eV Parts: Modular Components for Vacuum and Electron/Ion Beam System Prototyping and Apparatus | |
eV Parts | Clamps |
Introduction | Screw Clamps (SC) |
eV Parts Design | Clamp Assemblies |
Overview | Screw Clamp Assemblies (SCA) |
Metal Parts | Clamping Plate Assemblies (CPA) |
Ceramic Parts | Element Clamps(EC) |
Clamps and Connectors | Groove Grabber Internal Mounting Clamps |
Internal Mounting Systems (Groove Grabbers) | Smooth and Thread Rods, Tubing |
Size Ranges (Series) | Stainless Steel Rod and Threaded Rod |
Components | Alumina Rod and Tubing |
Flat Plates | Other Accessories |
Cylinder Parts | Various Connectors and Spacers |
Round Plate Parts | |
Bracket Parts | |
_____________ | |
Getting Started | |
References / Notes | |
Additional Examples of eV Part Constructs and Assemblies | |
eV Part Quick Links (Product Page, Images, Drawings) | |
Kimball Physics “eV Parts” are a collection of various structural components (an “Erector® or Lego® set”- so to speak) consisting of high temperature capable metals and high purity insulators. They provide numerous options to either 1) create physical and functional structures or 2) securely mount your apparatus in vacuum environments.
To LEARN MORE about our eV Parts: Modular Components for Vacuum and Electron/Ion Beam System Prototyping and Apparatus products, please visit our eV Parts Product Page.
The toolkit, still in use after nearly 6 decades, enables construction of all types of surface physics and high vacuum apparatus (see the partial list above).
Mounting structures inside Kimball Physics Multi-CF vacuum chambers is especially convenient with the internal mounting “Grabber Grooves” along the internal bore of the CF portals (2.75” and greater), more detail later in this document- Groove Grabber Mounting Clamps) The “Groove Grabber” internal mounting clamps nicely interface with the eV Parts family and greatly extend the capabilities and applications.
This toolkit for scientists was born in the physics research lab to initially help graduate students find a more efficient and cost effective paths to creating and testing their concepts and prototypes in high vacuum environments. Many of their applications included charged beam electron and ion beam particle systems (hence came the name “eV Parts“).
This collection of basic components has now evolved into a toolkit of parts to enable a broad range of capabilities. They can be used to simply mount a slit or aperture in a vacuum chamber or instrument housing. Or they can be assembled to create much more elaborate devices such as faraday cups, phosphor screen detector mounts or to even fabricate the firing unit of an electron gun system!
The parts have also been used as components to assist in building devices such as mass spectrometers of several types including quadrupole, RF, and magnetic sector. In teaching laboratories, the parts have been used in experiments related to basic electron physics, and the construction of simple electron microscopes. They are also well suited for low-energy electron and ion optical applications (such as slits and apertures) and can be adapted to experiments involving large diameter beam intersections, scattering, and cross-section measurements.
The parts are basic structural elements, made of high temperature metal conductors and high purity ceramic insulators, with connectors and clamps to hold everything together. The parts are non-magnetic and will work well in high and ultra-high vacuum environments with no concerns of volatility (that would disrupt the vacuum). The parts provide numerous versatile solutions and provide convenience and cost benefits in the areas of teaching, research, and commercial applications.
These component parts are made from high quality materials to build rigid, self-supporting, self-aligning and dimensionally stable assemblies that allow accurate alignment of structures such as lenses, slits, apertures, and more.
The parts have standardized dimensions, are manufactured to high tolerances, and are typically simple shapes that are modular, symmetric, versatile and interchangeable. Their assembly into various configurations is intuitive with basic skills and tools- complex manual skills and equipment are NOT required for their use. These simple structures can be used to build complex configurations. The components also allow creation of structures with isolated electrical connectivity.
The conductive stainless steel (304) metal parts, both austenitic and non-magnetic, include a broad range of sizes of precision solid and perforated plates, brackets, rods, cylinders, balls/spheres. These parts are made from refractory materials that are tolerant to heat and wear, and nicely endure bakeout operations. As expected, the metals are not volatile and perform well in very high vacuum environments. In addition to stainless steel, other metals are available including Copper (Cu), Molybdenum (Mo) Tantalum (Ta) and Tungsten (W) for some selected components.
All stainless steel plates and bracket parts are annealed to a half-hard condition. Half-hard results in adequate strength and good machinability while still permitting plates to be bent without fracture.
These structures are made from ceramic (high-grade, nearly pure vitreous alumina, Al2O3) and provide both structure and excellent electrical insulation and isolation. The structures include rods and tubing of various lengths and diameters, along with spacers and balls/spheres. The insulating balls are composed of either alumina or sapphire. As expected, the structures are non-magnetic and are not volatile at very high vacuum conditions.
The connectors and clamping plates are typically metallic, and precision fabricated from SS 304. Available connectors include springs, lock rings, machine screws and nuts, screw clamps, screw clamp assemblies, wirenuts, triplenuts, and wound wire. Additional clamp designs, often with more elaborate geometries and typically for joining multiple parts and include screw clamp assemblies, clamping plates assemblies, and geometric element clamps.
eV Parts are completely compatible with other types of electron gun parts such as those used in the cathode ray tube industry. Consequently, eV Parts may also be used to modify or add to existing commercial high vacuum apparatus with little effort. It is possible to build structures which are completely non-magnetic.
To further expand the functionality of the eV Parts toolkit, a system of internal mounting channels (aka “Grabber Grooves”) has been added to the inside bore of most of the larger portals of Kimball Physics Multi-CF vacuum chamber hardware (ports 2.75” and greater). With specifically designed internal mounting clamps (aka “Groove Grabbers”) that also interface to eV Parts, this allows the eV Part fabricated apparatus to be securely mounted and precisely positioned within the vacuum space. More about this later in the document.
The eV Parts are available in two size ranges to cover different levels of structure. The size range or “Series” determines the family of overall plate sizes, plate hole diameters and hole spacings. The Kimball Physics eV Parts are available in 2 size ranges; B and C. Some parts are hybrid with B and C sizes, such as perforated plates.
The table below details the dimensions of holes, their generalized spacing, and thickness for the typical B and C Series parts. In generalized terms, the dimensions in C series are about twice the dimension of the B series. The illustrations below provide typical part dimensions and an overall visual size comparison.
Flat plate parts (PL parts) are the one of the most commonly used components. The flat plates will typically have a symmetric uniform array of perforated holes around the perimeter in consistent proportions. Plate parts, made from stainless steel (304) are manufactured by a combination of punching, machine work, and chemical milling techniques. Dimensions are closely held to a ±0.001 inch tolerance where possible.
eV Parts in the various size levels or “Series” are based on 1) a scale factor for its size range, and 2) a series of ratios, such as 1.25 x (scaling factor) for the perforated hole diameter, 3.0 x (scaling factor) for the hole spacing, and 1.0 x (scaling factor) for the distance of the perforated hole to the edge of the plate. This information is summarized in the table below.
For example, for the series B Parts (please refer to the table below), the “scaling factor” of 0.050”, the standard hole size is 1.25 x 0.050 = 0.0625”( 1/16” ), the spacing between the holes is 3.0 x 0.050”= 0.150”, and the distance from the center of the hole to the edge of the plate is 1 x 0.050= 0.050”.
For the series C Parts which uses a “scaling factor” of 0.100”, the standard hole size is 1.25 x 0.100 = 0.0125( 1/8” ), the spacing between the holes is 3.0 x 0.100”= 0.300” and the distance from the center of the hole to the edge of the plate is 1 x 0.100”= 0.100”.
For bend plates in the form of brackets, the bend is between the holes spaced by 3 x (scale factor), with the bend at 1.5 x (scale factor) away from the hole centers.
For plates mounted side by side, there is typically a gap between the plates to enable electrical isolation.
For product information, please refer to the Series B Plate Assortment Product page for Series B Plate Assortment.
For product information, please refer to the Series C Plate Assortment Product page for Series C Plate Assortment.
For product information, please refer to the Hybrid Series C and B Plate Assortment Product page for Series C and B Plate Assortment.
Cylinder parts (CY parts) are precision cut lengths of seamless metal tubing. They are most useful in making electrostatic lenses (according to the designs found in many electron optics texts); but they may also be used in constructing housings, shields, and other constructs. Approximately two dozen different designs are available.
For product information, please refer to the Small Size Cylinder Assortment page.
For product information, please refer to the Large Size Cylinder Assortment page.
Round plate parts (RP parts) are provided in a variety of sizes, typically for closing the ends of the cylinder parts. Some sizes are provided with a hole in the center (Scaling Factor x 1.25 = Hole diameter).
For product information, please refer to the Round Plates (cylinder caps) product page.
Plates which have been bent in a standardized manner are called bracket parts (BR parts) and are made in a variety of configurations, most commonly in an “L” shape, with two rows of perforated holes oriented at 90 degrees. Bracket parts are useful in joining plates at right angles, in reinforcing plates to make stronger structures, and in mounting experiments. They are also the basis for several types of clamps.
For product information, please refer to the Brackets, Stainless Steel product page.
These Screw Clamps (SC) are used for attaching and holding rods, tubes, and split tubes together. They can also be used to attach various plates and brackets to rods and tubes.
There are two types of Screw Clamps (SC) available.
The first component is a simple, single clamp comprised of a U-shaped machined stainless steel structure, with a single central hole for accepting rods and tubing. A single screw with a hex head is used to tighten the U-shaped clamp to the rod or tube. The clamps are available in two sizes to accept either Series B and C sized rods and tubes. The hole to accept and secure the tubing or rod is 0.062” in the Series B and 0.125” in the Series C clamp. The clamp can also be attached to perforated metal plates by temporarily removing the screw, positioning the plate hole over the clear hole of the clamp, and then placing and tightening the screw. This would allow a plate to be secured to a rod /tube.
For product information, please refer to the Screw Clamp product page.
The second design of Screw Clamps (SC) structure has several sites to clamp multiple tubes and rods. They can also be attached to perforated plates. The parts are comprised of plate stock formed into U-shape channels. Regularly spaced circular perforations, with their dimensions consistent with their Series B or Series C are placed along the base of the U-channel. The sides of the U-shaped geometry, at 90 degrees to the base, have regularly spacing of nearly half-circle perforations along their edge, with the intention of sandwiching a rod or tube between two facing U-shaped clamp components and securing them with several screws and nuts. They are available in several lengths to accommodate from two (2) to seven (7) cylindrical structures.
For product information, please refer to the Screw Clamp product page.
Screw Clamp Assemblies (SCA) and Clamping Plate Assemblies (CPA) are used for heavier loads.
Screw Clamp Assemblies (SCA) are pairs of machined, tapped/clear hole clamping bars held together by screws for the purpose of mounting a variety of C-Series plates, rods and tubes.
For product information, please refer to the Screw Clamp Assembly product page.
The Clamping Plate Assembles (CPA) consist of a machined rectangular base plate with an array of proportionally spaced holes, either tapped or clear. The rectangular base plate has clamping bars along two opposing sides. These side bars include a series of circular features that can be used for mounting/securing rods and tubes
For product information, please refer to the Clamping Plate Assemblies product page.
Element Clamps can be used for multiple applications to create structural geometries, including lens and source assemblies. Two, four, or eight- pointed clamps are available, with 1.15″ ODs with 0.500″ to 0.625″ IDs. Series C insulating (ceramic) and conductive (metal ) rods and tubes can be mounted. The assembles can also be interfaced to other parts in the eV Parts family, as well as with internal mounting clamps (Groove Grabbers) for securing the assemblies and constructs within vacuum chambers.
For product information, please refer to the Element Clamps, Stainless Steel product page.
Internal circumferential channels, that we refer to as Grabber Grooves, are typically present along the inside bore of the CF (Conflat) aperture in ports of Kimball Physics vacuum chambers and housings with sealing surfaces greater or equal than 2.75” inches in diameter. The Grabber Grooves are used to securely attach (mount) various devices and apparatus to the inside of the chamber using Grove Grabber mounting clamps / connectors (Parts from our Multi-CF Hardware Family). The eV Parts are compatible with the Grove Grabber mounting clamps to allow efficient mounting of apparatus and eV Part constructs within the vacuum chambers.
For product information, please refer to the Groove Grabbers (Internal Mounting Clamps) product page.
Many parts are available to assist in a variety of construction problems. Metal rods with the same diameter as the ceramic rod are furnished in several different lengths. These may be used in many ways but are mainly intended for mounting large structures.
For product information, please refer to the Rod, Stainless Steel product page.
For product information, please refer to the Thread Rod product page.
As an aid to running electrical wiring through a structure, alumina tubing parts (TU and XTU parts) have been provided which have the same outside diameter as the rods. The inside diameter of each tubing size is just big enough to clear the outside diameter of the next smaller size. Thus, parts can be nested according to the ingenuity of the user. The shorter tube parts are also useful in making high vacuum plug-in connectors, and rigid filament mounts (along with the clamps), and as bushings to insulate mounting holes. The tubing may also be used to pass threaded rods through a structure and then to load the structure in compression using machine nuts (MN parts). The use of threaded rods, however, is not as convenient as the other techniques described.
Series B Alumina (Al2O3)Tubing Length options:
Series C Alumina (Al2O3) Tubing Length Options:
For product information, please refer to the Series B Alumina Rod product page.
For product information, please refer to the Series B and C Alumina Tubing product page.
For more information about dimensions, please see this Alumina Tubing Drawing or Alumina Rod Drawing.
The lock ring works essentially as a strong low-compliance spring; when locked on a rod, the metal far from the rod is incompression while the metal just adjacent to the rod is in tension.
As a special high-temperature, spring-grade stainless steel is used to make the lock rings (not stainless steel type 304), the rings are mildly magnetic. This residual magnetism is normally too low to cause any difficulties except when working with electrons at very low energies.
The lock rings have the advantages of being easy to apply with a lock ring tool, of providing a very strong clamping action, and of requiring a minimal amount of axial space along the rod.
The lock rings have the advantages of being easy to apply with a lock ring tool, of providing a very strong clamping action, and of requiring a minimal amount of axial space along the rod. Also, the lock rings may be spotwelded directly.
For product information, please refer to the Lock Rings product page.
Wirenuts (WN parts) consist of closely wound coils which barely slip over the ceramic rods and have been given a kink to insure a bakeout-proof friction fit. (The kink must be supplied by the user according to the amount of friction desired.) Wirenuts may be made from either stainless steel type 304 or from molybdenum, but since high temperature operation is often desired, the wirenuts normally furnished are molybdenum.
For product information, please refer to the Wirenuts Mo product page.
As a convenient means of joining long metal rods at right angles, special three-coil triplenuts (TN parts) have been produced. The axes of two of the three coils make an angle of about 15 degrees while the third lies between the other two, off to one side, and has its axis perpendicular to the plane containing the other two. To use triplenuts, a rod is first passed through the shorter third coil, then a second rod is passed through the two longer coils (15 degree angle). Pulling the two longer coils into line locks the second rod by friction, and simultaneously reduces the turns diameter on the third coil. This reduction locks the first rod. Ceramic rods may also be locked together using the triple nuts.
For product information, please refer to the Triplenuts Mo product page.
Small compression springs (CS parts) have been provided which fit precisely over rods or tubes to take up the differential expansion. The springs are made of tungsten, and thus retain their spring properties at high temperatures. These springs are also useful in making quick-change filament holders and other types of snap-together assemblies.
For product information, please refer to the Compression Springs product page.
Metal Spheres /Balls
Stainless steel plates may be positioned using spherical balls (BA parts). Balls allow closer hole alignment than rods, and generate structures which are inherently resistant to twisting. Balls have the disadvantages, however, of being considerably more expensive, harder to assemble, and less flexible with regard to plate spacing.
For product information, please refer to the Metal Balls / Spheres product page.
Insulating Spheres/Balls
Stainless steel plates may be positioned using spherical ceramic balls (BA parts). Balls allow closer hole alignment than rods, and generate structures which are inherently resistant to twisting. Balls have the disadvantages, however, of being considerably more expensive, harder to assemble, and less flexible with regard to plate spacing.
The choice between assembling structures using balls or rods, and the choice of means to secure rod ends when rods are used, generally depends on the application. It is often desirable to mix techniques.
For product information, please refer to the Insulating Balls / Spheres product page.
Spacers
Spacers (SP parts), with outside diameters of 0.1875 O.D. and inside diameters of 0.127 I.D. are essentially short tubes which slip over either the ceramic or metal rods, and are intended as an additional way of spacing metal plates. Rigid structures can be made by alternating metal and ceramic spacers on one or more ceramic rods. Since metal spacers are less costly than ceramic spacers, it is frequently desirable to use a long metal spacer in series with a small ceramic spacer to provide wide insulated gaps between plates.
For product information, please refer to the Spacers product page.
Wound Wire SS
For general purpose wiring, hooks, and low temperature wire nuts, Kimball Physics carries stainless steel 304 wire in several of the most useful diameters. Stainless 304 wound wire stock may be used for making low current electrical connectors.
For product information, please refer to the Wound Wire Stainless Steel product page.
Let’s create a simple construct with the eV Parts System to get familiar with basic construction techniques. In later presentations, we will expand on the diversity and details of the available eV Part components with more advanced applications.
To introduce the system, we will design and construct a basic eV Parts assembly that will attach to the internal mounting channels (Grabber Grooves) on a 6.0″ Conflat (CF) port on a vacuum chamber using a Groove Grabber Mounting Clamp.
The simple structure, to mounted centrally within a vacuum chamber, will be a SS plate with both Series B and C perforations. This plate could be used to mount various components or simply serve as an aperture. In this instance, this plate will be electrically isolated from the vacuum chamber (that would typically be grounded).
Two lengths Series C Alumina tubing, about 4.0″ in length and 0.124″” in outer diameter, will be attached to the Groove Grabber clamp to suspend the plate in the middle of the chamber. To stabilize the plate in a vertical and perpendicular orientation, a Clamp Assembly is fixed to the Alumina tubing with a offset from the end of the tubing. The plate is placed adjacent to the Clamp Assembly, and then two of the Screw Clamps are manually squeezed against the plate and secured to the lengths of Alumina tubing . Springs can be interposed to provide a preloaded dynamic compression if temperature changes are anticipated (not shown here).
Basic Tools and Parts
Item / Quantity | Model / Size | Product Page Link | Drawing or Photo |
Allen /Hex Wrench | 3/32″ | N/A | N/A |
Screw Clamps (2) | SS-SC-CA-C | Product Page | Photo |
Screw Clamp Assembly | SS-SCA-C5 | Product Page | Drawing |
Alumina Tubing (2) | AL2O3-TU-C-4000 | Product Page | Drawing |
Reverse Split Axial Clamp | MCF600-GrvGrb-C01 | Product Page | Drawing |
Assembly Process:
1) Place the Alumina tubing into the outside holes in the Groove Grabber clamp. Tighten the hex screws with a 3/32″ hex Allen wrench. | |
2) Slide the Screw Clamp assembly over the alumina tubing and position evenly nearly the end of the tubing. Leave a space for the perforated rectangular plate and the Screw Clamp. Hole spacing is consistent between the Groove Grabber Clamp, the perforated plates and and the Screw Clamp Assembly. | |
3) Place the screw clamps on both sections of alumina tubing. Measure with a caliper the distance of the plate from the Groove Grabber clamp. Loose the screws to tweak things to be evenly distributed. | |
4) Apply a preload pressure between the screw clamp and the perforated plate. Then tighten the hex screw with the 3/32″ hex Allen wrench. Complete the same maneuver on the other side. | |
5) Screw Clamps in place and perforated plate secure and perpendicular to the alumina rods. The assembly is now ready to place into the vacuum chamber and secure the Groove Grabber clamp to the CF ports internal Grooves. | |
6) Example of eV Part construct mounted in a Multi-CF Vacuum chamber. | |
We plan to continue to add more advanced eV Part construction tutorials to this Learning Center Section. Please stop back to check things out!
eV Parts
1) eV Part Assembly to create Einzel lens. Utilizes SS Cylindrical parts, Series C 5×5 plates, Alumina (Al2O3) balls, ceramic tubular spacers, and Alumina tubing secured with a Compression Spring and Lock Rings. | |
2) Basic eV Part construct utilizing a Clamping Plate Assembly (Square Center, 5 x 5 ), Alumina (Al2O3) tubing, Hybrid B and C plates (5×5), Lock Rings, with the structure attached to a Groove Grabber (Internal Mounting Clamp). | |
3) A more advanced electron optics eV Part assembly utilizing Element Clamps, Series C plates, Alumina tubing, alumina and metal spacers, and a Groove Grabber internal mounting clamp. | |
4) A more advanced eV Part electron/ion optics assembly utilizing Element Clamps, metal rods, and other custom parts. | |
5) A more advanced eV Part assembly utilizing Element Clamps, split cylinders, alumina tubing, various clamps, and other custom parts. | |
Part Type | Product Page | Image | Drawing (2D) | |
Flat Plate Parts | Series B | Series B Image | Series B Plates Drawing 1 | |
Series B Plates Drawing 2 | ||||
Series C | Series C Image | Series C Plates Drawing 1 | ||
Series C Plates Drawing 2 | ||||
Series C Plates Drawing 3 | ||||
Series C Plates Drawing 4 | ||||
Series C B Hybrid | Series C B Hybrid Image | Series C B Plates Drawing 1 | ||
Series C B Plates Drawing 2 | ||||
Cylinder Parts | Small Size Cylinder Assortment | Cylinder Parts Small Image | Cylinder Parts Small Drawing 1 | |
Large Size Cylinder Assortment | Cylinder Parts Large Image | Cylinder Parts Large Drawing 2 | ||
Round Plate Parts | Round Plates (Cylinder Caps) | Round Plates Image | Round Plates Series B Drawing 1 | |
Round Plates Series C Drawing 2 | ||||
Bracket Parts | Brackets, Stainless Steel | Brackets Image | Brackets Drawing | |
Screw Clamps | ||||
Screw Clamps | Screw Clamps (Single) | Screw Clamp (Single) Image | Screw Clamp Drawing | |
Screw Clamps (Multi) | Screw Clamps (Multi) | Screw Clamp (Multiple) Image | Screw Clamps (Multi) Drawing | |
Clamp Assemblies | ||||
Screw Clamp Assemblies | Screw Clamp Assemblies | Screw Clamp Assembly Image | Screw Clamp Assembly Drawing | |
Clamping Plate Assemblies | Clamping Plate Assemblies | Clamping Plate Assembly Image | Clamping Plate Assembly Drawing | |
Element Clamps | Element Clamps | Element Clamp Image | Element Clamps Drawing 1 | |
Element Clamps Drawing 2 | ||||
Groove Grabber Mounting Clamps | Groove Grabber Mounting Clamps | Groove Grabber Clamps Image | Groove Grabber Clamps Drawing | |
Metal Rods | ||||
Rod Stainless Steel | Rod Stainless Steel | Rod Stainless Steel Image | Rod Stainless Steel Drawing | |
Threaded Rod | Threaded Rod | Threaded Rod Image | Threaded Rod | |
Alumina Rods / Tubing | ||||
Alumina Rods | Alumina Rods | Alumina Rods Image | Alumina Rods Drawing | |
Alumina Tubing | Alumina Tubing | Alumina Tubing Image | Alumina Tubing Drawing | |
Alumina Split Tubes | Alumina Split Tubes | Alumina Split Tubes Image | Alumina Split Tubes Drawing | |
Accessories | ||||
Lock Rings | Lock Rings | Lock Rings Image | Lock Rings Drawing | |
Wirenuts MO | Wirenuts MO | Wirenuts MO Image | Wirenuts MO Drawing | |
Triplenuts | Triplenuts | Triplenuts Image | Triplenuts Drawing | |
Compression Spring | Compression Spring | Compression Spring Image | Compression Spring Drawing | |
Balls / Spheres Metal | Balls/Spheres Metal | Balls / Spheres Metal Image | Balls / Spheres Metal Drawing | |
Balls / Spheres Alumina | Balls/Spheres Alumina | Balls/Spheres Alumina Image | Balls/Spheres Alumina Drawing | |
Spacers SS/Alumina Series C B | Spacers Series C B | Spacers Series C B Image | Spacers Series C B Drawings | |
Wound Wire SS | Wound Wire SS | Wound Wire SS Image | Wound Wire SS Drawing | |
Insulator Protector | Insulator Protector | Insulator Protector Image | Insulator Protector Drawing | |
Wire Rings SS | Wire Rings SS | Wire Rings SS Image | Wire Rings SS Drawing | |