- Home
- Companies
- Elcon Precision LLC
- Products
- Elcon - Hemispherical Grids
Elcon - Hemispherical Grids
Elcon is one of the few manufacturers in the world specializing in the manufacture of focus and control grids for traveling wave tubes (TWT) and other applications. Elcon invented the process of etching and forming 3D grids over 30 years ago and continues to invest in new process equipment and inspection tools to meet increasingly tighter dimensions and tolerances on smaller and smaller parts.
Traveling wave tubes (TWT) are microwave amplifiers that use hemispherical grids to control and focus electron beams. TWTs are used in many applications including microwave receivers, communication satellites, radar, threat detection & deterrence and toposcatter communication. Beam control and focus grids are also found in X-ray tubes used in the medical industry.
Grids produced by Elcon have several distinct advantages over other manufacturing methods like laser cutting and EDM. Photochemically etched grids have straight side walls, are smooth with burr-free surfaces and have accurately controlled features ideal for forming and assembly alignment.
- Superior finish not available from electrical discharge machining
- Precise and repeatable processors
- Straight side wall surfaces
- Annular ring walls aligned to radius of curvature
- Smooth and burr-free surfaces
- Center ring diameter and outside locating diameter accurately controlled for assembly alignment
- Standard conformance: ISO 9001: 2015, ISO 13485:2016, AS9100