Selecting the correct vacuum gauge or gauges is critical to the success of a heat treatment process. It is important to know how they work and what options are available so that the correct choice can be made. There are several important considerations when using a vacuum gauge. They include the method of operation, the gas composition (inert or reactive, corrosive), the gas sensitivity (calibration factor), and the process being performed in your system.
Given the wide range of pressures encountered when running processes in vacuum furnaces (a staggering 9 orders of magnitude), no one gauge is adequate over the entire range of possible vacuum levels. As with vacuum pumps, multiple gauges are necessary to properly cover the entire operating range with the needed precision and accuracy. Given that it is critical to monitor the vacuum pressure at various points in the process and perhaps multiple locations throughout the vacuum system, the correct selection of each gauge ensures that we achieve optimal results.