The Vertex Vacuum Feedthrough

High Vacuum Feedthrough for Tight Spaces

The new Vertex line of feedthroughs was born out of the necessity of making right-angle feedthroughs robust enough to handle the high vacuum requirements, voltage, amperage, pin dimensions, and challenging space constraints. BCE responded with the Vertex feedthrough.

The feedthrough utilizes precise beaded welds and multiple cure times of the BCE epoxy. After each cure, a vacuum leak test is performed to spec, ensuring feedthrough integrity. Chemical cleaning is BCE’s standard procedure for the Vertex.

Specifications

• Temperature up to 100°C operating temperature
• 10 ¯⁹ CC/S or less He leak rate
• Straight thread, BSPP, with Hex
• 250V 4 Amp
• 304 Stainless Steel Material
• 5-Pin with a 90⁰angle

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND SAMPLE DRAWINGS, VISIT THIS LINK

BCE

https://bcemfg.com

+1 510-274-1990

BCE Vacuum Feedthroughs Allow you to "Take It All Through the Wall"

The development capabilities for vacuum systems and components are continually refined by advances in analytical methods, medical science, and semiconductor manufacturing. The need for process monitoring and control is growing, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to get the necessary power and control signals into vacuum chambers. In order to pass electrical signals, light beams, or pure gases inside a vacuum chamber, devices referred to as vacuum feedthroughs are used. 

Leakage into or through the vacuum feedthrough can not be tolerated as the vacuum seal is essential to preventing leakage and ensuring process integrity. Glass-to-metal and ceramic-to-metal seals, historically the favored technology, are increasingly troublesome - not because of their performance, but because they are limited by size, design, durability, and electro-magnetic shielding choices. Due to this fact, engineers worked with what was available because no suitable alternatives existed. 

Fortunately, new, advanced sealing epoxy compounds were developed that provided exciting opportunities for vacuum feedthrough manufacturers. These new materials opened the door for a more efficient and flexible feedthrough design.

Today's epoxy vacuum feedthroughs have nearly the same application reach as their glass and ceramic cousins in low to medium temperatures. Epoxy vacuum feedthroughs provide an outstanding alternative in terms of customization and versatility for designers and engineers. Shapes, angles, and curves are not a concern. It is possible to use virtually any form of shielded wire or cable. Production in minimal amounts for prototyping and R&D, custom epoxy vacuum feedthroughs can be easily supplied. Modern epoxy feedthroughs sustain a vacuum of up to 10-8 Torr, with continuous temperatures of up to 200 ° C (intermittent 300 ° C), and therefore meet the outgassing criterion of NASA of < 1.0 percent Total Mass Loss (TML). Liquid epoxy's ability to flow and fill spaces thoroughly provides an important additional benefit. In most applications, epoxy feedthrough may be used where a glass-to-metal or ceramic feedthrough is used-the; only notable exceptions are in extremely high-temperature applications or where organic compounds are not authorized. 

Within the restricted world of glass-to-metal and ceramic-to-metal feedthroughs, designers and engineers no longer have to wonder. Epoxy feedthroughs are a modern, exciting player in the game, making them a very enticing option with lower cost, fast prototyping, and more versatile design capability.

For more information about vacuum feedthroughs, contact BCE. Call them at 510-274-1990 or visit their website at https://bcemfg.com.

Epoxy-based Feedthroughs Provide Design Flexibility, Rapid Prototyping and Cost Savings

Multi-conductor, flanged feedthrough.

The point of view that epoxy-based feedthroughs are inferior to glass-to-metal feedthroughs in terms of sealing and outgassing may have once been true, but modern manufacturing techniques and new epoxy compounds have all but eliminated those concerns. Modern epoxy formulations are more capable of enduring greater mechanical stresses, operating under wider temperature ranges, and sustaining exposure to harsher chemicals than ever before. Today's epoxy-based feedthroughs are excellent choices for even the most challenging feedthrough applications.

Take BCE's proprietary epoxy compound for instance. It seals to 1 X 10E-9 cc/sec of Helium under high vacuum and high pressure. Concerns of outgassing have been erased with the formulation meeting NASA’s ASTM E-595 low-outgassing specification, the industry standard test for measuring outgassing in adhesives and other materials. Developed to screen for low outgassing materials for use in deep space, the test determines the volatile content of material samples placed in a heated vacuum chamber under tightly controlled humidity, temperature, and vacuum conditions.

PCB feedthrough with clear epoxy feedthrough.

Epoxy feedthroughs allow designers and engineers to procure a feedthrough built for the specific task, rather than to accommodate off-the-shelf connectors that are rarely ideal for the specific requirement. Off-the-shelf connectors and feedthroughs impose restrictions on the number and gauge of conductors, as well as the geometry of the device. The use of epoxy-based feedthroughs opens the door for virtually any combination of conductors, tubes, fiber optic cables, sizes and geometries.

It’s important to use the right feedthrough for a given application. Epoxy feedthroughs are not always the right choice, and consultation with an applications expert is always recommended.  But from the viewpoint of engineers and designers, epoxy-based feedthroughs usher in design freedom, prototyping, and cost advantages that once didn't exist. 

Video: Flanged, Replaceable, Multi-Thermocouple Electrical Feedthrough

With most vacuum feedthroughs, troubleshooting can be difficult as well when multiple fixed elements are involved. If one element fails, generally the entire vacuum feedthrough is rendered useless. With BCE’s Multi-TC, Flanged Feedthrough, arduous troubleshooting procedures are a thing of the past. In fact, this feedthrough’s thermocouples are replaceable as they can be extracted from the compression fittings with great ease. This means that if thermocouples fail, they can be removed, tested and replaced within minutes. Thus, this no-hassle design allows for faster, more accurate and more cost-effective thermal data collection. Trust BCE’s Multi-TC, Flanged Feedthrough for your most complicated thermal detection needs. Contact BCE for more information.

Welcome to BCE

BCE (Belilove Company-Engineers) has over 60 years experience as a California based manufacturer, value added component integrator, and distributor serving the analytical instrumentation, semiconductor, photovoltaic, medical equipment, plastics processing, foodservice equipment, packaging, and aerospace industries. 

BCE offers custom electrical heaters, sensors, controls and custom vacuum feedthroughs for sale. Supported by their wealth of knowledge and experience, BCE will assist you with your electric heating, vacuum feedthrough, and ceramic substrate needs.

http://www.belilove.com | (510) 274-1990

Need a Standard Electrical Outlet with Your Vacuum Feedthrough?

Sometimes you just need a fast and easy 120 volt socket available on the other side of the wall. These feedthroughs provide a standard 120V, 15 amp socket for a quick, reusable connection. Custom configurations are easily accommodated.

Specifications

• 120V, 15A Electrical Feedthrough
• Helium Leak Test: 10^-7 Torr
• Maximum Operating Temperature: 100°C
• Options include: Adapter, Receptacle, Leads

For more information, visit http://www.belilove.com/feedthrough.

Epoxy Vacuum Feedthroughs Engineered for Your Application

A short introduction to BCE's custom epoxy feedthrough capabilities.

Fiber Optic Cable Epoxy Vacuum Feedthrough

Here is a short video outlining the design of a fiber optic vacuum feedthrough assembly.

Epoxy compounds now rival glass and ceramic in performance. BCE is at the forefront of this development and leverages modern epoxy's unique properties to solve your feedthrough challenges.

BCE's sixty years of high-tech design experience in semiconductor equipment, medical equipment and R&D yields innovative vacuum feedthrough solutions.

Call Today (510) 274-1990 or visit http:// www.belilove.com/feedthrough

Vacuum Feedthroughs

Epoxy sealed vacuum feedthrough

There exists a popular idiom which states, "Life does not exist in a vacuum." While the linguistic implications of the popular saying are still up for debate in terms of life in general, in high-tech industries an environment can, indeed, exist in a vacuum. Both creating and subsequently evaluating conditions relating to sub-atmospheric pressure environments has been a longstanding challenge of the science and research. The benchmark for failure is rather absolute due to the fact the conditions of the vacuum can be compromised thanks to the smallest amount of a complicating substance, potentially resulting in substantial monetary or productivity losses. Due to these facts, the monitoring and evaluation of vacuum conditions is paramount to researchers and engineers; the way engineers execute such a balancing act between preserving the environment and tracking the process relies on technologies known as vacuum feedthroughs, which enable the transference of signals to equipment or instrumentation located outside the vacuum environment from inside the vacuum environment.

PCB mounted epoxy sealed vacuum feedthrough.

Glass or ceramic vacuum feedthroughs, sometimes known as bulkhead connectors, are commonly used to route power and data into isolated environments. Typically cylindrical, the fitting assemblies allow for connections to be established between the vacuum chamber interior and exterior in a manner that prevents leakage into the chamber. Applications needing quick connections or disconnections on one or both sides of the chamber wall require bulkhead connectors. High quality helps assure complications relating to loss of signal or seal leakage are avoided. With that said, while the bulkheads are able to fulfill the aforementioned requirements of the high-wire act, there are other options available for addressing the same challenge which are potentially more advantageous under different conditions.

For some applications, epoxy sealed vacuum feedthroughs, a comparatively newer technology, provides numerous practical and technical advantages over their glass or ceramic counterparts. In the case of a feedthrough which is going to remain sealed (such as a vacuum chamber utilized for space simulation) the hermetically sealed epoxy wire feedthrough provides a great range of flexibility in design. Additionally, despite their nature as a customized product, as opposed to a regular bulkhead, the installation cost of an epoxy sealed feedthrough on a permanent installation can be advantageous. Some feedthroughs designed to pass wires from atmospheric environments to high vacuum environments are engineered to function in temperatures from -40F to 200F while paired with the industry standard wires and cables. These devices can be a marquee choice for vacuum-oriented process control thanks to their design variance and durability, even under the most challenging of industrial conditions.

Depending on the situation, either bulkheads or epoxy sealed feedthroughs can help engineers and designers combat a longstanding challenge in working with vacuum environments.

For more information visit http://www.belilove.com/feedthroughs or call (510) 274-1990.

BCE PCB Mounted Epoxy Vacuum Feedthroughs

BCE is a leading manufacturer of printed circuit board mounted vacuum feedthroughs.

New epoxy compounds have been developed that rival glass and ceramic in performance. BCE is at the forefront of this development and leverages modern epoxy's unique properties to solve your feedthrough challenges.

FEATURES:

• Custom shapes, angles and conductors no problem.
• Run wires (and shielding), pneumatic tubing, or fiber-optic cables.
• Cost effective compared to glass and ceramic.
• Short runs and prototypes available quickly.
• Meets NASA specs on outgassing.
• Clear epoxy allows for visual inspection.
• Mounting directly to printed circuit boards and flex-circuits.
• Eliminates voltage drop or contact resistance.

Visit http://www.belilove.com/feedthroughs for more information.

New BCE Expoxy Vacuum Feedthrough Video

Check it out ....

(Re) Introduction to BCE (Belilove Company-Engineers)