Automatic Heat Pipe Degasser is the precision multi-station vacuum degassing machine for standard sintered wick copper heat pipes (Ø4–Ø10mm, wall 0.2–0.6mm). It achieves an ultimate vacuum of 0.7×10⁻² torr via a three-pump cascade system (oil pump rough suction at -250m³, Lu-style fine pump at -250m³, rotary vane pump at -80m³), with a working degassing vacuum of 0.3–0.4 torr maintained during the degassing cycle. Each tube receives 670 L/min extraction speed. After degassing, 1.5-tonne riveting force per station crimp-seals the heat pipe with a straight-line riveting shape at 8–10mm riveting allowance length. Water extraction tolerance ±0.02g. Configured as 5–6 workstations for production throughput. Pipe length: 120–600mm.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Value |
| Pipe OD | Ø4 – Ø10 mm |
| Pipe Length | 120 – 600 mm |
| Wall Thickness | 0.2 – 0.6 mm |
| Ultimate Vacuum | 0.7 × 10⁻² Torr |
| Working Degassing Vacuum | 0.3 – 0.4 Torr |
| Pump System | Rough: oil pump -250m³ | Fine: Lu-style -250m³ + rotary vane -80m³ |
| Extraction Speed per Tube | 670 L/min |
| Riveting Force | 1.5 tons per station |
| Riveting Shape | Straight line |
| Riveting Allowance | 8 – 10 mm |
| Water Extraction Tolerance | ±0.02 g |
| Water Volume Tolerance | ±0.2% |
| Vacuum Level Tolerance | 6 × 10⁻¹ Torr |
| Workstations | 5 – 6 stations |
Understanding the Three-Pump Cascade System — Why Both Rough and Fine Vacuum Are Required
Reaching 0.7×10⁻² torr from atmospheric pressure in a single vacuum pump stage is not physically practical — the compression ratio required exceeds the capability of any single pump type. The three-pump cascade solves this: the oil pump (rough suction, -250m³) rapidly evacuates the cavity from atmospheric to the medium vacuum range, handling the bulk gas load. The Lu-style (Roots-type) pump then boosts the vacuum into the fine vacuum range, managing the smaller residual gas volume where oil pumps become inefficient. The rotary vane pump (-80m³) provides the final stage fine pumping that achieves the 0.7×10⁻² Torr ultimate vacuum. The 670 L/min extraction speed per tube — unusually high for a multi-station heat pipe degasser — is what achieves complete NCG evacuation within the production cycle time.
Production Line Position — Where This Machine Fits in the Heat Pipe Manufacturing Sequence
The heat pipe degassing station sits at Step 5 in the complete 11-step heat pipe production sequence — after working fluid injection and before welding/sealing at Step 6. It is the quality gate that determines the internal vacuum quality and working fluid charge accuracy of every heat pipe that proceeds to welding, hot pressing, bending, and performance testing. A heat pipe that leaves the degassing station with incorrect NCG level or incorrect working fluid volume cannot be corrected at any downstream step.
