Racks for high-temperature metal processing

A method of high-temperature brazing at a process temperature greater than approximately 1000° C., the method comprising:

• disposing within a furnace chamber an apparatus comprising:
• a first shelf (i) comprising a first refractory metal having a melting point greater than the process temperature and (ii) defining therethrough a plurality of apertures,
• disposed over the first shelf, a second shelf (i) comprising a second refractory metal having a melting point greater than the process temperature, (ii) defining therethrough a plurality of apertures, and (iii) comprising one or more first lift hooks extending therefrom,
• a plurality of first support posts, each first support post (i) comprising a third refractory metal having a melting point greater than the process temperature, (ii) having a tapered lower end for engagement with an aperture of the first shelf, (iii) having a threaded upper end opposite the tapered lower end, and (iv) defining a support collar proximate the upper end, a lateral dimension of the first support post above the support collar being smaller than a lateral dimension of the first support post below the support collar, whereby, when an upper end of a first support post is received in an aperture of the second shelf, a portion of the second shelf proximate the aperture rests upon the support collar of the first support post received in the aperture, and
• a plurality of first nuts, each first nut (i) comprising a fourth refractory metal having a melting point greater than the process temperature, (ii) defining therein a lower aperture, at least a portion of the lower aperture being threaded for engagement with an upper end of a first support post, and (iii) defining therein an upper aperture, at least a portion of the upper aperture being tapered,
• wherein the second shelf, the first support posts, and the first nuts are collectively separable, as a modular unit, from the first shelf via a lifting force applied via the one or more first lift hooks;
• disposing on the first shelf or the second shelf of the apparatus (i) a first component, (ii) a second component, and (iii) a brazing material disposed between the first and second components;
• introducing within the furnace chamber a processing ambient;
• and
• applying the process temperature within the furnace chamber, thereby melting the brazing material and joining the first and second components at a brazed joint therebetween.