Microwave Techniques manufactures waveguide seals for leak-free pressurization while providing an optimized electrical and mechanical seal. The materials for these integrated gaskets are extremely rugged, allowing for pressurization in flat-to-flat flange connections in waveguide systems. Typical sizes range from WR187 to WR2300. Half-height sizes, as well as alternative materials for seals and gaskets available upon request.
Waveguide Seals: Design Overview and Features
Our advanced seals have unique designs, offering a better mechanical and electrical seal. When we manufacture this item, the elevated electrical sealing surface is machined into the aluminum carrier plate. This ensures the microwave or RF energy is stays inside the waveguide, where it belongs. The surface is smooth, but it is not elevated simply by a mechanical knurling. Uniquely, all of our waveguide seals are machined from a sheet to be elevated from the start.
This helps to eliminate the damage sometimes caused by other sealing structures. In addition to this, alternative options may require repair of mating flange faces and removing the marks left by a destructive connection. It also removes the need to specify flange grooving details, and connect components in any orientation for future projects.
Other information about the design and features of Microwave Techniques waveguide seals includes:
- RoHS compliant
- WR187 to WR2300
- Individually packaged
- Aluminum seal carrier
- Iridite conversion coating
- CPR flange hole locations
- Double-ridge gasket design
- Silicone compound seal material
- Half height available in some sizes
Benefits and Advantages
Utilizing waveguide seals is beneficial to your RF system, and the individual components within it. The most common benefits are minimizing outgassing, maximizing heat transfer, ensuring low insertion loss, and low flange leakage.
Other benefits of using waveguide seals includes:
- Pressure tight
- More reliability
- Simplify layout
- Improved sealing
- Eliminate flange orientation
- Make waveguide more reusable
- Make other components more reusable
- Allow for gas-tight flat-to-flat waveguide runs
How To Install Waveguide Seals in 8 Steps
Step 1.
Align waveguide flanges to be joined to ensure they will mate in a flush, parallel, and unform matter.
Step 2.
Clean the mating waveguide and their flange faces to make them free of dust, metal chips, grease, or other contaminants.
Step 3.
Remove the waveguide seal from its packaging making certain that it remains clean.
Step 4.
The gasket may be coated with a Silicone Grease lubricant, such as Dow Corning DC-4 or equivalent.
Step 5.
Place the waveguide seal between the flanges and insert flange bolts. Use two or more bolts to help align the flanges and gasket. Do not twist or laterally slide the gasket, as this may damage the seal.
Step 6.
Install hardware hand tight, making sure to keep flange faces even and parallel.
Step 7.
Once all hardware is in place, use the tightening sequence shown on the waveguide seals outline drawing, to slowly and uniformly increase the torque on the flange bolts.
Step 8.
Tighten each bolt one half turn at a time following that sequence until reaching the desired torque for the mounting hardware.
To learn more about Microwave Techniques waveguide seals, or to request a quote, contact our team today!
