediate volume, wherein between the first debinding time and the sintering time an oxidizing agent concentration within the intermediate volume is greater than an oxidizing agent concentration within the retort volume.