UHV Suitcases
Lightest and Most Portable System of Their Class
Modern research groups commonly require to transport their samples between deposition, preparation, and analysis UHV systems throughout the duration of the project. These systems are often not connected to each other, located in different rooms, buildings, or even continents! To overcome this challenge, the industry created a UHV ‘suitcase’: a portable chamber which can maintain a true UHV environment while disconnected from an electrical power outlet.
While some individual system were built by researchers for a long time, such UHV ‘suitcases’ did not become truly portable until compact non-evaporable getter (NEG) pumps with integrated ion pumps and battery-power controllers became available. The NEG element passively pumps gasses such as H2, N2 and others after an initial thermal activation in vacuum, while the ion pump actively pumps the remaining gases (such as CH4 and Ar) while simultaneously acting as a pressure gauge. The portable ion pump controller is battery powered and can operate the pump for a few days between recharges at base pressure.
Ultra-Light Aluminum Suitcase

Ultra-Light Aluminum Suitcase with Rotary Sample Storage
