{"id":2918,"date":"2022-08-18T10:31:20","date_gmt":"2022-08-18T17:31:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/?p=2918"},"modified":"2023-09-29T12:12:33","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T19:12:33","slug":"removing-and-installing-copper-gaskets-on-vacuum-chambers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/removing-and-installing-copper-gaskets-on-vacuum-chambers\/","title":{"rendered":"Removing and Installing Copper Gaskets On Vacuum Chambers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you are new to UHV vacuum chambers and how to create a seal using copper gaskets when mounting optics, this blog post has some useful tips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, installing the copper gaskets that are used to seal flanges on UHV vacuum chambers is as simple as placing the copper gasket in the knife edge recess. If the flange is facing down, then the gasket can be placed on the optics part being installed and the gasket will stay in place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in cases where the flange is perpendicular to the floor, the gasket will not stay in place on its own because the gravitational constant will prevent the gasket from staying in place. In other words, the gasket will fall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few ways to install a gasket onto the flange. But first, you need to make sure you\u2019ve removed the old gasket properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Removing Gaskets <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you remove the old gaskets, you want to be very careful not to nick the knife edge on the flange when removing the old copper gasket because a nicked knife edge often results in a vacuum leak. And, nicked knife edges are difficult and sometimes very expensive to repair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually the gaskets will come off easily with a minimum amount of force. For those gaskets that are pressed in tightly and very hard to remove, I have found that using a long-nosed vice grips locking pliers works quite well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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