Here we describe how to build a robust spring-transport mechanism for a spinning rotor gauge. This device securely immobilizes the rotor and keeps it under vacuum during transportation. We also describe packaging that minimizes the risk of damage during transport. Tests show our design works for typical shocks during transport.
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Method Article
How to Build a Vacuum Spring-transport Package for Spinning Rotor Gauges
In This Article
Summary
Abstract
The spinning rotor gauge (SRG) is a high-vacuum gauge often used as a secondary or transfer standard for vacuum pressures in the range of 1.0 x 10-4 Pa to 1.0 Pa. In this application, the SRGs are frequently transported to laboratories for calibration. Events can occur during transportation that change the rotor surface conditions, thus changing the calibration factor. To assure calibration stability, a spring-transport mechanism is often used to immobilize the rotor and keep it under vacuum during transport. It is also important to transport the spring-transport mechanism using packaging designed to minimize the risk of damage during shipping. In this manuscript, a detailed description is given on how to build a robust spring-transport mechanism and shipping container. Together these form a spring-transport package. The spring-transport package design was tested using drop-tests and the performance was found to be excellent. The present spring-transport mechanism design keeps the rotor immobilized when experiencing shocks of several hundred g (g = 9.8 m/sec2 and is the acceleration due to gravity), while the shipping container assures that the mechanism will not experience shocks greater than about 100 g during common shipping mishaps (as defined by industry standards).
Introduction
The spinning rotor gauge (SRG) is a high-vacuum gauge used to determine vacuum pressures in the range of 1.0 x 10-4 Pa to 1.0 Pa. It is fundamentally a rotating steel ball that is suspended between two permanent magnets. Electro-magnets are used to rotate, or "spin-up", the ball to some frequency (typically 410 Hz); the ball is then allowed to freely rotate, but the rotation rate will decrease over time because of collisions of gas molecules in the vacuum system with the ball surface. Vacuum pressure is thus related to the deceleration rate of the steel ball or rotor. Figure 1 shows the essential elements of the SRG: the rotor, thim....
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Protocol
1. Procure Non-custom Parts for the Spring Transport Mechanism
- Procure the springs, threaded rod, standoffs, nuts, and washers. These items are listed in the List of Specific Materials/Equipment. Purchase the springs and standoffs before manufacturing the ball holder. Use 18-8 stainless steel (except 303), or preferably 316 stainless steel, for all materials.
- Procure rotor. The rotor is a ball-bearing 4.5 mm in diameter made of 440C stainless steel or E52100 alloy steel.
- Procure the right-angle valve listed in the List of Specific Materials/Equipment.
2. Procure Materials for the Shipping Container
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Results
All of the components of commercial SRG are shown in Figure 1. This includes the rotor, thimble, head containing the permanent magnets and wire coils used for suspension and pickup, and the electronic controller. The small spring shown (Figure 1c) is used to retain the ball in the thimble; this retainer spring is not used in the spring-transport mechanism. The commercial controller and head are used in the spring-transport mechanism. The tines from the co.......
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Discussion
The objective was to design a spring-transport mechanism with a sufficient holding force such that the rotor would remain immobilized during transport. Designing a robust spring-transport mechanism is not enough to insure the rotor will remain immobilized because, for example, dropping the mechanism from tall height onto a hard surface can produce an enormous shock. The force on the rotor can be greatly reduced by packaging the spring-transport mechanism such that it gently decelerates over a distance within the package,.......
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Disclosures
Commercial equipment is identified in this paper to foster understanding and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it necessarily imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose. The authors have nothing else to disclose.
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful for the help of the NIST neutron imaging facility instrument scientist Dr. Daniel Hussey for assisting us with neutron radiographs.
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Materials
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring, 3 N/m | Lee Spring (www.leespring.com) | LC 042C 18 S316 | Outside diameter 0.240 in, Wire Diameter 0.042 in, Rate 17.1 lb/in, Free Length 2.25 in, Number of Coils 29.3 |
| 8-32 threaded rod, 316 stainless steel | McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com) | 90575A260 | Type 316 Stainless Steel Fully Threaded Stud 8-32 Thread, 3" Length. Cut to length specified in protocol |
| standoffs, 8-32 Screw Size | McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com) | 91125A140 | 18-8 Stainless Steel Female Threaded Round Standoff, 1/4" OD, 1/4" Length, 8-32 Screw Size |
| nuts, 8-32 | McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com) | 90205A309 | 316 SS Undersized Machine Screw Hex Nut 8-32 Thread Size, 1/4" Width, 3/32" Height |
| Split Lock-Washers, 316 Stainless Steel | McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com) | 92147A425 | Type 316 Stainless Steel Split Lock Washer NO. 8 Screw Size, .3" OD, .04" min Thick |
| Steel Rotor | McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com) | 9292K38 | Bearing-Quality E52100 Alloy Steel, Hardened Ball, 4.5 mm Diameter |
| Right-Angle Valve | VAT Valve (www.vatvalve.com) | 54132-GE02-0001 | Easy-close all-metal angle valve, DN 40 (1.5") |
| Shipping Container | Allcases, Reekstin & Associates (www.allcases.com) | REAL1616-1205 | Zinc Hardware w/Zinc Handles, Rotationally Molded, light-weight, high-impact, Polyethylene Case with protected recessed hardware. 15.75" x 15.88" x 16.45" |
| Ester Foam | Carry Cases Plus (www.carrycasesplus.com) | ES-PAD 3" Thick | 3" Thick, 2 lb Charcoal Ester Foam Pad, 24" x 27". |
| Ester Foam | Carry Cases Plus (www.carrycasesplus.com) | ES-PAD 1" Thick | 1" Thick, 2 lb Charcoal Ester Foam Pad, 24" x 27". |
| Egg-carton ester foam | Carry Cases Plus (www.carrycasesplus.com) | ES-CONV | ES-CONV, 2 lb, 24" x 27" x 1 1/2". "egg-crate" ester foam. |
| Foam Cutout, PE foam | Willard Packaging Co. (www.willardpackaging.com) | Custom Foam Cutout. | |
| Spinning Rotor Gauge | MKS Instruments (www.mks.com) | SRG-3 | Controller, head, and thimble. Custom thimble must be used for the spring-transport mechanism |
| Custom thimble | MDC vacuum Inc. (www.mdcvacuum.com) | drawing must be submitted for custom part | |
| Detergent | Fisher Scientific Co (www.fischersci.com) | 04-320-4 | Sparkleen 1 Detergent |
| Acetone | Fisher Scientific Co (www.fischersci.com) | A18-S4 | Acetone (Certified ACS) |
| Ethanol | Warner-Graham Company (www.warnergraham.com) | 190 proof USP | 190 Proof USP ethyl alcohol |
| Bolt set for valve | Kurt J. Lesker (www.lesker.com) | TBS25028125P | B,N&W set, 12 point, (25)1/4-28 x 1.25", for 2.75" thru, silver plat |
| Silver-plated copper gaskets | Kurt J. Lesker (www.lesker.com) | GA-0275LBNSP | |
| Spring Assembly (welding) | Omley Industries, Inc. (www.omley.com) | N/A | The machine work and welding were done in NIST's shop. However, Omley industries was used as an alternative for welding the spring assembly. |
References
- Fremerey, J. K. The spinning rotor gauge. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A. 3 (3), 1715-1720 (1985).
- Jousten, K. Chapter 13, Total Pressure Vacuum Gauges. Handbook of Vacuum Technology. Jousten, K. , Wiley-VCH. Weinheim. 573-583 (2008).
- Berg, R. F., Fedchak, J. A.
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