How to Avoid Costly Pitfalls The 10 Most Common Mistakes when using Turbomolecular Vacuum Pumps

Turbomolecular vacuum pumps, also known as turbopumps, are at the heart of many high-tech processes – from semiconductor production to research laboratories. However, even small errors in setup or operation can lead to costly downtime, damage to equipment or complete failure of the vacuum pump.

Turbomolecular pumps are used in space travel and related research, both directly for experiments that require a deeper vacuum than that found in space (such as on the ISS) and indirectly to simulate space conditions for material and component testing. They are crucial for applications in materials research, semiconductor technology and the simulation of conditions in space. This article highlights the ten most common pitfalls in their use and describes how these can be avoided.