Glove-Box-Compatible Film Coating & Drying Machine XN-VCH-200

Name: Glove-Box-Compatible Film Coating & Drying Machine XN-VCH-200

Equipment Type: Compact PLC-Controlled Film Coating & Drying Machine with Built-in Oil-Free Vacuum Pump (Glove-Box Compatible)

Product Code: XN-VCH-200

Product Introduction:

The Glove-Box-Compatible Film Coating & Drying Machine XN-VCH-200 is a compact-footprint automatic film coating and drying machine widely used in high-temperature thin-film research, including ceramic films, crystalline films, battery material films, and specialty nano-films. The system is engineered to support advanced thin-film research that requires controlled high-temperature film formation conditions. Its compact form factor allows the machine to pass through standard glove-box transition chambers and operate directly inside a glove box, making it well-suited for moisture- and oxygen-sensitive material research such as solid-state batteries, lithium-metal anodes, sodium-ion batteries, and air-sensitive cathode materials.

Main Features:

• Compact dimensions — designed to fit through standard glove-box transition chambers
• Glove-box-compatible operation — operates inside the inert-atmosphere chamber for moisture- and oxygen-sensitive materials
• Large-area uniform heating — high-precision uniform temperature distribution within the heating zone
• Flat-bed coating with motor-driven doctor blade — coating speed is steady and adjustable on the touch screen
• Vacuum aluminum substrate plate — supports rapid placement and removal of copper foil, aluminum foil, and other substrates without deformation; internal vacuum pump or external vacuum source can be used
• Built-in oil-free vacuum pump — no oil contamination of substrates, no separate vacuum source required
• Standard XN-TM100 film former — high coating precision with adjustable coating thickness (manual scraper or other metering tools optional)
• Independent digital temperature controller — ambient–130 °C, ±1 °C accuracy
• PLC + touch screen control — convenient parameter setting and monitoring
• Optional 1 μm display micrometer — upgraded coating accuracy for thin-film applications requiring tighter thickness control

Main Specifications:

Values measured by Xnergy. Typical values for reference; not guaranteed unless otherwise specified.

Application Areas:

• Solid-state battery research — coating and drying of solid electrolyte films, lithium-metal anodes, and other moisture-sensitive components inside a glove box
• Lithium-metal anode preparation — air-sensitive lithium foil handling and pre-lithiated electrode coating in inert atmosphere
• Sodium-ion battery research — coating and drying of sodium-metal anodes and air-sensitive sodium-ion cathode materials
• Lithium–sulfur battery research — coating and drying of sulfur cathodes and lithium-metal anodes in controlled atmosphere
• Ceramic thin-film research with high-temperature drying control
• Crystalline thin-film research
• Battery material thin-film research including LFP slurry coating on aluminum foil and other substrates
• Specialty nano-film research — high-precision thin-film deposition with tight thickness control
• Laboratory studies and process development requiring inert-atmosphere coating and drying

Recommended Operating Procedure:

1. If the XN-VCH-200 will be used inside a glove box, transfer the machine through the glove-box transition chamber and stabilize inside the glove-box atmosphere before powering on. The compact form factor (L435 × W250 × H270 mm, 15 kg) is designed to pass through standard transition chambers. 2. Power on the machine and verify that the PLC + touch screen, vacuum aluminum plate, built-in oil-free vacuum pump, motor drive, XN-TM100 film former, and digital temperature controller are all operating normally. 3. Place the substrate (copper foil, aluminum foil, or other sheet-type material) on the vacuum aluminum plate (L290 × W150 × H23 mm) and engage the vacuum to fix the substrate. 4. Set the target blade gap (within 0–5 mm) using the XN-TM100 film former, according to the desired wet film thickness. 5. Set the target coating speed (within 0–100 mm/s) and coating stroke (within the L200 × W100 mm coating area) on the touch screen. 6. Set the target drying temperature on the digital temperature controller (within ambient–130 °C, ±1 °C accuracy). Allow the heating system to stabilize at the setpoint. 7. Load the coating slurry, then initiate the coating run; the motor-driven blade advances along the configured stroke, depositing a uniform wet film at ±3 μm coating accuracy (or 1 μm with the optional upgraded micrometer). 8. After the run, allow the heating system to cool before removing the coated sample. 9. After each run, clean all wetted surfaces with appropriate solvent (water or NMP, depending on the slurry system used) and dry thoroughly before the next run. 10. Inspect the film former, vacuum plate, oil-free vacuum pump, and motor drive periodically for wear, contamination, or signs of degradation.

Maintenance:

• Frequently wipe the machine with a soft cloth dampened with alcohol to keep it clean
• Lubricate moving parts with oil to keep movement smooth
• If the machine will not be used for an extended period, wipe down the surface of moving components and apply a protective rust-prevention oil
• Periodically inspect screws, nuts, pins, and other fasteners across all parts of the machine to prevent loosening, avoiding equipment-quality issues and personal-safety incidents
• Periodically inspect the oil-free vacuum pump’s seals to ensure consistent vacuum performance
• Periodically inspect the XN-TM100 film former and doctor blade for wear or contamination affecting coating thickness

Packaging & Storage:

The XN-VCH-200 ships fully assembled with the vacuum aluminum plate (L290 × W150 × H23 mm), built-in oil-free vacuum pump, hot-air drying system with digital temperature controller (ambient–130 °C, ±1 °C), motor-driven blade mechanism, XN-TM100 film former, and PLC + touch screen control panel. Store on a stable laboratory bench, workstation, or glove-box work surface in a clean, dry environment, away from heat sources, direct sunlight, and corrosive atmospheres. Disconnect the power supply when the equipment is not in active use. After each use, allow the heating system to cool to room temperature, then clean all wetted-surface components (vacuum plate, film former, blade), dry thoroughly, and store in a clean, dry environment. Inspect the oil-free vacuum pump, motor drive, temperature controller, and film former periodically for wear or signs of degradation.

Safety:

For research and industrial laboratory use only. During operation, do not insert hands or any other body parts into the moving doctor blade, motor drive, or any other moving or hazardous working areas to prevent personal injury. Operation by two or more persons simultaneously is not allowed to avoid accidental injury. External (third-party) technical personnel and unauthorized persons must not disassemble the equipment under any circumstances. Do not touch the heated platform, vacuum plate, or coated substrate during operation — surface temperatures up to 130 °C can cause severe burns. When operating inside a glove box, ensure that the machine footprint and all cable/tubing feedthroughs are properly sealed to maintain inert-atmosphere integrity; verify the heat generated by the equipment does not exceed the glove-box thermal envelope. Always wear appropriate PPE (safety glasses, chemical-resistant gloves, lab coat) when handling slurries, solvents, and coated electrodes. When working with NMP-based slurries or other regulated solvents, operate in a well-ventilated fume hood or properly equipped glove box and follow local regulations on solvent use and recovery — NMP and similar aprotic solvents have specific exposure limits under OSHA, EU REACH, and other regional safety frameworks. When handling lithium metal, sodium metal, or other highly reactive air-sensitive materials, follow standard inert-atmosphere safety protocols for reactive metal handling. Disconnect the power supply before any cleaning, maintenance, or component replacement. Allow the heating system to cool to room temperature before any cleaning or sample-handling operations. Refer to the included user manual for complete safety and operating instructions.

Note: Specifications listed above are typical and for reference only. Actual performance depends on the specific slurry chemistry, coating thickness, drying temperature setpoint, substrate type, glove-box atmospheric conditions, and ambient operating conditions — consult published literature and our technical team for guidance on specific glove-box coating-and-drying protocols. For researchers requiring the same coating-and-drying capability without glove-box integration, see the Automatic Film Coater with Integrated Drying System XN-VCH-300 (larger coating area, ambient laboratory operation). For larger-stroke coating-and-drying workflows, see the Automatic Film Coating & Drying Machine Plus XN-VCH-800 (800 mm stroke, ambient–130 °C, oil-free vacuum pump). For bottom-heated coating up to 150 °C, see the Bottom-Heated Film Coating Machine XN-VCHB. For coating-only (no drying) platforms, see the Automatic Film Coater XN-VC-300 (300 mm stroke) and Automatic Film Coater XN-VC-800 (800 mm stroke). For continuous roll-to-roll coating, see the Continuous Roll-to-Roll Coating Machine XN-LVC-200 and Comma-Blade Continuous Coating Machine XN-KD200. For transfer coating, see the Laboratory Transfer Coating Machine XN-RTCA-300 and Segmented Transfer Coating Machine XN-RTCA-300-3. For slot-die coating, see the Slot-Die Coating System XN-SDC, Slot-Die Extrusion Film Applicator XN-FAS-100, Adjustable Film Applicator XN-FAT-100, and Extrusion Feeding Pump XN-EFP. For solid-state battery, lithium-metal, sodium-metal, and other air-sensitive material research workflows, see also Xnergy’s related products: Planetary Vacuum Mixer for Mixing Electrode Powders, Three-Door Vacuum Drying Oven (XN-DVO-3); for downstream calendering, see the laboratory CRP / CRPE / CRPE-W / HRPE / HRPH series and pilot-scale Hydraulic-Balance Motorized Roller Press XN-HPRP-300 & Heated Hydraulic-Balance Roller Press XN-SHPRP-300. For complete electrode formulation systems and air-sensitive material categories, see Cathode Materials, Anode Materials, Metallic Lithium Series, Sodium Metal Materials, Lithium Alloy & Pre-Lithiation Solutions, Solid-State Electrolytes (Sulfide, Halide, Oxide), Binders, and Current Collectors, plus the full Coating equipment category, Pilot-Scale Coating equipment category, Drying equipment category, Calendering equipment category, Pilot-Scale Calendering equipment category, and Slitting & Die Cutting equipment category.