The Electric Cathode Press (ECP-890) is designed to pack powdered elemental samples into cathodes (targets) suitable to generate negative ion beams.
An electric press provides the user more control over the pressing process than a manual or pneumatic press, improving consistency among cathodes and providing an ergonomic process.
The ECP-890 uses a stepper motor and load cell to drive a small compression rod to pack the sample material into NEC MC-SNICS style cathodes.
The easy to use interface allows the user to save and restore crucial pressing parameters, including the amount of force applied to the cathode material (Target Force) and the length of time it remains at that force (Dwell Time). This minimizes setup time and reduces the opportunity for user error, thus improving consistency in the pressing process.
To prevent cross-contamination, items in the pressing process that contact the sample material must be cleaned or changed regularly. The ECP-890 was designed to make this procedure easy. The open column structure of the press allows the compression rod to be cleaned in place, or swiftly replaced with a clean compression rod. The drop-in anvil can be similarly cleaned or replaced during cathode changes. Compression rods and anvils can be ultrasonically cleaned and reused.
The cathode is placed into a centering fixture that is placed onto the self-aligning stage on the press. The stage is designed to automatically position the cathode to be centered with respect to the compression rod. This ensures the sample material is pressed evenly and uniformly with every press.
As a built in safety feature, the ECP-890 uses two-hand tie-down activation.

The Electric Cathode Press (ECP-890) is designed to pack powdered elemental samples into cathodes (targets) suitable to generate negative ion beams. An electric press provides the user more control over the pressing process than a manual or pneumatic press, improving consistency among cathodes and providing an ergonomic process.


| Target Force Range: | 20 to 200 pound-force (89 to 890 Newtons) |
| Repeatability: | +/- 5 pound-force (22 Newtons) |
| Dwell Time Range: | 0 to 255 seconds |
| Unit Options: | Newtons, Kilograms, Pounds |
| Number of Salvable Presets: | 10 |
| Compatible Cathodes (Targets): | NEC MC-SNICS (1mm) |
| Power Source: | CE rated external AC to DC supply (120-240 VAC) |
| Weight: | 7.3 kg; 16 lbs |