Facility 420:  Small EMC Facility

 

Description: This facility is located in Building 7, and is designed for either small satellite or sub-assembly tests. This facility consists of three contiguous electromagnetically shielded enclosures that meet or exceed shielding enclosure requirements stated in Mil-Std-285 and IEEE-299. The individually shielded enclosures include the anechoic Test Room, the EMC Control Room, and a Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Room. Inside the Test Room is a free standing faraday cage that is lined with ferrite tiles with TDK IP-090, carbon impregnated Styrofoam wedge absorbers to handle RF energy absorption up to 200 V/m (70 mW/cm2) from 20 Hz to 40 GHz. The Control and GSE Rooms consist of standard modular shielded panels constructed of ¾” plywood paneling, sandwiched by an inner and outer layer of 10 mil galvanized steel. A cable penetration plate, located on the same wall as the test bench, separates the Test Room from the GSE Room and acts as a Single Point Ground for both the spacecraft and GSE. The standard penetration plate consists of four “Pi” filters and three 3” diameter Wave-Guide-Below cutoffs that can be used to feed cables through. When desired a penetration plate can be made to mount existing TVAC cables to reduce cable costs and to reduce common mode currents.

 

Mode of Operation: The test article is installed in the EMC chamber and bonded to the copper test bench that is certified to hold a 250 pound payload (5:1 tested to 1250 lbs). The test bench is bonded to the anechoic panels via a copper ground strap which maintains a 5:1 (L:W) ratio. Interconnecting cables between the test article and its ground support equipment are connected through an access panel mounted either on the cleanroom or GSE side, allowing for greater flexibility and acting as a single point ground. The test enclosure maintains relative humidity between 30% and 70% and temperature at 68°F ±5° (20°C ±2.8°).

 

Physical Characteristics:

 

Experimenter’s area: 4m (L) x 2m (W) x 3m (H) Personnel door: 1m (W) x 1.7m (H)

 

Control room: 7.3m (L) x 3.7m (W) x 3m (H) Personnel door: 1.3m (W) x 2.1m (H)

 

Test area room: 5.5m (L) x 5m (W) x 3m (H) Equipment door: 2m (W) x 2.2m (H)

 

 

Test Area Anechoic Characteristics: Ferrite tiles and Carbon impregnated Styrofoam wedge absorbers combine to make the facility a broadband anechoic chamber capable of absorbing electromagnetic waves over the frequency range of 20 Hz to 40 GHz. Field measurement accuracy is thereby enhanced compared to shield room facilities that lack the anechoic material, and radiated susceptibility test signals are controlled with improved signal-to-noise ratios. The test facility also has web based video camera system and Fiber Optic lighting capable of withstanding 200 V/m that keeps the facility RF emissions to a minimum.

 

Fire Protection: Fire protection is provided in the Test Area using retractable sprinkler heads and an auto-cutoff ventilation system for toxic smoke exhaust to the outside of the building. The TDK IP-090 Carbon impregnated Styrofoam wedge absorbers release CO2 and water vapors when ignited. Personnel safety features include a radiation hazard warning and monitoring system. The facility is also equipped with electrostatic discharge testing and prevention capabilities and a large copper test bench for mounting and earth-bonding test items.

 

Rental Rate:  Inquire