Product Overview
When your vacuum system demands a bellows that falls outside standard catalog dimensions — non-standard OD/ID ratios, extended stroke lengths, unique flange geometries, or specific spring rate targets — our Custom High Vacuum Edge Welded Bellows service delivers a fully tailored solution. Every custom bellows is designed and manufactured in-house at our 60,000m² facility, following the same rigorous micro-plasma welding and helium mass spectrometer leak testing processes that define our AT-Series standard line.
Unlike off-the-shelf bellows that force you to compromise on system design, a custom Alpha Technology bellows is engineered to your exact dimensional envelope, stroke requirement, and pressure rating. Our engineering team provides complimentary 3D drawing review before production begins — ensuring first-article success. Learn more about our customization workflow on the Process & Design page.
Key Benefits
- True custom geometry: Any OD from 6mm to 1,200mm+, square or round flanges, custom bolt patterns — built to your drawing or ours
- Edge welding technology delivers superior hermeticity and 1 million+ cycle fatigue life, far exceeding hydroformed alternatives
- SS316L material with full heat-lot traceability — excellent corrosion resistance against process gases (Cl₂, HCl, WF₆) and UHV compatibility to 10⁻¹⁰ Torr
- End connection versatility: KF, CF, ISO flanges, weld stubs, threaded adapters, or custom-machined interfaces
- Surface finish options: Standard, electropolished (Ra ≤ 0.4μm), or passivated — specified to your cleanroom requirements
Technical Specifications
- Material: SS316L Stainless Steel (AM350 and Inconel 718 also available — see Material Selection Guide)
- Vacuum Level: High Vacuum / Ultra-High Vacuum (helium leak tested to 1×10⁻¹⁰ atm·cc/sec)
- Operating Temperature: -196°C to +450°C (higher with Inconel)
- Leak Rate: < 1×10⁻⁹ mbar·L/s (standard); < 1×10⁻¹⁰ mbar·L/s (UHV grade)
- Cycle Life: Up to 1 million+ cycles (application-dependent; contact our engineers for life prediction based on your stroke and pressure requirements)
- Surface Finish: Standard / Electropolished (Ra ≤ 0.4μm) / Passivated
- Manufacturing Standard: EN 10204 3.1 material certification available; assembled in Class 10,000 cleanroom
Typical Applications
- Research instrument vacuum chambers — synchrotron beamlines, mass spectrometers, surface science UHV systems
- Semiconductor manufacturing equipment — custom wafer handling modules, etch chamber feedthroughs
- Aerospace test fixtures — thermal vacuum chambers, propulsion test stands, altitude simulation
- Medical analytical instruments — MRI cryostat seals, CT gantry vacuum envelopes
- Particle accelerator systems — beamline bellows, RF cavity tuners, insertion device vacuum chambers
