In response to the question - 'Can you help me understand how a RGA leak tester works. and if this is a outdated system?'
First let me say that Residual Gas Analysers (RGA) are good to have & are certainly not outdated.
The group of instruments that include Mass Spectrometers, Residual Gas Analysers & Helium Leak Detectors are broadly based on the same technology.
Basically all are mass spectrometers. On all the system gas is sampled, ionised & the ionised gas separated by mass, detected & amplified.
Mass spectrometers can range in sophistication & can be found on ultra-high vacuum systems, surface analytical machines and research systems. They tend to have a larger mass range, better mass discrimination & are more expensive.
Residual gas analysers are usually more limited in mass range but are more suitable for installing on production vacuum coating systems to monitor the process & system as well as used for troubleshooting. As the residual gas analyser will detect helium it can also be used for leak detection.
The helium leak detectors are designed only to detect helium. Everything has been optimised for this purpose & so it is much more sensitive than the residual gas analyser to helium The systems usually have other features to help make it easier to use such as automatic range changes and audible output. Leak detectors are often made to be portable to allow one unit to be used on many systems.
My Preference.
Given the option I would always have an RGA included on any vacuum system. Not only can it be used to monitor the day to day operation of the system and so give an early indication of leaks or poor cleaning but in more complex processes can be used to troubleshoot loss of product quality due to small process changes/drifts.
Often RGAs and even helium leak detectors are regarded by accountants as a luxury. However it is common that the first time a system goes wrong or a product fails to meet specification that the loss of production is higher than the cost of any RGA.or leak detector.
If you have an RGA, think yourself lucky & use it for all its worth it will pay dividends.
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