Rent thermal chambers from ATEC for affordable rental rates on products from leading manufacturers like
Espec and
Cincinnati Sub-Zero.
What is a thermal chamber?
A thermal or temperature chamber is a test chamber that simulates extreme temperatures, allowing the user to test the environmental resistance of a product, device, or other object placed within. They reveal the temperatures at which the test subject experiences stress and give insights that are key to projecting its lifespan.
Equipped with this knowledge, manufacturers can predict heat stress effects like melting, swelling, warping, overheating of electrical components, and how long the product will survive in environments where heat stress is severe and/or a regular phenomenon. They can also discover symptoms of cold stress, including brittleness, cracking, heat loss in electrical parts, and components or whole objects freezing over. Temperature chambers may also be used to prepare a sample for other types of tests. This type of environmental testing is an essential step in verifying the safety and durability of a product in the electrical, defense, aerospace, quality assurance, and pharmaceutical reliability testing industries, and beyond.
Thermal chambers are available in a broad range of specifications, from small benchtop units to massive walk-in chambers, with models varying to match specific temperature and interior workspace volume requirements.
Choosing the Right Thermal Chamber
What size is best—benchtop, portable, or walk-in/floor-standing? What temperature range does the test require? And does the test call for features like humidity, chilling, thermal shock, or temperature forcing? Ask these essential questions before renting a chamber:
What dimensions should the chamber be?
Consider the size and density of the object under test. These chambers range from floor-standing, walk-in sizes to compact benchtop units. Any size of chamber is configurable to perform most environmental simulation functions, but a few rules should be followed:
- The chamber’s internal workspace dimensions should be ½” to ¾” less than its external dimensions, ensuring there is proper allowance for insulation.
- The chamber should be large enough to allow airflow during testing—the golden rule is a 1:3 ratio of the object under test to empty space.
- The external dimensions should be feasible for storage in your testing area.
What temperature and humidity characteristics are needed?
Choose a chamber that easily achieves the desired temperature range as reflected by the test standard. Also consider the temperature exchange rate—the rate at which the temperature decreases or increases.
- Single Stage Chambers: standard range of -40°C to 180°C
- Cascade Chambers (Double Stage): standard range of -70°C to 180°C
What kind of controller is needed?
Controllers influence the entire test experience, from analyzing results on an LCD screen in real time to setting alerts and alarms based on pre-specified conditions. It is important to remember that the operational range of the controller will be different from the operational range of the chamber system and that the operating system will determine the actual performance of the test.
- Single-point humidity controller: Tracks only humidity
- Dual-point temperature and humidity controller: Tracks both temperature and humidity
What power requirements are needed?
Consider the location, how close to power the unit will be, and how much energy the system will need.
- The lower the temperature range required, the lower the power requirements.
- The larger the chamber, the higher the power requirement.
- Smaller chambers with single-stage compressors can be powered by 120V single-phase.
- Larger chambers, or chambers with cascade dual-stage compressors, require 3-phase facility power.
What options do I need?
A vital step in selecting a chamber is communicating the optional features your test calls for. Will you need a window to visually observe the item under test, a light to illuminate the item, or fog-free viewing for humidity tests? How many ports do you require for external analysis?
Common options for these chambers are:
- Adjustable stainless-steel shelves
- Fog-free viewing window
- Interior light to illuminate workspace and product
- Double gasketing to assure a vapor-tight seal
- Electrical disconnect switch
- GPIB interface
- Ethernet interface
Renting a Thermal Chamber from ATEC
Choose ATEC for affordable, reliable environmental test solutions. We're also willing to work with you to track down the chamber you need if we don't already own it.
Our inventory consists of both benchtop test chambers as small as 1.2 cubic feet (35 liters) and and floor-standing chambers as large as 64 cubic feet (1,810L). Temperature ranges span from -70°C to +190°C (-94°F to 375°F) and simulate any kind of environmental stress or condition. ATEC's inventory offers a variety of features including integrated software and USB ports, adjustable/removable shelving, automatic cooling or heating boost systems, and continual diagnostics.