Overview of ConFlat Flanges
The CF (ConFlat) flange stands as the preferred choice for high vacuum (HV) and ultra-high vacuum (UHV) applications. This versatile flange system accommodates various gauges, instruments, accessories, and feedthroughs, making it integral to numerous vacuum setups.
Blank (Blind) Flange
A blank or blind flange serves as a solid plate or disc-shaped fitting within vacuum systems. It can be custom-machined to either create specialized fittings or to seal off unused sections of tubing or ports on vacuum chambers, ensuring effective containment and operational integrity.
Seal Mechanism
The CF flange employs a unique seal mechanism featuring a knife-edge that is machined below the flange’s flat surface. When the bolts of a flange pair are tightened, these knife-edges form annular grooves on either side of a soft metal gasket. The extruded metal from the gasket fills any machining marks and surface defects, resulting in a robust leak-tight seal. This CF seal operates effectively within a pressure range of 760 torr (103 mbar) to less than 1 x 10^-13 Torr (approximately 1.3 x 10^-13 mbar) and within a temperature range of -196°C to 450°C, depending on the materials utilized.
Flange sizes in North America are typically referenced by their outside diameter (O.D.). In contrast, in Europe and much of Asia, the nomenclature often refers to the nominal internal diameter (I.D.) of the largest tube that can be welded to a bored flange.
Types of ConFlat Flanges
ConFlat flanges are available in four primary versions:
- Fixed Flange: This is a one-piece design where the bolt-hole orientation is permanently fixed concerning the fitting, ensuring consistent alignment during installation.
- Rotatable Flange: Comprising an inner weld ring and an outer bolt ring, this configuration allows for the bolt ring to rotate around the inner weld ring, offering flexibility for precise alignment.
Both fixed and rotatable flanges can be customized with either through (clearance) holes or tapped holes, providing further adaptability to meet specific application requirements.
Ordering Table
Rotatable Tapped-Blank (Blind) 304L SS Standard ConFlat® (CF) UHV Flanges
Flange Size/OD | Note | Part Number |
DN16CF (1.33" OD) | — | F0133X000RM |
DN16CF (1.33" OD) | — | F0133X000RT |
DN16CF (1.33" OD) | — | F0133X000RTW |
DN25CF (2.13" OD) | — | F0212X000RT |
DN35CF-DN40CF (2.75" OD) | — | F0275X000RM |
DN35CF-DN40CF (2.75" OD) | — | F0275X000RT |
DN50CF (3.38" OD) | — | F0337X000RT |
DN63CF (4.50" OD) | — | F0450X000RM |
DN63CF (4.50" OD) | F0450X000RT | |
DN75CF (4.63" OD) | — | F0462X000RT |
DN100CF (6.00" OD) | — | F0600X000RM |
DN100CF (6.00" OD) | — | F0600X000RT |
DN125CF (6.75" OD) | — | F0675X000RT |
DN160CF (8.00" OD) | — | F0800X000RM |
DN160CF (8.00" OD) | — | F0800X000RT |
DN200CF (10.00" OD) | — | F1000X000RM |
DN200CF (10.00" OD) | — | F1000X000RT |
DN250CF (12.00" OD) | — | F1200X000RM |
DN250CF (12.00" OD) | — | F1200X000RT |
DN275CF (13.25" OD) | — | F1325X000RT |
DN295CF (14.00" OD) | — | F1400X000RT |
DN350CF (16.50" OD) | — | F1650X000RT |
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