V. I. C.’s e-Newsletter
...a quarterly newsletter from VIC Leak Detection
Volume 1, Issue 2, Fall 2008
U n p a r a l l e l e d A p p l i c a t i o n S u p p o r t
In This Issue...
-SEMICON West ‘08
-SmartChargeIII
-Helium Recovery
-Calibrated Gas Leaks
-Upcoming Events
-Application Note
V. I. C. Web Links
Greetings
VIC’s new MS-50 UFT was an instant hit at SEMICON this July, held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. The product generated interest among semiconductor and micro electronics manufacturers who have the need for ultra fast precise, quantitative le
ak measurements of hermetically sealed devices down to 3.0 x 10-12 and a flush mount test cup. More Details
Also on display was VIC’s MS-40 portable helium leak detector — fully automatic, easy to use, and highly accurate. These advanced design leak detectors are ideal for a broad range of applications including clean, oil-free testing. More Details
SmartCharge III Evacuation and Backfill Station / MD-490S “Real Sniffer” Combo
The Smart Charge III is a fully automatic, custom-configurable evacuation and gas backfill system with built-in gross-leak test used to pre-charge products under test with gas for leak detection or for any gas charging application that requires evacuation and subsequent pressurization of the test product. The system’s new features include the industry’s first user selectable cumulative leak site integration feature to distinguish if each individual leak site is an accept or a reject and to determine if the accumulated leak measurements exceeds the specified leak reject limit; parts can either reject on one leak site or the accumulation of multiple sites. Other features include built-in gross leak test capability to eliminate tracer gas contamination; up to 10 part specific recipes each with up to 10 leak sites, with user configurable dwell time at each site; barcode scanner input; serial printer output; and remote monitoring over an Ethernet connection; PLC control allowing for flexible configuration. The SmartCharge III can be readily integrated with VIC’s MD-490S “Real Sniffer” portable dry industrial helium leak detector for tracer gas charging of products prior to fine leak testing. Gas recovery and mixing options are also offered by VIC to create a completely integrated gas handling and test system. More Deteails
VIC’s Helium Recovery Systems Combat Global Helium Shortages
“Helium prices are expected to spike by 10-15 percent,” according to Chuck Wilkinson, Director of Sales, Industrial Leak Detection Division for Vacuum Instrument Corporation, world’s largest independent manufacturer of leak detection equipment and leak-test systems, “but industrial users may be even more concerned about spot shortages that can delay their own production lines. This is a good time,” he added, “for industrial helium-users to look carefully at the cost/benefit ratio. VIC’s Helium Recovery product line features a group of high efficiency gas recycling systems that significantly reduce operating costs associated with Helium leak testing. “Our wide choice of standard models and custom manufactured products provides the flexibility to quickly meet varying capacity requirements while reducing tracer gas operating costs.” More Details
Recalibration Services for CGLs / VIC Offers a Variety of Calibrated Gas Leaks
We offer a full recalibration service for calibrated gas leaks manufactured by VIC and other leak standard suppliers from our new state-of-the-art calibration laboratory located in our New York headquarters. Services include recalibrating and recharging with replacement of the precision element if breakage or clogging occurs, along with full N.I.S.T. recertification. Certificates of N.I.S.T. traceability are provided with each leak standard documenting the accuracy, and calibration parameters. This information is perfect for those companies with ISO quality systems procedures. More Details
This Fall is an especially busy season for VIC with three major trade shows lined up for September and October:
Assembly Technology Expo 2008, Sept. 23 ~ 25, Booth No. 837, Rosmont Convention Center, Chicago, Illinois.
Sign up for a free pass.
AVS-55 International Symposium & Exhibition, October 21 ~ 23, 2008, Booth No. 318, Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts. Sign up for a free pass.
Automotive Testing Expo 2008 North America, October 22 ~ 24, 2008, Stand No., 12024G, Rock Financial Showplace, Novi, Detroit, Michigan. Sign up for a free pass.
Please feel free to stop by our booth to discuss all of your leak detection applications and requirements.
Application Note:
Testing with Helium vs. Hydrogen Mix
Recently, there has been a lot of interest in alternate tracer gas testing due to supply limitations and increases in Helium cost.
One of the more popular new approaches involves the use of Hydrogen gas.
Due to the highly flammable and explosive nature of Hydrogen [remembering the Hindenburg], the technique of hydrogen leak testing is performed using a maximum of 5% Hydrogen in Nitrogen mix.
A sniffing Hydrogen leak detector is offered as a replacement for Helium MSLD in
many applications.
The equipment which is competitively priced utilizes a solid state sensor with a
relatively short lifespan that gradually degrades in the presence of the Hydrogen —
the gas in which it is used to detect.
This mixture limits the practical detection limit to approximately 10-4 cc/sec compared with the Helium sniffer leak detector whose practical detection limit is 10-6 cc/sec — 100 times more sensitive.
Certain manufacturers also claim a cost savings for the Hydrogen mix over Helium. We have not found this to be the case from our gas suppliers. Our research has shown that the current cost for a 290cf cylinder of Hydrogen/Nitrogen is $129.00, while 100% Helium costs $93.00 for the same size bottle – roughly 30% higher.
Enter Helium Leak Detection, by VIC
VIC offers more choices for leak detection. Leak-test products and services include industry-standard portable Helium sniffer leak detectors such as the MD-490S, high-speed Helium production leak detectors such as the MS-50, and fully integrated turnkey leak-test solutions and recovery systems.
Helium Gas Recovery and Recycling
VIC’s Gas Recovery features a group of high efficiency gas recycling systems that significantly reduce operating costs associated with Helium leak testing. A wide choice of standard models and custom manufactured products provides the flexibility to quickly meet varying capacity requirements and tracer gas recovery capability of up to 98%.
Vacuum Instrument Corporation has the broadest experience and the most comprehensive leak detection solutions required to design, build, sell, and service the most innovative leak detectors anywhere in the world. That is because leak detection is and always has been our only business. We are dedicated to leak detection, and our customers have made us the largest leak detector company in the world.
About Us:
VIC manufactures, services and supports everything from industry-standard air, helium, and high-sensitivity leak detection units—and the detectors that drive them—to complete turnkey leak-test solutions including gas handling and recovery.
Everything you need from one reliable source, worldwide — for more than 50 years. More
Questions? E-mail us at sales@vicleakdetection.com or call 631-737-0900 x113.
© 2008 Vacuum Instrument Corporation; VIC Leak Detection and the VIC symbol are registered trademarks of
Vacuum Instrument Corporation.