Chambers and Customs - A&N Corporation - #4

a&n corporation High Vacuum Components Since 1965

High and ultra high vacuum chambers are engineered products that require a specialized set of materials and fabrication processes. To help designers and practitioners better understand system specifications, a brief overview of A&N's capabilities and practices follows:

Standard materials: Because of its high corrosion resistance, low outgassing rates, wide range of applicable tempera­tures, machinability, weldability, and relative cost, A&N's standard material for tube sections, spheres and roll-ups is 304L stainless steel. Many other materials are available upon request. A&N routinely works with 304, 316, and 316L stainless steels as wells as 6061 T6 aluminum; 360 free machining brass can also be supplied.

A&N specifies a magnetic permeability not to exceed 1.02m when ordering raw 304 stainless materials. Welding and machining processes may result in heat affected or cold-worked zones that may increase magnetic permeability in these zones. Minimizing seams, joints, and bends in areas of high magnetic sensitivity should be considered during the design process. For applications that require superior magnetic flux shielding, mu-metal can also be supplied.

Flanges: A&N's flanges are made from specially manufactured raw stock that is designed to maximize the vacuum capabilities of 304 stainless. These processes minimize impurities and inclusions that could adversely impact the steel's ability to maintain vacuum. Grain size, orientation, and density are also engineered to maximize the vacuum performance of the raw stock.

A&N uses tungsten inert gas (TIG/GTAW) welding tech­niques with high purity argon as the backfill/purge gas. Both manual and automated orbital welding machines are employed. In accordance with good UHV fabrica­tion practices, non-filler material, internal fusion weld joints are utilized wherever possible. In those instances where geometries preclude internal welds, one hundred percent, full penetration welds are provided. To minimize sources of virtual leaks, external welds are only used when required for structural reinforcement and are lim­ited to stitch, skip, span, or spot weld configurations.

State-of-the-art, multi-axis, CNC machine centers are at the heart of A&N's operations. Our work processes our built upon the dual goals of high quality and rapid turnaround. Our machining coolants are sulphur free, biodegradable, and recycled.

Flanges and machined components (faced, turned or bored) come standard with a 32 micro-inch surface fin­ish. Chambers are internally and externally bead blasted. Electropolishing and manual polishing are additional options.

A&N Corporation

707 Southwest 19th Avenue Williston, Florida 32696 (352) 528-4100 1(800) FLANGE1 FAX (352) 528-3441 www.ancorp.com

(352) 528-4100 • 1(800) FLANGE1 • www.ancorp.com