STABIL-ION® VACUUM MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

Description

• Highest Long-Term Accuracy Vacuum Gauge from Granville Phillips
• Improved Long-Term Accuracy

Long-term accuracy of pressure measurement is essential in vacuum processing to achieve maximum throughput. Conventional IG Systems will typically provide pressure indications that are uncertain by 30 to 40% at mid-range and by several hundred percent at higher pressures when new. Even accurate calibration does nothing to improve the accuracy of readout on non STABIL-ION Systems. With these older systems, you must use lookup tables to get accurate information and, with use, the calibration typically changes resulting in unavoidable errors. Only STABIL-ION Systems can automatically correct for the inherent nonlinearity in sensitivity in all Bayard-Alpert type gauges. Compare the 2, 3, or 6% uncertainty of readout at mid-range of STABIL-ION Systems (depending on the system ordered) with the approximately 10 times larger uncertainty of older systems and you will choose STABIL-ION Systems.

Why can only STABIL-ION Systems provide such accurate readout?

STABIL-ION Systems Offer Greatly Improved Convenience

All older hot cathode IG systems provide only a single value of sensitivity stored in the controller. This "one size fits all" results in large uncertainties of readout across the pressure range. Calibration can provide better accuracy, but inconvenient lookup tables are required with all older systems.

STABIL-ION Systems are the only systems to eliminate the need for lookup tables when accurate pressure data are required.

With gas specific Memory Modules, you can achieve accurate direct pressure readout for any compatible gas of your choosing (e.g., nitrogen or argon).

Reliability is Designed In

With STABIL-ION Gauges, there is no glass breakage, glass decomposition, or helium permeation. Conventional nude ionization gauges also have no glass envelopes; however, the lack of a fixed metal envelope and shields around the electrodes means that any change on the position or potential of any surface in the vicinity of the nude gauge affects its accuracy.

GPC uses a proprietary filament coating process with greatly improved adhesion and uniformity of coating for longer cathode life. A number of pre-production STABIL-ION Gauges have been operating continuously for over 42 months.

STABIL-ION filaments are burnout resistant even in air whereas tungsten filaments burn out instantly on exposure to air, even before they can be turned off.

A power limiter prevents excessive pressure during degas. There is automatic turn-off if the pressure gets too high, if the emission is insufficient, or if the anode potential is too low. A high voltage arc preventer rapidly interrupts degas if a discharge starts to form.

STABIL-ION Systems Help Avoid Process Replication Problems

A common complaint is that it is virtually impossible to transfer a nicely operating process to another system without extensive tweaking.

Patented STABIL-ION Systems are the first to provide reproducible pressure indications from system to system which are essential for successful process replication. Even if STABIL-ION or CONVECTRON Gauges are replaced, processing results are much more likely to remain the same.

STABIL-ION Gauges are Safer

A Metal enclosure eliminates the risk of glass breakage and the implosion hazard which is often present with glass ionization gauges. The all-metal enclosure extends beyond the electrical connections greatly reducing electrical shock hazards if your vacuum system is appropriately grounded. A guard helps protect you from being burned during degas and prevents cables and plastic utility lines from contacting hot surfaces.

STABIL-ION Systems are Listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL). Samples of this product have been evaluated by UL and meet the applicable UL Standards for Safety. STABIL-ION Systems are the first in their product category to be listed by UL.

STABIL-ION Gauges have Burnout Resistant Filaments

Tungsten filaments burn out instantaneously when exposed to air while operating, as some vacuum users have discovered to their dismay. If a vacuum accident happens, a valve is opened at the wrong time, a serious air leak develops, etc., kiss your tungsten filaments good-bye.

The STABIL-ION Gauge utilizes thoria coated iridium filaments which are extremely resistant to burnout. These filaments have been operated for over an hour in air at atmospheric pressure, at normal filament heating power without burning out. GPC, of course, does not recommend this type of harsh treatment of an IG. We did it merely as a graphic illustration of just how burnout resistant our gauges are.

Specs