Improving reliability and uptime for airbag inflator leak testing
A global manufacturer of automotive safety components required an automated helium accumulation test system for high-volume production of airbag inflators. While the existing leak testing process provided the required sensitivity, lubrication oils and manufacturing residues on the parts were contaminating critical system components, resulting in reliability concerns, increased maintenance requirements, and production downtime.
The customer needed a solution that could maintain leak testing performance while improving system robustness and reducing the impact of contaminants commonly found in the manufacturing process.
Key project requirements included:
LACO engineered a custom helium accumulation leak testing system utilizing its patented HATS™ (Hybrid Accumulation Test System) technology. Unlike traditional accumulation testing methods, HATS performs helium accumulation and measurement under vacuum within a sealed test chamber. A proprietary membrane transfers helium from the test chamber to the mass spectrometer, protecting sensitive leak detector components from oils and other contaminants while maintaining excellent test sensitivity.
The automated system combined charging, accumulation, and measurement into a streamlined testing process designed for production use. Two custom-machined leak test chambers, integrated calibration capability, automated controls, and data logging provided reliable operation, repeatable results, and traceability for every part tested.
The completed system delivered:
