The chamber models M173 and M369 feature special pull off fixturable rear panels for easy fixturing for burn-in applications. Environmental Stress chambers or platforms are simply chambers and platforms capable of simulating the thermal environments that a device will witness in normal service. Devices can be exposed to temperatures at or near the actual temperatures of normal use, or to more extreme temperatures to assure a margin of operational safety or to test to failure in a safe environment. Often the primary stresses for a device are not the temperatures to which the device is exposed, but the changes, often rapid changes, that the device will experience. These changing thermal environments can be provided by any Sigma Systems chamber or platform.
Cycling is described in the next section.
Cycling chambers or platforms are designed to repetitively cycle the device under test through two or more temperatures. The process of repetitively cycling through a temperature profile exposes the tested device to stress and wear not necessarily associated with a single exposure. The Sigma Systems Model C4 Programmable Controller is especially designed for this purpose and is available with any Sigma Systems chamber or platform. Low Gradient testing requires that the chamber or platform used for the test provide a very thermally consistent and homogenous environment. Sigma Systems platforms feature the lowest gradients in the industry.