The compact new STP iX2205 series of magnetic bearing turbomolecular vacuum pumps from Edwards is designed for use on architectural glass coating machines, small scale industrial coating applications and in the manufacture of solar cells. Edwards says the pumps provide industry-leading performance and feature power supply and control modules that can be mounted in various configurations; directly on the pump, or remotely. This design eliminates cables and accessory racks and gives the units the flexibility to fit a wide range of equipment.
The pumps are designed to work in high ambient temperatures, where external condensation on cooling can be an issue and they are IP54 rated for protection against water and dust. The STP iX2205 is available with RS232, RS485 and Profibus serial communication interfaces.
"Large, industrial scale systems can require a large number of pumps," says Dr Stephen Ormrod, chief technology officer at Edwards. "Eliminating accessory racks and all the cables, saves space and reduces the complexity of the system. At the same time, the flexibility to mount the power supply below, on the side, or remotely, allows the pump to meet the space constraints imposed by the equipment. The pump and controller together are virtually the same height as the previous generation pump alone. This can be especially important in retrofit applications where the turbo pump is replacing some other pumping technology."
The pump comes in 1600 l/s and 2200 l/s versions and larger units are planned for future development. The pump's five-axis magnetic bearing system and new motor and drive system ensure long life and low operating costs with maintenance intervals as long as five years, depending on usage. All turbo pumps can be connected to Edwards' advanced monitoring system which tracks and logs key parameters to give advanced notification of when a service is required.