I have had success using a rubber gasket under my bell jar. I coat the mating surfaces with a light coat of vacuum grease. I have also used soft wax (from a plumbers toilet seal) with success. Rubber sheets are available from industrial supply houses. I just cut up a smooth truck inner tube. The small ridges do not cause leaks. If my bell jar had a wide flange I might try just the wax. Some stock rubber sheets have fiber or cloth imbedded, this would not be desirable.
Good luck.
Jerry
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--- In VacuumX@..., "Thomas" <mayfieldtm@...> wrote:
Just finished machining a 6061 Aluminum Baseplate for my Bell Jar.
It's 14" in diameter by 1" Thick with a 4" hole in the center and drilled for a Conflat. I've yet to decide what type feedthroughs I'll be drilling holes for.
It's the first component in my Vacuum System project.
I turned it to as good a surface finish that I could muster, but still would like to finish it to as near a mirror surface as possible, regardless if that entails more machining or hand polishing??
It is darn close now, but, needs that last little Phuttt.
Any suggestions? I'm thinking you guys resurface or polish you pump-plates now and then.
Tom M.
