Portable Systems

The company offers a new system and upgrades in its CalStand line of portable systems for the calibration of mass flow controllers and capacitance manometers. These developments emphasize ease of use, enhanced portability, and cleanroom compatibility. The new line features the wheeled caddy configuration and replaces the previous "suitcase" calibration line. The new CalStand product line consists of the new PFTS1A Portable Flow Transfer Standard and three enhanced replacement products: the PBTS1A Portable Baratron Transfer Standard, the PBMS2A Portable Baratron Measurement System, and the PFTS2A Portable Flow Transfer Standard. This line of portable calibration systems responds to customer requests for wheel-around portable systems that are easy to operate and have a built-in independent power supply.

The all-new PFTS1A Portable Flow Transfer Standard is an adaption of the company's gas box rate-of-rise system(GBROR) for MFC testing at the tool or on the bench. The wheeled caddy incorporates either the 2 slm or the 20 slm gas stick, or both. When equipped with both sticks, a single switch selects the desired gas stick and re-routes the vacuum line. Both sticks are kept powered, eliminating warm-up delays. The caddy also incorporates a 167A and power supply for controlling the MFC being tested. For customers who desired a more integrated unit, the company offers a mobile cart to which the caddy is docked. The cart contains a vacuum pump (dry or rotary vane) and a drawer for a laptop computer. The computer, which is mounted at an ergonomically correct height for a standing operator, may be used for control or data collection. Equipped with a digital interface, the PFTS1A can be used to calibrate DeviceNet MFCs.

The replacement PBTS1A Baratron Transfer Standard is a portable NIST-traceable transfer standard that uses the same components as the older PTS2C in the new wheeled caddy configuration. An uninterruptible power supply keeps the manometer warm for up to one hour to permit transit about the facility. It may be used for checking a process gauge's accuracy, assuring tool-to-tool set point consistency, and other precision pressure measurement and monitoring applications.

The replacement PBMS2A Baratron Measurement System, also in the wheeled caddy configuration, incorporates a two-channel PR4000 and provisions for using two 627 MFCs simultaneously. This unit also includes a UPS for keeping both manometers at temperature. Each transducer is supplied with an 8VCR female fitting. Available ranges and accuracies are per the 627 specifications [± 0.12% of reading for all ranges except for ± 0.15% for 0.05 and 0.1 Torr (mmHg) and ± 0.25% for 0.02 Torr (mmHg)].

The replacement PFTS2A Flow Transfer Standard, in the new wheeled caddy configuration, has four available channels that will accommodate MFCs or MFMs with full scale ranges of 10 sccm to 200 slm (nitrogen) with 0.8% of Full Scale accuracy. Channels with full scale ranges of 20 slm and below will use the Type 1179 MFC or 179 MFM. Channels with ranges above 20 slm will use the Type 1559 MFC or 558 MFM. For display and control, he unit includes two Type 167A readouts. One is for the selected transfer standard. The other is for the device under test. All transfer standards are continuously powered, minimizing change over time. A valve open switch permits MFCs to operate as MFMs for additional flexibility. Inlet and outlet fittings are 4VCR-M for flow ranges of 20 slm and under and 8VCR-M for high flow rates.

MKS Instruments, 6 Shattuck Rd., Andover, MA 01810. Tel: 800-227-8766 or 978-975-2350. Fax: 978-975-0093.