Working with ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems? You need electrical connections that won’t compromise your vacuum integrity. Douglas Electrical Solutions specializes in UHV feedthroughs and connectors engineered for the most demanding environments. Our UHV hermetic connectors maintain seal integrity at pressures as low as 10^-12 torr or absolute vacuum while handling everything from standard signals to high-voltage power transmission.
We’ve spent years perfecting feedthrough technology for applications where failure isn’t an option. Whether you’re building particle accelerators, semiconductor processing equipment, or space simulation chambers, our ultra-high-vacuum feedthrough solutions deliver reliable performance under extreme conditions. Are your applications exposed to temperature swings? High radiation? Corrosive gases? We’ve engineered solutions for everything.
Features
- The hermetic construction maintains vacuum integrity with temperatures from cryogenic to 180°C.
- Each UHV vacuum feedthrough undergoes helium leak testing to verify seal rates as low as 1×10^-10 cc/sec.
- We provide UHV connectors for RF applications with minimal signal loss. Choose the connector type that best suits your application, including BNC, micro-D, mil spec connectors, and more.
- Our UHV high voltage feedthroughs handle up to 50kV while maintaining complete electrical isolation. These aren’t your standard commercial connectors. They’re built specifically for vacuum service.
- The UHV Mil spec connectors meet military reliability standards while complying with stringent vacuum requirements.
- Many high vacuum connectors feature gold-plated copper contacts to prevent oxidation and ensure optimal electrical performance on a consistent basis.
Douglas Customized Solutions
- Fiber Optic Integration: Our OptiSeal™ optical fiber feedthrough assemblies are ideal for optical sensing applications, providing reliable performance in ultra-high vacuum environments. These feedthroughs hermetically seal directly to optical fibers, ensuring true hermetic integrity and greater design flexibility. Available in both cable- and connector-based configurations, they can be built using single-mode and multi-mode fiber, providing users with greater flexibility. To simplify installation, we offer pre-wired, pre-tested assemblies that reduce setup time.
- Specialized Designs: We offer UHV micro-D connectors with high pin counts in compact packages, supporting up to 51+ pins, making them ideal for high-density applications. For particle physics and research applications, we provide custom ultra-high voltage wire assemblies that meet the stringent requirements of these fields. Our UHV coaxial feedthroughs maintain characteristic impedance values of 50 Ω, 75 Ω, and 100 Ω, ensuring signal integrity. We also offer triaxial and quadrax configurations that provide enhanced shielding against electromagnetic interference (EMI), ensuring reliable performance in sensitive environments.
- Multi-Port Assemblies: Our Portplate® flange assemblies are engineered to accommodate multiple UHV hermetic connectors in a single penetration, offering an efficient solution for complex systems. These assemblies can combine power, signal, fiber optic, and thermocouple connections, providing an all-in-one solution for your integration needs. We offer custom configurations, allowing you to tailor the design to your specific application. For applications with limited space, we offer low-profile solutions ideal for space-constrained environments.
- Application-Specific Engineering: We provide UHV power feedthroughs designed for semiconductor processing equipment, capable of handling up to 750 amps, ensuring reliable power transmission in high-demand applications. Our high-voltage vacuum feedthroughs include integral wires and connectors, simplifying installation, and reducing the need for additional components. For cryogenic applications, we offer UHV hermetic connectors rigorously tested to withstand extreme temperatures as low as – 3K, with pressure cycling, ensuring long-term reliability. Our engineering also includes chemical compatibility assessments for corrosive gas environments, ensuring that our products are safe to use in a variety of harsh conditions. Furthermore, our radiation-hardened designs are tested to withstand up to 200×10^6 Rads total dose, making them suitable for applications in high-radiation environments.
- Mechanical Interface Customization: To provide cost-efficient solutions, we can hermetically seal to customer-supplied housings, ensuring compatibility with existing systems. Our standard vacuum fittings, including CF, KF, and ISO flanges, offer easy integration into your setup. We also provide custom designs to meet unique installation requirements. For quick, secure attachment, our bolt-on flange assemblies offer a straightforward solution, and we can also directly integrate them into existing equipment bulkheads for a seamless fit.
Image Gallery
Thermocouple Feedthrough
24258TA Hermetic Thermocouple Feedthrough with Vacuum Face Seal
USB PotCon Hermetic Vacuum Face Seal
Hermetic USB 3.0 hermetic feedthrough with vacuum face seal mechanical interface
Hermetic PotCon Coax Feedthru
Hermetic Vacuum face seal feedthrough with 6 SMA connectors
Hermetic Convenience Feedthru
Hermetic bulkhead convenience feedthrough to provide power to instrumentation within gloveboxes and chambers is designed with a vacuum face seal for simplified installation.
High Pressure Hermetic Connector Feedthrough - 5015
High Pressure Hermetic Connector Feedthrough using a 5015 interface. Customize the connector and fittings as well as how you connect within the vacuum or pressure environment.
Portplate-electrical-feedthrough-flange-scaled-1-1
Hermetic Connectorized Portplate Assembly
Customized flange with integral MIL-spec connectors. Configure with either plugs or receptacles.
MIL-DTL-26482 Hermetic Connector
FAQ
What vacuum levels can these feedthroughs achieve?
Our UHV hermetic connectors are rated for pressures as low as 10^-12 torr.
Can these handle bakeout temperatures?
Yes. Most UHV vacuum feedthrough designs withstand bakeout temperatures to 180°C UHV high temperature electrical connectors are available for specialized applications.
What's the lead time for custom designs?
Custom UHV hermetic connectors typically require 6-8 weeks after approval. Expedited orders are possible if needed.
Do you provide testing documentation?
Every unit includes helium leak test results, electrical continuity verification, and material certifications. Additional testing (high voltage, temperature cycling, pressure) is available upon request.
What industries use these products?
Semiconductor equipment, particle physics research, aerospace testing, space simulation, mass spectrometry, thin film deposition, electron microscopy, and surface science applications all rely on UHV hermetic connectors for critical vacuum integrity.