BLUE M ESS Environmental Test Chambers

BLUE M Environmental Stress Screening (ESS) Chambers

Ess is a way of screening products to expose defects (such as defective parts or process problems) that can't be detected by visual inspection or electrical testing. It was developed as a means of detecting product defects and production flaws in electronics. Typically ESS uses thermal cycling or vibration to expose failures. ESS can be performed as part of the manufacturing process, or it can be used in new product qualification testing. The Environmental Stress Screening Handbook, is available for download. This handbook explains the concept of product reliability, how ESS was developed to address product failure, technology used in ESS, and how to properly implement an ESS program.

Because ESS testing usually involves fast temperature cycling, ESS Chambers typically have larger compressors to accomplish this. It is not unusual for a 30c/ft ESS chamber to have a 2 x 25 HP compressors. Compressors this size will probably require a water tower or external air cooled condenser to cools them - Therefore extra installation costs are normally associated with ESS Chambers. Of course, LN2 or CO2 could also be used instead of mechancial refrigeration - However, if huge amounts of LN2 or CO2 are needed for a particular test, this can be expensive over time.