1 Jul 2015

Lenox Laser Flow Certifications

 Blog

Our methods of testing and calculating are new and unique. Our testing methods and our calculating methods will be described in a three page description included with this explanation.

Basically all test methods described depend on comparing a part being tested to one of our standards. We have over one-hundred standards which were developed by test method number one. While developing standards a certified digital test gauge that reads in absolute pressures was used to establish and maintain 29.7 P.S.I.A. To establish water volume in the tube or tubes between the lower and upper photocells, water was carefully poured into the system (using an eye dropper), until the lower light came on. Further water was added until the upper light came on. The water added was measured in graduate cylinders and also weighed on a digital scale that read to the thousand of a gram. These volumes with the computer measured time to go from the lower to the upper photocell provided the information to calculate the flow rates and the flow diameters. All tests to establish standards were run a minimum of five times.

In the past, we have sent a few standards to N.I.S.T. test facility for comparison. The first few were midsized and compared within ½ of a percent. The next time we sent some near 5 microns in size and they were found to be approximately ten percent to large. We then sent the same orifices to another N.I.S.T. test facility and they found them to be approximately ten percent too small. They guarantee their test to be within plus or minus seven percent.

We have many repeat customers that have found our work satisfactory over the years. Some of these customers are large and have very sophisticated test equipment of their own.

All of our standards are re-calibrated yearly. When calibrating parts for customers two separate standards are use to orient the computer. If there is any discrepancy, further testing and checking follows to determine the cause of the problem.
A Lenox Laser certification means we have tested your parts to meet our standards and procedure.

If you need further approval, you can purchase the orifices needed and send them the test facility of your choice.

For more Flow Calibration Certification services, please visit Lenox Lasers certification page.

19 Jun 2013

Test Components with NIST Traceability

 Blog

Lenox Laser now offers integrity test components. These components are close-tolerance flow-calibrated micro leak standards for integrity testing for the pharmaceutical industry and have NIST traceability. Standard sizes include, but are not limited to, 1um, 5um, 10 um, 15um, 20 um, 25um and 50 um, with measured flow rates of .02 sccms to 43 sccms at 15 psig of air test pressure.

Lenox Laser’s catalog of flow-calibrated orifices can be found at Flow Orifices – Lenox Laser.
Please visit Calibrated Micro-Leaks – Lenox Laser for more information on micro leaks for integrity testing or call 410-592-3106.

8 Dec 2009

Tighter Tolerances for Flow Control Components

 Blog

At an ever increasing rate industry is requiring tighter tolerances on flow control components.  As a supplier of laser drilled orifices in a variety of components, Lenox Laser, Inc. has been meeting these tighter tolerance requirements for several years.  Incidentally, these very tight toleranced parts have been in high demand.  To accommodate this demand, Lenox Laser has developed proprietary processes that allow tolerances to be consistently held.  Tolerances can be as tight as +/-0.5% and +/-1% on a 10 micron or larger hole sizes.  Compare this to standard tolerances that typically range from +/-5% and larger with respect to the hole size (i.e. a 1 micron hole can have a standard tolerance of close to +/-50% depending upon the part material and thickness).  Often customers may need not just tighter tolerances on a nominal size but matched sets or pairs with tolerances of +/-1-2% of each other.  Integration of the laser process with its flow testing capabilities ensures repeatable results with higher yields.  Very tight tolerances can be held on most standard flow components we offer, as well as, customer supplied parts.  Visit our website or email sales@lenoxlaser.com for more information.

25 Sep 2008

Precision Laser Drilling for Custom Optical and Flow Calibrated Applications

 Blog

The Lenox Laser Corporation is a high technology research and development company specializing in the application of small hole technologies. The company has pioneered the precision micro drilling of small holes (as small as 1 micron or smaller) into a variety of materials including advanced metals, glass and plastics largely used in filtering light, gas, liquids and particles. Developments in precision calibrated products have limited competition. The company’s research programs investigate current and future uses of the technology by engineering and experimenting with different industrial applications. Special performance requirements are achieved by inventing, applying or combining new processes. Many unique products result from this research.

Products manufactured by Lenox Laser are used extensively by industrial manufacturers. The company is often challenged to do what no one else can. The company in cooperation with corporate, academic and institutional research facilities has developed an information exchange that keeps it on the cutting edge of technological innovations. Technical advancements enhance the services offered at Lenox Laser and remain the cornerstone of product creations.

Lenox Laser manufactures optical component products, such as, apertures, slits, spatial filters, arrays and pinhole mirrors. One of the hottest selling items provided by Daystar Laser, the online distributor of Lenox Laser standard products, is a prefabricated “Aperture Kit” designed for convenience and eliminates time delays when custom orders are not required. The quality of Lenox Laser optical components has resulted in the company capturing a dominant market share in the United States and abroad.

Lenox Laser also delivers precision calibrated orifices to the semiconductor industry as a component for flow control. The advances in precison laser drilling pioneered at Lenox Laser have revolutionized industrial standards. Many of the applications that previously relied upon valve flow control devices are using Lenox Laser’s precision calibrated orifices. One significant advantage of replacing these devices with precision calibrated orifices is the ability to consistently control the accuracy of flow measurements. A second significant advantage is their time saving reproducibility. Highly skilled technicians use state-of-the-art equipment for the mass production of very high quality components. Precision calibrated flow control products are the new standard. Ongoing research with major industrial companies and well recognized technical colleges and universities has provided Lenox Laser with special projects of great potential to the semiconductor industry.

13 Aug 2008

Solve Your Flow Control Problems With Flow Calibrated Orifices

 Blog

Flow calibrated orifices have a flow diameter that can be used to calculate the flow rate of any gas or mixture of gases when the absolute inlet/outlet pressures and absolute temperature are known. The flow diametre gives accurate results regardless of the actual shape of the hole.

Holes flow calibrated by the Lenox Laser Corporation are now being used by thousands of customers and have proven to be more accurate and less costly than most flow controlling devices.

Shown below are some of our standard parts used for flow control. Custom sizes and shapes are readily available. Holes are drilled in a variety of materials, such as, plastic, glass, most metals and other materials.

Let Lenox Laser help you solve your flow control problems by calling 410-592-3106 or by visiting http://www.lenoxlaser.com/

Standard Drilled Gasket

Standard Gland

1/8 NPT x 3/16 Barb

Nipple Fitting

1/4-28 TPI Set Screw

1/8 Stainless Steel Tubing

12 Jun 2008

Free Online Critical Flow Orifice Calculator

 Blog

Lenox Laser has been a pioneer and a leader in the critical flow orifice field for over 20 years. Customers have had orifices custom sized, drilled, and calibrated for them in various flow components in order to meet complicated and critical needs. We are able to eliminate the need for expensive and complicated mass flow controllers with our easy to use, inline, consistent, and cost-effective orifice technologies. A Lenox Laser calibrated orifice will produce consistent and repeatable flow rates of gas and liquids time and time again.

Lenox Laser has also created easy to use Orifice Sizing Calculator which has aided thousands of customers determine their orifice size for their flow control application. The calculator uses our flow control mathematics formulas which can be found in detail here. Our free online calculator can determine an orifice size using the following input values:

Inlet Pressure – PSIA, PSIG, Inches Mercury Absolute, Inches Water Absolute, Barr, Torr, Atmosphere, Kilopascals

Outlet Pressure – PSIA, PSIG, Inches Mercury Absolute, Inches Water Absolute, Barr, Torr, Atmosphere, Kilopascals

Gas Type – Air, Acetylene, Ammonia, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Ethylene, Helium, Hexahydrochloride, Hydrochloric Acid, Hydrogen, Methane, Methyl Chloride, Nitrogen, Nitric Oxide, Nitrous Oxide, Oxygen, Sulfur Dioxide

Temperature – Fahrenheit, Celsius, Kelvin

Flow Rate – std cubic cm/sec, std cubic cm/min, std cubic cm/hr, std cubic ft/sec, std cubic ft/min, std cubic ft/hr, std gal/sec, std gal/min, std gal/hr, std liters/sec, std liters/min, std liters/hr, std pounds/sec, std pounds/min, std pounds/hr, std grams/sec, std grams/min, std grams/hr

Hole Units – Microns, Inches

The calculator will then display the appropriate hole size which Lenox Laser will be able to drill, calibrate, and certify your flow rate for your specific application in almsot any type of disc, VCR Gasket, Gland, Conflat, Barb/Luer, Nipple, Set/Hex Screws, and High Pressure or High Temperature Tubing. Custom parts and materials are also available for drilling with a setup fee.