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Miniature Vacuum or Pressure Pump
2

Miniature Vacuum or Pressure Pump

Miniature Vacuum or Pressure Pump

(OP)
I am looking for a miniature vacuum pump that can evacuate about 1 square-inch to a pressure of -5 inHg.  I would like the pump including the driving mechanism (ex. motor) to fit in a 5mm x 18mm x5mm area.  The smaller the overall package is the better, but slightly bigger than those dimensions would work as well.

Another possibility is a small pressure pump that could be modified to create the vacuum I need.

I have done research on this already and have some leads, but was hoping someone else had a part for this application.

Thank you, I would be happy to answer any questions about this.

Raul

RE: Miniature Vacuum or Pressure Pump

raulE,

I hope you mean 5 inHg not -5, or do you mean 29.9 -5 = 24.9?
Check out the small pumps made to aerate aquariums. They are small diafram pumps, and you could just take it out of it's case and hook it up backwards.  I don't know if they will pull down to 5 inHg, but they are cheap so you could get one and try it easily.
Don't be fooled by the size of the enclosure they come in, most of them are quite small.

Timelord

RE: Miniature Vacuum or Pressure Pump

(OP)
Timelord,

Yes you are correct I meant 5 inHg.  Actually I did invesigate the pumps in aquariums and found them to be slightly large, especially with the motor used to power them.  I was hoping someone knew of a company offering a complete package, of a small motor and pump.  If not a company offering a very small pump and suggestions for a small motor to drive the pump would be of great help.

Also, Timelord if you know of a particular aquarium pump with a pump a few mm in size let me know and I will definitely investigate that further.  Thanks for the suggestion.

RE: Miniature Vacuum or Pressure Pump

raulE,

Rereading your original post I see you have a smaller size constraint than I realized.  If you have compressed air or water available, a venturi or jet pump may be available in the small size you are looking for.
Try:   http://www.dooley-company.com/vacuum_1.htm
and look at model PD-B93M (at the bottom of the page).

Timelord

RE: Miniature Vacuum or Pressure Pump

Several years ago I used a small vacuum pump.  The manufacturer was Medo.

RE: Miniature Vacuum or Pressure Pump

You mean 1 cubic (not square ) inch? Any other limitation?
Would H2O steam be OK?
 

<nbucska@pcperipherals DOT com> subj: eng-tips
read FAQ240-1032

RE: Miniature Vacuum or Pressure Pump

(OP)
nbucska,

Yes you are correct, 1 cubic inch.  The environment in and around the pump should be as dry as ambient air.  So I would prefer not to use H2O steam, but if you have an idea let me know.  If the size is right perhaps I can design around it.

The limitations I have are size, and ideally low power consumption.  A very small size is most important.

Thanks,

Raul

RE: Miniature Vacuum or Pressure Pump

Do you have to evacuate repeatedly or just once?
In the later case I would try explosive with Venturi.
Is the speed critical?

<nbucska@pcperipherals DOT com> subj: eng-tips
read FAQ240-1032

RE: Miniature Vacuum or Pressure Pump

(OP)
nbucksa,

I need to evacuate the chamber repeatedly.  I also need to keep noise as low as possible, so I think the explosion may be too loud.  

My system would lmost likely need to be an electromechanical system.

Raul

RE: Miniature Vacuum or Pressure Pump

Electromechanical? OK, how about a heating element and some valves. Close the valves, heat the air up by 20%, open the valves, close the valves, switch the element off.

The pressure will drop from atmospheric to -5" Hg as the remaining air cools down.

So, what cycle time do you need?

Cheers

Greg Locock

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