Business Details
Expert Vacuum Chamber Fabrication Hastings
Hivac Engineering has established itself as a specialist in ultra-high vacuum chambers and equipment manufacturing. With 14 years of dedicated experience, we provide end-to-end engineering solutions encompassing CAD design, precision fabrication, leak-testing, UHV cleaning, and bake-out services. Our facilities in Hastings, a renowned hub for vacuum technology, house advanced 3D machining capabilities for stainless steel and aluminium components.Our expertise extends to TIG welding techniques and handling challenging materials like tantalum and ceramics. By maintaining complete in-house control over production processes, we ensure exceptional quality standards while offering both custom solutions and off-the-shelf catalogue items to meet diverse industrial requirements.
Services
Vacuum Chambers
CAD Design
CNC Machining
TIG Welding
UHV Cleaning
Leak Detection
Bake Out Services
Clean Room Assembly
Highlights and features
- We offer 14 years' specialist experience in vacuum chamber manufacturing
- Our in-house facilities cover complete production from design to testing
- We utilise advanced 3D machining for precision components up to 2x3 metres
- Our TIG welding techniques achieve high engineering tolerances for vacuum applications
- We implement chemical-free UHV cleaning processes with de-ionised water systems
Services
Vacuum Chambers
We design and manufacture precision vacuum chambers in stainless steel 304L/316L and aluminium. Our capabilities include custom fabrications up to 2x3 metres and small vacuum housings. Chambers undergo rigorous quality control including leak-testing and UHV cleaning processes to ensure optimal performance for scientific and industrial applications.
CAD Design
Our mechanical engineers utilise advanced CAD software for 3D modelling and 2D technical drawings. We accept multiple file formats and conduct thorough design reviews before fabrication. This digital precision ensures accurate manufacturing of complex components and assemblies meeting exacting vacuum system requirements.
CNC Machining
We operate 3, 4 and 5-axis CNC machining centres capable of handling workpieces up to 1.4m diameter and 2x3m envelopes. Our capabilities include machining challenging materials like tantalum, molybdenum, and high-temperature ceramics such as boron nitride and macor for specialised vacuum applications.
TIG Welding
Specialist TIG welding services for vacuum applications using automatic vertical and horizontal welding setups. Our techniques ensure full penetration welds with exceptional integrity. We maintain strict quality standards through weld inspection and non-destructive testing procedures.
UHV Cleaning
Our ultrasonic cleaning facilities handle components up to 1m using de-ionised water systems. We employ 12-volt weld cleaners eliminating toxic chemical usage. This chemical-free process ensures surfaces meet ultra-high vacuum standards while maintaining material integrity and environmental compliance.
Questions
What vacuum chamber materials do you work with?
We fabricate chambers from stainless steel 304L/316L variants and aluminium alloys. Our facilities also handle exotic materials like tantalum, molybdenum, and machineable ceramics for specialised applications.
Do you offer standard vacuum components?
Yes, we provide catalogue items including standard vacuum flanges, valves, and chamber accessories. We also specialise in custom-engineered solutions for unique application requirements.
What testing procedures do you perform?
All components undergo helium leak testing using metal or Viton seals. We also perform RGA scans, dimensional inspections with FARO arms, and final assembly testing in clean room conditions.
What machining capabilities do you have?
Our CNC facilities include 3, 4 and 5-axis machining centres with capacities up to 2x3m envelopes and 1.4m turning diameters. We machine both standard metals and refractory materials.
Can you handle large vacuum chamber projects?
Yes, our facilities accommodate vacuum chambers up to 2 meters x 3 meters. We have completed multiple large-scale projects for industrial and research applications.
