New high vacuum system

TL;DR

This content showcases the process of building a vacuum cart for physical vapor deposition and its various applications.

Transcript

hey everyone I thought I'd show you my latest project this is a new vacuum cart that I'm building and eventually I plan to do physical vapor deposition inside there so with a really high current heater you can evaporate materials in a vacuum and then have the materials solidify on a flat surface so my ultimate goal here is to either optical coating... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤸 Building a vacuum cart using a wooden cart and a thick aluminum plate offers ease of construction and structural stability.
• 🦭 Properly sized glands for sealing the diffusion pump are essential for achieving effective vacuum seals.
• 🎚️ A penning gauge is used to measure vacuum levels, providing insight into the effectiveness of the vacuum system.
• 🤔 Vacuum carts can enable a range of applications, including physical vapor deposition, optical coatings, thin film transistors, and sample preparation for scanning electron microscopes.
• 👱 The diffusion pump operates by spraying air molecules out of the chamber using an oil jet, creating a vacuum through momentum transfer.
• 💦 Water chillers can be used to maintain optimal temperatures during the vacuum process.
• 🍽️ Machining an aluminum plate involves cutting holes and creating support points, showcasing the process's potential for further tutorial content.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of a vacuum cart for physical vapor deposition?

A vacuum cart allows for the creation of a high vacuum environment where materials can be evaporated and deposited onto a flat surface, enabling applications like optical coatings and thin film transistors.

Q: Why was a wooden cart chosen instead of a metal one?

Working with wood is easier for drilling and offers looser tolerances. However, if a cheap and reliable local source of metal carts was available, the creator would have used those instead.

Q: What are the benefits of using a thick aluminum plate for the cart?

A thick plate enables drilling blind holes, tapping them, and using them as support points without going through the material. This provides stability and structural strength to the vacuum cart.

Q: How is the vacuum level measured?

The vacuum level is measured using a penning gauge, which has been refurbished in a previous video, and it reads from around 10^(-7) to 10^(-3) millibar.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The content demonstrates the construction of a vacuum cart using a wooden IKEA cart and a thick aluminum plate.

• The vacuum cart is designed for physical vapor deposition, optical coatings, thin film transistors, and sample preparation for scanning electron microscopes.

• The process involves machining the aluminum plate, creating a gland for sealing the diffusion pump, and connecting a penning gauge to measure vacuum levels.