Low cost thermal vacuum testing facility for electronic units

A thermal vacuum testing facility for electronic units has been specified, designed, and built. It is fully operational and performs its tasks - thermal vacuum qualification and acceptance testing of electronic units. All performance requirements and design details have been carefully evaluated on a cost-effective basis, resulting in achieving the design goal of low price (purchase, operation, and maintenance) together with ease of operation, maintenance simplicity, and upgrading options. The major cost saving originated from a detailed analysis of thermal vacuum requirements that resulted in low cost substitutes to the common thermal shroud, together with a thermal plate. The plate is actively thermally controlled by a circulating fluid that is temperature regulated by a commercial heating and cooling unit. The high vacuum pumping system includes a diffusion pump with backstreaming holders.