New Epoxy Compounds Give Researchers and OEM's Design Freedom in Specifying Vacuum Feedthroughs

OEMs can no get a feedthrough to fit their design criteria.

Scientists and researchers are constantly challenged to come up with better ways to read data in a vacuum environment. Traditional ceramic and glass-to-metal vacuum feedthroughs do not offer design flexibility. Unique control and data signals must pass through the wall. In addition to passing electrical power and control signals, fiber optic cables and pneumatic tubing may be included. Always changing variables, such as the number and types of connectors, unique geometries, and limited available space, make finding an off-the-shelf feedthrough difficult. This has traditionally forced designers to compromise and specify a feedthrough with some, but not all, of the desired specifications. 

Clear epoxy feedthrough with ribbon connector.

This reality has led to significant development gains in custom epoxy feedthrough. Epoxy feedthroughs overcome design constraints. New epoxy properties rivaling ceramic and glass performance have been developed. High performance, clear epoxy potting opens the door for researchers to specify the exact number and type of wires, optical fiber cables, or any other insert that they require. Epoxy feedthrough manufacturers can provide a virtually limitless variety of wires, cables, or tubes along with the added benefit of fast prototyping and small production runs — perfect for the research and manufacturing community. 

Flanged feedthrough with epoxy potted fiber optic cable.

With the development of custom epoxy feedthroughs medical device companies, analyzer manufacturers, laboratories, aerospace companies and other R&D facilities can design their equipment based on optimum size, cost and performance, and not be forced to compromise by the limitations of ceramic and glass-to-metal feedthrough. Because of the constant pressure on "better, faster, smaller" vacuum equipment researchers and OEM designers, it's clear that epoxy feedthroughs provide flexibility and options for more efficient and creative design.

For information on epoxy vacuum feedthroughs, contact: 

BCE

https://bcemfg.com

(510) 274-1990

Engineered Ceramics for the Analytical, Semiconductor, Electronics, Defense, Medical, and Aerospace Industries

Advanced ceramics machining

Ceramics are inorganic, non-metallic materials made from compounds of a metal and a non-metal. They include such compounds as oxides, nitrides, and carbides. Ceramics are typically insulators (electrically and thermally), but their properties can vary widely - for instance some ceramics actually belong to the super-conductor class. Advanced ceramics, such as alumina, zirconia, silicone carbide and silicone nitride are very resistant to corrosive chemicals and high temperatures. They posses higher stiffness and lower fracture toughness than metals.

Ceramics behavior under mechanical, thermal and chemical stress differs widely from other materials such as metals, which makes machining ceramics very difficult and requires knowledge, experience, equipment, and expertise. As the need for higher performance / higher precision parts has increased, advances in ceramics machining has overcome many of yesterdays machining challenges, and today's high-tech processes are yielding extremely close tolerance parts and ultra precise shapes.

Ceramic machining is the process of shaping the advanced ceramic material into high precision parts used in industry. Machining removes unwanted material by mechanical means, using very hard abrasive particles. If the machining is done before sintering (to achieve a "near-net-shape" to save time and money), the ceramic is referred to as in the "green state". Green state machining offers considerable advantages in quality, lower production costs, and manufacturing flexibility.

Grinding, the material removal process where abrasives is used, is the most prevalent machining process for advanced ceramics. Polycrystalline diamond and cubic boron nitride are the grinding materials of choice because of their hardness. Their particles are fixed to a grinding tool (or wheel) via resin or vitreous bonding, and are turned against the ceramic part at high speeds. Variation in grinding efficiency is a challenge though, due to the constant changing state of the grinding tools because of wear and abrasion.

The following chart is a helpful reference guide to the properties of some common advanced ceramics (click on chart for larger view).

For any inquiry on precision machined ceramics or thick film ceramic heaters, contact BCE at:

21060 Corsair Blvd
Hayward, CA 94545
Phone: (510) 274-1990
Fax: (510) 274-1999
www.belilove.com
E-mail: sales@belilove.com

Custom Epoxy Vacuum Feed Throughs Take It All Through The Wall

Take it all through the wall!

Equipment manufacturers and scientific researchers are continually challenged with supplying power, fiber-optic, control, and monitoring cables into (and out of) sealed vacuum vessels. Whether due to space restrictions, special geometries, or number and type of conductors, standard glass-to-metal or ceramic feedthroughs never quite fit the bill. Unfortunately, because of limited options, many designers are forced to compromise and go for an off-the-shelf solution.

Epoxy to the rescue. During the past decade, 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.

For more information visit www.belilove.com/feedthrough.