Extensive testing facilities at HÜTTINGER
05/27/2009To improve testing of new power supplies, HÜTTINGER Elektronik has reconstructed its plasma chamber. Hence, the company has expanded its capabilities to test new products in the plasma range, and significantly improve test quality.
The plasma chamber
With innovative, high-quality products, HÜTTINGER offers its customers solutions for their tasks. To meet this high standard, all new products undergo extensive testing before they are released for sale. This is why a plasma testing chamber has been housed at the HÜTTINGER facility for more than 15 years. To date, R&D engineers used the plasma chamber to test all direct current and medium frequency generators of the medium performance classes. Tests of high frequency generators were limited to up to 3 kilowatts. The plasma chamber has now been rebuilt to enable tests of new product developments in higher performance classes as well.
The ideal power transfer from the high frequency generator into the plasma chamber is regulated by a matching network, called a matchbox. The previous matchbox has been replaced by a more powerful version, the PFM 20000 A. This new matchbox enables a higher power flow into the plasma chamber. With this, HF generators of up to 12 kilowatts can now be tested.
Additionally, the test quality in the plasma chamber has been improved. Due to the reconstruction, it is now possible to reduce the pressure in the chamber from 10-3 millibar to 10-5 millibar. With 10-3 millibar representing the operation pressure in a typical coating process. This reduction enables testing conditions that surpass field test quality.
The plasma chamber simulates not only the customer's process but can emulate a pressure beyond typical applications. Thus, the power supply is exposed to harsher process conditions during the test than it will in the field. By using only the generators that prove operational reliability and stability, HÜTTINGER ensures that customers are offered technically mature products only.
The in-house application lab in the field of induction heating
At HÜTTINGER, both plasma and induction heating generators are thoroughly tested. Additionally, the company offers customers a special service in the field of induction heating. They can have their heating tasks tested in the in-house application lab. With the concept and development of heating tasks being rather complex, knowledge and expertise are key assets in finding the best solution. "What does the inductor coil have to look like? Which power supply fits best? Which additional system components do I need?" Questions like these are asked by the customer and the HÜTTINGER experts provide the answers. The services include: test setups in the application lab, development and design of application-specific inductor coils, and the realization of complete heating systems.
"Our application lab is ready to test any applications ideas on short notice", explains HÜTTINGER application engineer Dr. Torge Behrens. "This service is not bound to the purchase of HÜTTINGER products. We offer this service to any kind of heating process across all industries."