Hermetic multi pin connectors are expensive. I don't need high vacuum just something in the sub milli-Torr range. (If you know of a source of cheap-ish sealed connectors, please share.) I've made my own in the past with a commercial connector into a a metal flange, with epoxy poured around the pins... you usually have to add an extra length of wire to the pins.
I was drawing various pictures the other night, but I didn't like any of them. Time for a crazy idea!
What about if I use pcb as the seal. Solder pins into pcb and make an o-ring seal for the pcb. (The solder on the pins will seal up the through holes.) The one thing I'd worry about is strain relief on the connector. (since it's now only held by it's pins.) I could solder the body of the connector to the pcb too.
I then thought about separating the holding and sealing function. So a longer pcb with the connector at one end, open to atmosphere. And traces running along the the vacuum seal.. Traces could be on the "top" atmosphere side with through holes into vacuum space and solder making part of the vacuum seal.
Or I could run traces on the bottom side, passing on top of the O-ring seal, and then with surface mount pads on the vacuum side for attaching wires. (Do I need to post some pictures?) Hopefully the O-ring, or vacuum grease would seal up the raised edges near the traces.
This last strikes me as similar to running wires on the outside of a rubber stopper and into the vacuum space.
Anyway I'm wondering if anyone has tried this or knows of someone? What sort of forces can I put on FR-4? (14 psi..) Can I get thicker pcb's?
TIA George H.