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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">HMNTL uses Swagelok on several systems with vacuum. The limiting factor won’t be the fitting but the tubing. In my opinion Swagelok VCR is overkill unless you are worried about
introduction of room air at extremely low values. I could see this becoming an issue on certain systems where UHP is required. Compression fittings should work very well for most situations. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#002060;text-transform:uppercase">Deon D. Collins<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#002060;text-transform:uppercase"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#002060"><br>
<i>Director of Facilities<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#002060">The Grainger College Of Engineering UIUC</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#002060"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#002060">Holonyak Micro & Nanotechnology Lab</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#13294B">208 N Wright St Rm. 1114 | MC-249</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#13294B">Urbana, IL 61801</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#13294B">217-300-7531 |
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><a href="mailto:deonc69@illinois.edu"><span style="color:#0563C1">deonc69@illinois.edu</span></a><br>
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</span><a href="http://illinois.edu/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="119" height="21" style="width:1.2395in;height:.2187in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DBA867.230AF4A0"></span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><br>
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</span><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#666666">Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act any written communication to or from university employees regarding university business is a public record and may be subject
to public disclosure. </span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#A3238B">Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#A3238B"> Propeck Amanda<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> labnetwork <labnetwork-bounces@mtl.mit.edu>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Yongkui Tang<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, April 5, 2025 11:00 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> labnetwork@mtl.mit.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [labnetwork] Swagelok tube fitting for high vacuum systems?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div id="ms-outlook-mobile-body-separator-line">
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Labnetwork,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are converting a generic quartz vacuum furnace (5e-3 Torr) into a somewhat higher vacuum one (1e-5~1e-6 Torr base pressure without gas load) and are deciding on the inert gas line fittings. In the old setup, we used Swagelok tube fittings
(the ferrule compression type) on plastic tubing -- not ideal but worked fine for the mTorr-range pressure. For the new system, we are unsure if it’s necessary to invest in a gas line with all Swagelok VCR or VCO fittings, or simply replace the plastic tubing
with stainless steel one. I couldn’t find any vacuum rating for the Swagelok tube fittings except from this
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.reddit.com/r/engineering/comments/2m2pk9/has_anyone_used_compression_fittings_swagelok_on/__;!!DZ3fjg!8_9K-s53puNbyxgeJV_5TEiChmmOk3r7wR3ASYDZLCQaSsHfFLUpDzHQZrq33mz_PdcqNbPHDrWipsB__Htc2C6MNaM$">
Reddit post</a>, in which a Swagelok salesman claimed that these fittings are rated to 1e-6 Torr, along with two anecdotal experiences claiming to reach 1e-7 and 1e-8 Torr, but no further details were given.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Does anyone use Swagelok tube fittings for their vacuum system whose base pressure is at 1e-5~1e-6 Torr pressure? If so, could you please share some information:<o:p></o:p></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Chamber volume.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Turbo pump volume flow rate.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Number of Swgelok tube fittings in the setup. <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">If available, any leak testing data would be extremely helpful!<o:p></o:p></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>TL;DR</b>: Would you recommend against using Swagelok tube fittings (the ferrule compression type) for the vacuum system at 1e-5~1e-6 Torr range?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many thanks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yongkui Tang<o:p></o:p></p>
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