Vacuum Chambers
Vacuum chambers use a vacuum pump to remove air and pressure from within a sealed compartment for the purpose of evaluating the effects of a vacuum on objects, materials or components. Environmental test chambers such as vacuum chambers are used by manufacturers to test a product for flaws and malfunctions before it is released to the public. Having a well tested product ensures less cost in terms of warranty and guarantee reimbursements.
Quick links to Vacuum Chambers Information
Purpose of Vacuum Chambers
Many chambers on the market are designed for versatility. Chambers can be built for multiple purposes such as simultaneous testing for temperature, humidity and altitude. These high performance chambers have set a standard for environmental test chambers. However some chambers can also be constructed for single testing purposes. Vacuum chambers are just another solution that guarantees the reliability of products which customers receive.
Vacuum Chambers Design
Vacuum chambers have the capability to withstand the pressure caused by creating a vacuum, and are usually made from metals such as aluminum and mu-metal. As vacuum testing is used across a wide range of industries, it is possible that the chambers are designed and constructed with the capability of replicating certain environmental conditions of temperature and altitude in addition to creating a vacuum environment. Environmental testing simulates the actual conditions a product is likely to face during its useful lifespan, and therefore more than one environmental effect is necessary to get an accurate idea of how a product will respond.
In order for the engineer to watch the results of a vacuum upon an object, there is typically a viewing port or window sealed with rubber. Sizes of vacuum chambers can vary greatly, from smaller benchtop chambers used to test miniature components and objects, to larger chambers able to encompass objects of a much larger nature.
- Materials Used for Vacuum Chambers
- Vacuum chambers are typically made from materials such as: acrylic, glass, ceramic, brass, stainless steel, aluminum and mild steel. These chambers are also designed to test for leaks in finished products. Proper vacuum testing can take a significant amount of time but these procedures are paramount for long-lasting investments. Some manufacturers who ship products globally will also submit their products through vacuum testing because it will ensure the quality of the item throughout transport.
Variations of Vacuum Chambers
Several industries rely on vacuum packaging to help produce the best quality product possible. Aerospace engineers use vacuum testing for all the components of space travel equipment, which have to be able to withstand the effects of a vacuum and low pressure environment for extended periods of time. Vacuum testing can be undertaken on spacecraft electronics and circuits, lenses and filters and coatings and structural materials.
Vacuum molding plastic manufacturers use vacuum chambers when mixing resins and silicone rubbers to ensure a bubble-free mold replica. The material to be inserted into the mold is placed in a vacuum chamber to remove all existing air bubbles, and to make it ready to pour into the mold without leaving blemishes.
Things to Consider When Choosing Vacuum Chambers
Vacuum chambers are also used for testing the sealing in packaging and the potential for leaks and possible malfunctions under pressure. This is useful especially for export packaging where goods will be subjected to high altitudes during transportation by air and in the pharmaceutical and medical industries where it is necessary for medicines to remain sealed until use. Vacuum testing can take many hours and can be a costly procedure, and yet it is a wise manufacturing choice to undergo environmental testing, especially in terms of long-term expenditure.
Manufacturers will often utilize vacuum chambers when performing certain phases of the development process of their products. These chambers are found in a diverse amount of industries and the size of the chamber typically is based on the application. Extremely large chambers are used in the aerospace industry due to the nature of the structures. Smaller vacuum chambers can be found in labs or workshops for applications such as de-airing products for rubber molds or resins. Vacuum chambers like these are essential when removing micro-bubbles. These chambers can be equipped with heating elements which effectively assists in drying the product and removing the absorbed water.