Leak Testing Machines

Vacuum leak testing is a highly accurate method of checking for liquid or gas leakage in manufactured products. Parts to be tested are placed in a sealed chamber, all air is evacuated out of the chamber and precision instruments monitor for any changes in the chamber’s vacuum level that would indicate a leak.    

Many manufactured products must conform to a permissible leakage specification; that is, a defined acceptable amount of free-flowing material (such as water or compressed air) that may pass into or out of a product. A leak detection test is a technical procedure that exposes the product to pressure or vacuum conditions, checking to assure that the leakage specification is met.    

A very large range of both consumer and industrial products require leak testing as part of final quality control inspections. Medical implants, automotive containers, microelectronics, emergency response equipment and all types of sterile packaging are just a few examples. In general, any product that would be contaminated or irreparably damaged by foreign objects making their way in or out is a perfect candidate for leak testing.   

There are several primary methods for leak testing manufactured products, each offering a balance of resolution and time to complete. Among the various methods, air leak testing can be performed as quickly as a few seconds or take up to a few hours. The cycle time for air leak testing relies heavily on the size part that is being tested, the pressure requirements for the test, and the amount of time and allowable rate of leakage the part can see.

Absolutely! Leak testing can be performed in a semi-automated or fully automated manner, depending on the cost, speed, accuracy and test parameters desired. As an example, AMS’s LT-201 system offers a great entry point into benchtop leak testing using a highly accurate electronic test controller to run, record and verify test results. Our larger LT-401 system is a highly automated, PLC-controlled leak testing station complete with actuated fixtures, automatic port connections, poka-yoke verification and regulatory-compliant documentation output.