The ExploraVAC™ MAX series is Ideal Vacuum's premier TVAC thermal test chamber product line, which includes many additional features compared to our standard ExploraVac instruments.

This is our Aerospace, Aeronautical Engineering, and Environmental ExploraVAC MAX TVAC thermal vacuum test chamber system, ideal for pressure-controlled experiments from local altitude to 280,000 feet and is accurate to within the limits of the built-in vacuum pressure sensor. It includes a 23” × 23” heated and cooled platen which allows sample temperatures to be controlled from -60 to +225 °C, accurate to ± 0.3 °C. It is a fully integrated, turnkey, rough vacuum system featuring a fully enclosed, lighted, cubic 24” inch, welded, 6061-T6 aluminum vacuum chamber and door with viewport, dual ISO LF-200 side ports, and a volume of 8.0 cubic feet. The system includes an Edwards nXR60i multi-stage roots dry roughing/backing pump. This system has full pressure control from local pressure to 2 × 10^-2 Torr accurate to the measured gauge value. For altitude simulation, the system has a ceiling of 280,000 feet, has less maintenance, and pumps approximately 3 times faster than the nXDS20i dry scroll pump we normally use in other ExploraVAC systems. Chamber venting is controlled by our smart Ideal Vacuum CommandValve™, which allows chamber pressurization at rates of up to 10 Torr per second, which is more rapid pressurization than an object feels in free fall. The operator can select preferred pressure units in Altitude, Torr, Atmospheres, Bar, Pascals, or PSI. An integrated Convectron gauge controller provides accurate chamber pressure measurements.

This Aerospace, Aeronautical Engineering, and Environmental ExploraVAC MAX TVAC system weighs 1060 lb., and requires single-phase 208-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, at 13 Amps for the system, and 208-240VAC 50 or 60Hz at 20 Amps.

ExploraVAC MAX Aerospace, Aeronautical Engineering, and Environmental System Configuration:

• Fully Enclosed 24” Welded Aluminum Vacuum Chamber
• Aluminum Chamber Door with Large Viewport
• Quick-Latch Front Door Closure
• Through Viewport LED Chamber Lighting
• Heated and Cooled Platen (-60 to +225°C)
• Pressure (Altitude) Control
• 15.5” LCD Touch Screen Display
• Edwards nXRS60i Dry Scroll Vacuum Pump (ultimate pressure 20 mTorr)
• Two ISO LF-200 Side Ports (Allows for a variety of feedthroughs to be added)

The ExploraVAC MAX series of TVAC thermal vacuum chamber process and test instruments create precise environments empowering the operator with complete control over internal chamber pressure and temperature. They are built with innovation in mind. They allow for prototype device exploration in vacuum during the product research and development phase and for precise process control in small batch processing. These thermal vacuum test chamber instruments are designed to allow users to quickly tailor experiments to gather product analysis and diagnostics data as the product is subjected to the extreme stress factors of vacuum and temperature. ExploraVAC MAX TVAC thermal vacuum test chambers are completely configurable with many available system options.

ExploraVAC MAX System Configuration Options:

• Roughing Pump (dry scroll or dry multi-stage roots, various speeds)
• High Vacuum Turbomolecular Pump (various speeds)
• Full Vacuum Pressure Control
• Heated and Cooled Platen
• Chamber Wall Heating
• Closed-Loop Refrigerated or LN₂Cryogenic Cooling System
• Automated Software Control
• Remote Control Operation
• Purge Ports, Chamber Shelving, and Much More

ExploraVAC MAX systems are configured with fully enclosed 24 inch cubic aluminum chambers and doors with viewports and chamber lighting.

The ExploraVAC MAX TVAC system cabinet has a conveniently angled front panel with computer-controlled touchscreen interface which controls all chamber functions. PID controllers and gauges are installed as required for user selected options. A PLC manages system functions including pump and valve sequencing for efficient pump down cycles and safety interlocks for preventing equipment damage. The front accessible, built-in NEMA style enclosure houses the electronics needed for system operation.

Two spacious LF-200 side ports are available for user-selected or designed accessories, such as an electronic feedthrough for device monitoring or for a vibration pad for shock testing, an infrared lamp array for radiant heating or temperature differential tests, an ultraviolet lamp array for ionizing radiation tests, or a mount for an electron beam. A system can also be customized to obtain any desired rate of rise by adding additional vacuum pumps mounted outside the cabinet.

The back of the cabinet holds a bulkhead feedthrough panel for chamber venting, pump exhaust, and the purge gas option. A digital feedthrough back panel has multiple ports including a DB9 connector for running the system remotely from a workstation or laptop running Microsoft Windows10 or 11 with our AutoExplor software.

The (non-expiring) basic version of AutoExplor (P1012102) allows a user to manually control devices while protecting the system. AutoExplor properly sequences pumps and automatically operates the correct valves for a given request. The user can program pressure and temperature setpoints, ramp rates, soak times, and venting (if the system is equipped with those hardware options). The software provides real-time graphical data streaming so the user can visualize system behavior. AutoExplor maintains an internal preventive maintenance schedule and notifies the user when system service is due. For example, it notifies when scroll pump tip-seal replacements are needed and when sensor calibration is due. This helps keep the system at peak operating performance. It also provides fault and error messages along with specific troubleshooting information in the case of a device failure so that the issue can be corrected as soon as possible.

The premium version of AutoExplor (P1012100) includes all the features of the basic software package (above) and adds automated recipe control, data logging, and log export capabilities. Complex test recipes can be created as a step-by-step process, where each step can control the on/off state, setpoints, and ramp rates of multiple devices. One or multiple end conditions for each recipe step may be set using logical operators. The premium version allows the user to quickly generate environmental TVAC test reports from recipe data log files. Logs can be reviewed to ensure targeted process parameters are achieved. The premium version also includes AutoExplor IP Client, which gives the software the ability to be used as a host that can manage multiple external network clients, and AutoExplor API (application programming interface), which allows a scientist or programmer to integrate an ExploraVac instrument into their existing software test suite without using AutoExplor’s software interface. The premium version must be renewed annually or it reverts to the basic version.

The ExploraVAC MAX series of TVAC pressure and temperature-controlled test chambers are a perfect solution for many product testing requirements.

Sample Applications

• Environmental Testing Chamber
• Altitude Test Chamber
• Space Simulation Test Chamber
• Thermal Shock Chamber
• Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Test Chamber
• High Altitude Flight Component Testing
• Vacuum Oven
• Vacuum Freeze Drying
• Plastic & Epoxy Curing & Outgassing

About Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering Simulation:
Many industries need to design, test, and validate parts, components, and electronics that can operate under variable pressure and temperature. Aerospace and aeronautical engineers must design components that can handle the pressure changes of takeoff, landing, and cruising at high altitude and temperature swings from the freezing temperatures experienced in the upper atmosphere to the heat of a jet engine. Many aircraft components must be able to survive emergency situations such as rapid decompression at altitude inside a pressurized cabin or compartment, rapid pressurization as the aircraft takes an unexpected dive, or rapidly changing temperatures and pressures found in storm systems.

The automotive industry must make cars that can drive at any livable altitude and environment, from the Death Valley desert in the summer to the Oymyakon Road in winter. Medical respirators and other devices must perform at ground level and in life-flight airplanes and helicopters. Even consumer electronics, such as cell phones and laptop computers, must be able to handle being placed in an unregulated cargo bay during a trans-oceanic passenger flight.

Ideal Vacuum’s ExploraVAC MAX Aerospace, Aeronautical Engineering, and Environmental TVAC thermal vacuum testing chambers deliver precise pressure and altitude control from local elevation to 280,000 ft with a chamber pressurization rate of 10 Torr per second, which is faster pressurization that an object feels at terminal-velocity free-fall in the earth’s atmosphere and sufficient for most ASTM and MIL-STD rapid pressurization standards. It also has a maximum simulate rate of rise of 22,500 feet per minute which is sufficient for commercial aircraft flight simulations. The heated and cooled platen allows precise sample temperature control at controlled heating rates of up to 10 °C per minute, sufficient for thermal shock standards. An internally regulated purge port accepts a user-selected gas input at pressures up to 250 PSIG. These features allow the user full control of pressure, temperature, and atmospheric composition to simulate virtually any terrestrial environment.

Smaller chamber sizes and/or greater pumping speeds are available to meet MIL-STD-810-G rapid decompression standards or to simulate military aircraft or rocket takeoffs. Smaller chambers also provide proportionally faster cooling speeds. Even faster and deeper cooling, down to -170 °C, is possible with our XtremeFreez recirculated liquid nitrogen cooling option.