{"id":1508,"date":"2015-06-03T15:08:22","date_gmt":"2015-06-03T22:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/?p=1508"},"modified":"2015-06-03T17:04:10","modified_gmt":"2015-06-04T00:04:10","slug":"how-to-clean-a-nude-ion-gauge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/how-to-clean-a-nude-ion-gauge\/","title":{"rendered":"How to clean a nude ion gauge"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ceramic feedthroughs on the nude ion gauges commonly used in vacuum chambers can become coated over time which results in non-accurate or unstable readings. \u00a0The following procedure can be used to clean the coating off of the ceramics.\u00a0 Install a new filament assembly on the clean feedthrough flange and voila! \u2013 You have a rebuilt ion gauge.\u00a0 RBD provides the filament assemblies for a wide variety of ion gauges.\u00a0 If you can\u2019t or don\u2019t have the time to clean the feedthrough assembly on your coated ion gauge, RBD also provides complete ion gauges at great prices. The RBD Instruments ion gauge filaments and complete gauges can be found at this link \u2013 Low Cost Ion Gauge Filaments<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"dirty-ion-gauge-feedthrough\"

\"cleaned-ion-gauge-feedthrough\"

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Ion gauge cleaning procedure<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Note:<\/strong> This procedure can be used to clean the tungsten and carbon coating off of the ion gauge ceramic feedthroughs. It is not intended for ion gauges that are contaminated with oil. If your ion gauge is contaminated with oil it should be replaced.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Tape a used gasket to the flange. This is to ensure that the knife edge is protected (rule # 1).<\/li>\n
  2. With the ion gauge flange pointing down, sandblast the ceramics with clean alumina. Avoid the grid.<\/li>\n
  3. With the ion gauge flange pointing down, sandblast the ceramics and metal can with clean glass beads. Avoid the grid.<\/li>\n
  4. With the ion gauge flange pointing down, move the sand blast nozzle as far away from the ion gauge as possible and sand blast the grid lightly with clean glass beads to remove any black contamination from the grid. You not want to get the nozzle too close to the grid as the air blast will damage the grid and or bend the collector wire.<\/li>\n
  5. Shake off any excess blast material.<\/li>\n
  6. Rinse off the ion gauge flange with water.<\/li>\n
  7. If necessary, straighten any of the grid wires that may be bent out of position<\/li>\n
  8. With the ion gauge flange facing down, place the ion gauge into a beaker filled with 5% Alconox or another lab detergent and water. Ultrasonic for 5-10 minutes. Warm water works best.<\/li>\n
  9. Remove from beaker and rinse well with water.<\/li>\n
  10. Place ion gauge flange face down in a beaker of DI water with no soap.<\/li>\n
  11. Ultrasonic for 5-10 minutes<\/li>\n
  12. Remove from water and rinse thoroughly with DI water.<\/li>\n
  13. Dunk once into Isopropanol (to remove the water).<\/li>\n
  14. Blow off excess Isopropanol (especially from inside the cap where the collector wire is located) and then dry in an air oven for 1 hour at up to 200C.<\/li>\n
  15. Install new filament assembly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Rebuild is complete!<\/p>\n

    When you install the ion gauge back into your vacuum chamber you will need to run it through one or two degas cycles.<\/p>\n

    Also check out the RBD Techspot blog post on how to install an ion gauge filament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The ceramic feedthroughs on the nude ion gauges commonly used in vacuum chambers can become coated over time which results in non-accurate or unstable readings. \u00a0The following procedure can be used to clean the coating off of the ceramics.\u00a0 Install … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1510,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[164],"tags":[12],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/cleaned-ion-gauge-feedthrough.jpg?fit=648%2C972&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2DEXo-ok","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4079,"url":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/ion-gauge-coated-ceramics\/","url_meta":{"origin":1508,"position":0},"title":"Ion gauge coated ceramics","author":"Randy","date":"November 21, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"This blog post will show you how to remove the coating from the ceramics and restore normal operation of the ion gauge for about $15.00","rel":"","context":"In "General Optics and Vacuum"","block_context":{"text":"General Optics and Vacuum","link":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/category\/general-optics-and-vacuum\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"coated ceramics on ion gauge","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/coated-ceramics.jpg?fit=1200%2C1176&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/coated-ceramics.jpg?fit=1200%2C1176&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/coated-ceramics.jpg?fit=1200%2C1176&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/coated-ceramics.jpg?fit=1200%2C1176&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61,"url":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/ion-gauge-filament-replacement-procedure\/","url_meta":{"origin":1508,"position":1},"title":"Ion gauge filament replacement procedure","author":"Randy","date":"August 26, 2012","format":"link","excerpt":"Another common question we get is how to connect the wires on an ion gauge after replacing the filaments.\u00a0 The tech tip link below titled Ion Gauge Filament Replacement shows the pin outs for an ion gauge on a Physical Electronics\u00a0 (PHI) surface analysis system. The attached tech tip is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Optics and Vacuum"","block_context":{"text":"General Optics and Vacuum","link":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/category\/general-optics-and-vacuum\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":786,"url":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/how-to-test-an-ion-gauge-filament\/","url_meta":{"origin":1508,"position":2},"title":"How to test an ion gauge filament","author":"Randy","date":"October 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"This post will explain how to test and replace the nude ion gauge filament assembly on a Physical Electronic (PHI) X-ray photoelectron, Auger electron or SIMS system. Look at the pictures at the bottom of the post before you read the procedures. Background \u2013 On most PHI surface analysis systems\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Optics and Vacuum"","block_context":{"text":"General Optics and Vacuum","link":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/category\/general-optics-and-vacuum\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"ohm-out-filament-connections","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/ohm-out-filament-connections.jpg?fit=486%2C324&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3675,"url":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/dgc-iii-filament-select-relay\/","url_meta":{"origin":1508,"position":3},"title":"DGC III Filament Select Relay","author":"Randy","date":"February 9, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"How to clean the filament select relay on a DGC III ion gauge controller.","rel":"","context":"In "General Optics and Vacuum"","block_context":{"text":"General Optics and Vacuum","link":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/category\/general-optics-and-vacuum\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"DGC III ion gauge controller","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Filament-relay.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Filament-relay.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Filament-relay.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2839,"url":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/putting-together-a-compact-uhv-ultra-high-vacuum-chamber-for-spectroscopy\/","url_meta":{"origin":1508,"position":4},"title":"Putting Together a Compact UHV (Ultra-high Vacuum) Chamber for Spectroscopy","author":"Joe Caterinicchio","date":"May 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Small, inexpensive UHV chambers have been the backbone of many commercial labs and universities for decades. The cost of larger, feature-rich systems has gone up dramatically in recent years, making compact, DIY chambers even more cost-effective for specialized applications and education. 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