Method of manufacturing ceramic arc chambers

摘要

A method of manufacturing a ceramic arc chamber (420) comprises providing a sintering tray (412) including a plurality of bores (422). The bores (422) have a first diameter upper section (424) and a second narrower diameter lower section (426). Positioning a plurality of ceramic end caps (212) having a main body portion, and a leg portion (219) in the bores (422) such that the leg portion (219) passes downwardly through the narrower diameter lower section (426) and the main body portion is retained within the upper section (424). Moreover, the second diameter lower section (426) acts as a shoulder supporting the end cap (210). Next, a ceramic arc tube (214) is positioned within the first diameter upper section (424) and mated with the ceramic end cap (212). A second end cap (210) is mated to a second upper open end of the ceramic arc tube (214) to form an arc tube preform (420). The arc tube preforms (420) are then sintered to join the components via controlled shrinkage.