Engineering
XPS system retrofit and spares
Your system is twenty years old, its manufacturer no longer supports it, and it still produces good data. We keep it working.
The problem
A twenty-year-old XPS system is not necessarily at the end of its useful life. In many laboratories, Omicron or VG analysers still produce valid spectra because the chamber, electron optics and operating method remain suitable. The problem begins when a filament, source, detector, manipulator or pumping stage fails and the manufacturer no longer supports the part number. Replacing the whole system may exceed the available budget, but improvising a part can introduce leaks, contamination, electrical incompatibilities or geometry changes that affect the measurement. Before proposing a replacement, we review the symptom, pressure history, interfaces, drawings and available photographs. We separate the actual fault from its effects and determine what can be repaired, which compatible component can be integrated and which part must be redesigned. When the original no longer exists, we document materials, tolerances, cleaning, assembly and tests for a verifiable replacement. The goal is not cosmetic modernisation: it is to recover function, maintainability and traceability without compromising the data the instrument can still produce.
What we do
- On-site diagnosis and leak location
- X-ray sources, filaments, detectors and ion guns
- Manipulators, sample holders and transfer
- Vacuum pumping and measurement
- UHV feedthroughs and cabling
- Custom parts manufactured by Avancem when the original is no longer available
What we need to prepare a quotation
- System model and year
- Photographs of the part, flange and installation
- Current pressure and recent history
- Symptom, previous changes and tests already performed
How we work
- 01Tell us about the system and symptom
- 02Diagnosis
- 03Proposal with alternatives and lead times
- 04Execution
Brands we work with
- Omicron / Scienta Omicron
- VG Scientific and VG Microtech
- SPECS
- PHI
- Kratos
- Thermo
- Riber
Compatibility, not official service
We supply compatible components. We are not an authorised service provider for any of these brands.
Frequently asked questions
Is repair worthwhile compared with buying a new system?
It depends on the condition of the chamber and analyser, parts availability and integration risk. We first isolate the fault and compare repair, compatible replacement and complete renewal.
Can you work without the original drawings?
Yes, when interfaces can be measured and materials, geometry, insulation, cabling and UHV requirements can be verified. Uncertainties and required tests are documented before manufacture.
What are typical lead times?
They are confirmed after diagnosis. An identified available part does not follow the same schedule as an adaptation, source repair or custom manufacture.
Can it be handled as a minor public contract (under €15,000)?
Spanish Law 9/2017 places the estimated value of minor supply or service contracts below €15,000, but the contracting authority must justify the need, avoid artificial splitting and apply its internal rules. We confirm scope and documentation; the authority makes the decision.
RFQ
Tell us what you need
Response target: one business day.
RFQ
Tell us which system you have
Attach photographs of the part, flange and installation to clarify interfaces and diagnosis.