ALMA provides precision cleaning of components to UCV requirements, preparing them for use in demanding vacuum applications.
Depending on the requirements, the processes involve several coordinated cleaning steps, from ultrasonic cleaning and rinsing with deionised water to drying and heat treatment.
Defined cleanroom processes allow components to be subsequently inspected, assembled and packaged.
Cleaning begins with wet cleaning processes tailored to the component type. These include ultrasonic cleaning in multi-frequency baths, ultrasonic-assisted intermediate rinsing and a final touch rinse with deionised water.
Components are labelled and documented upon transfer into the cleanroom, ensuring that each process step remains fully traceable.
Cleanroom Transfer – ISO 7
Component identification and documentation
Cleaning – ISO 6
Defined wet and dry cleaning processes
Assembly & Inspection – ISO 5
Processing under controlled conditions
Packaging – ISO 5
Preserving the achieved level of cleanliness
Following pre-cleaning, components can undergo heat treatment in a vacuum oven. Vacuum bake-out helps reduce residual contamination and meet particularly stringent surface cleanliness requirements.
Depending on the component and requirements, the process ranges from simple vacuum drying to specified high-temperature processes.
After cleaning and packaging, components can undergo specified cleanliness testing. Available methods include visual inspection under white and UV light, optical microscopy, fluorescence measurement and particle counting.
This allows the achieved level of cleanliness to be documented and verified for subsequent processes.
Double packaging and a protective gas atmosphere prevent recontamination.
Labelling and packaging are carried out according to customer specifications.
In addition to precision cleaning, quality assurance includes further inspection methods. Depending on the requirements, components and assemblies can be checked for cleanliness, surface quality and leak-tightness.
Leak testing for vacuum components and assemblies.
Visual inspection for visible contamination and irregularities.
Detailed inspection of surfaces and particles.
Inspection for fluorescent residues and contamination.
Assessment of surface properties and wettability.
Detection and quantification of particulate contamination in cleanroom environments.
