{"id":3860,"date":"2023-10-25T04:54:11","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T11:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/?p=3860"},"modified":"2023-12-07T14:52:23","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T22:52:23","slug":"ion-pump-elements-flip-the-plates-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/ion-pump-elements-flip-the-plates-part-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Ion pump elements \u2013 Flip the plates part II"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our previous blog post<\/a> explained how to flip the ion pump Tantalum and Titanium plates in order to provide fresh surface area for the sputtering process that occurs as part of the ionization \/ pumping process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what happens if you flip the plates and then years later the ion pumps are worn out again? That is, what if both sides of the plates have been sputtered?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This blog post will explain how you can modify the plates to expose a fresh surface area which functionally is the same thing as replacing the plates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like most things, ion pump elements have gone up in price post COVID.  A set of 8 elements (there are 8 elements in a 220 l\/s ion pump) can cost $5,000 or more.    Rather than replacing the elements, you can replace just the ceramics for a lot less and flip the plates.   If the plates have already been flipped once, then both sides of the plates will have sputtered craters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By elongating the mounting holes in the plates by 1.5 mm the sputter area on the plates would also shift by 1.5 mm onto a fresh area that has not been sputtered, at least not sputtered very much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The photos below show the sputtered craters and the location of where the new sputtering will occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sputtered