Abstract
Aiming at the scenario of small-batch coin cell R&D in laboratories, this article provides a set of immediately implementable solutions for internal equipment layout of glove boxes, cable and air pipe routing, and material access route design for transition chambers. It also attaches a checklist for semi-automatic assembly line construction. This guide helps researchers build a compliant, stable coin cell assembly environment efficiently within limited laboratory space.
Keywords: Vacuum Glove Box; Coin Cell Assembly; Laboratory Battery R&D; Small Hydraulic Press; Battery Crimping Machine; Space Layout; Inert Atmosphere; Semi-Automatic Assembly Line
1. Introduction: Core Pain Points of Laboratory Coin Cell R&D
Coin cells (such as CR2032/2025/2016) are mainstream systems for material research and electrochemical performance testing. Their assembly must be completed under an inert atmosphere (argon/nitrogen) with water and oxygen content below 0.1 ppm. In laboratory scenarios, common challenges include:
- Limited internal space of glove boxes, messy equipment placement and crossed operation routes;
- Disordered arrangement of cables and air pipes, which easily scratch the glove, accumulate dust and affect atmospheric stability;
- Chaotic material access procedures via transition chambers, causing atmosphere leakage and excessive water and oxygen levels;
- Improper selection and layout of small hydraulic presses and crimping machines, undermining assembly accuracy and efficiency.
Based on standard 1.2m–1.8m vacuum glove boxes, this article focuses on the demands of small batch production, high precision and easy maintenance, delivering a full-process solution from layout planning to on-site implementation.
2. Internal Glove Box Equipment Layout: Modular Zoning and One-Way Operation Route
2.1 Standard Laboratory Core Equipment List
- Vacuum Glove Box (H₂O & O₂ ＜ 0.1 ppm, argon atmosphere)
- Small Hydraulic Press (Manual/Electric, 5–20T, for electrode sheet pressing and pre-compression)
- Coin Cell Crimping Machine (Pneumatic/Electric, compatible with 20-series coin cells, working pressure 800–1200kg)
- Material Operation Bench (Corrosion-resistant PP/PTFE material, 1–2 units)
- Electrolyte Storage Bottles (With dropper/syringe, ground seal design)
- Tool Storage Rack (Insulated tweezers, medicine spoons, dust-free paper, storage trays)
- Transition Chamber (Single-door/Double-door, 1–2 units for material inlet and outlet)
2.2 Space Zoning & Layout Principles (Taking 1.5m Glove Box as Example)
Adopt the design of U-shaped one-way operation route + functional zoning to avoid operation crossing and maximize space utilization:
- Transition Chamber Zone (Left Inlet/Outlet): Adjacent to the glove box transition chamber, equipped with a temporary material bench for vacuum transition and temporary storage of battery cases, electrode sheets, separators and other materials. All materials entering the box need vacuum drying at 60–80℃ for over 4 hours, followed by at least 3 cycles of vacuum pumping and argon filling through the transition chamber.
- Material Preparation Zone (Middle Left): Place tool storage racks, electrolyte storage bottles and dust-free paper for electrode cutting, separator trimming and electrolyte sub-packaging. Lay corrosion-resistant insulating mats in the operation area to prevent electrolyte corrosion on the box body.
- Core Assembly Zone (Center): Arrange the small hydraulic press and crimping machine, with the hydraulic press near the operation opening and the crimping machine placed behind it, conforming to the process sequence of pressing → assembly → crimping. Keep a spacing of no less than 30cm between devices to reserve double-hand operation space and avoid glove collision.
- Finished Product Storage Zone (Middle Right): Equipped with finished product trays for temporary storage and visual inspection of sealed batteries, close to the right glove opening for easy transfer to the transition chamber.
- Maintenance Zone (Right Side): Reserve 15–20cm of space for water/oxygen probe maintenance, equipment cleaning and emergency operation. Do not stack sundries to ensure accessibility and flexibility.
2.3 Key Layout Details
- Equipment Fixing: Attach anti-slip and shockproof mats to the bottom of hydraulic presses and crimping machines to avoid displacement during operation. Place heavy equipment such as hydraulic presses close to the rear wall of the glove box to lower the center of gravity and prevent tipping.
- Operation Height: The vertical height difference between the equipment table and the glove opening shall not exceed 10cm, ensuring a natural wrist posture, reducing fatigue and improving assembly precision.
- Safety Distance: Keep electrolyte bottles at least 20cm away from electrified/high-pressure equipment such as hydraulic presses and crimping machines to avoid safety hazards caused by liquid leakage. Maintain a 10cm gap between tool racks and the operation area to prevent accidental collision.
3. Cable & Air Pipe Routing: Concealed, Neat and Easy to Maintain
Disordered routing will lead to glove damage, atmosphere leakage and difficult maintenance. Follow the principles of wall-side concealed laying, classified binding, shortest path layout, and keeping away from heat/corrosion sources:
3.1 Cable Layout (Power Supply for Hydraulic Press & Crimping Machine)
- Routing Position: Lay cables along the rear/side wall corners of the glove box, avoiding the operation area and glove movement range. Protect cables with flame-retardant bellows to prevent electrolyte corrosion and glove scratching.
- Fixing Method: Fasten with high-temperature resistant cable ties every 20cm to prevent shaking. Reserve 10–15cm of redundant length at interfaces for equipment movement and later maintenance.
- Power Management: Install explosion-proof and waterproof sockets inside the box, away from electrolyte bottles. Connect an earth leakage protector to the external power supply to ensure electrical safety; prohibit random wiring to avoid short circuits.
3.2 Air Pipe Layout (Pneumatic Crimping Machine & Glove Box Ventilation)
- Air Source Access: Connect the pneumatic pipe of the crimping machine to the special gas interface of the glove box, connected to external argon/nitrogen air source with pressure controlled at 0.4–0.6MPa. Use aging-resistant and corrosion-resistant PU air pipes with inner diameter of 6–8mm.
- Laying Specifications: Separate air pipes from power cables with a spacing of over 5cm and bind them separately. Lay along the rear wall, keeping away from high-pressure areas and operation routes. Fasten all interfaces with hose clamps to prevent air leakage and guarantee internal atmosphere stability.
- Exhaust Treatment: Connect the exhaust port of the crimping machine to a special exhaust pipe leading out of the box to avoid internal atmosphere pollution. Inspect the exhaust pipeline regularly to prevent blockage.
3.3 Common Avoidable Mistakes
- Do not lay cables or air pipes across the main operation area to prevent glove tearing;
- No exposed cables in areas with electrolyte leakage risks (prep zone & assembly zone);
- Reserve 30% maintenance space for all routing layout to facilitate later inspection and equipment upgrade.
4. Transition Chamber Material Access Route Design: Closed-Loop Process to Minimize Atmosphere Leakage
The transition chamber is the key to maintaining glove box atmosphere stability. The route design shall follow one-way access, high efficiency and minimum door opening times.
4.1 Standard Material Inlet Procedure
- Dry all materials (battery cases, electrode sheets, separators, tools) under vacuum at 60–80℃ for 4 hours, then place them into the transition chamber;
- Close the outer door, pump vacuum to ≤ -0.09MPa and hold for 5 minutes;
- Fill with argon to normal pressure, repeat vacuuming and argon filling for at least 3 times to completely exhaust air;
- Open the inner door, transfer materials to the temporary bench with gloves, then close the inner door;
- Classify and transfer materials to the prep zone and assembly zone to complete feeding.
4.2 Standard Material Outlet Procedure (Finished Products & Waste)
- Place finished batteries and waste into sealed boxes and transfer to the transition temporary bench;
- Open the inner door, place items into the transition chamber and close the inner door tightly;
- Pump vacuum to ≤ -0.09MPa and hold for 3 minutes;
- Slowly open the outer door, take out materials and close the outer door;
- Fill the transition chamber with argon to normal pressure for standby use.
4.3 Route Optimization Tips
- Material Classification: Separate the access time of incoming dry materials and outgoing finished products/waste to avoid cross contamination;
- Batch Processing: Handle 5–10 pieces of materials in one transition chamber operation to reduce door opening times and lower atmosphere leakage risk;
- Emergency Passage: Use the spare transition chamber (if equipped) for urgent material access to avoid experimental interruption caused by main chamber failure;
- Leakage Prevention: Inspect the sealing ring of transition chamber doors once a week and replace aging parts immediately. Operate door opening slowly to avoid air flow impact.
5. Semi-Automatic Assembly Line Construction Checklist
5.1 Glove Box System
- ✅ Water & Oxygen Level: H₂O ＜ 0.1ppm, O₂ ＜ 0.1ppm (real-time monitoring and daily record keeping)
- ✅ Inert Atmosphere: High-purity argon (99.999%) with stable pressure at 0.02–0.05MPa
- ✅ Transition Chamber: Well sealed double doors, normal vacuum/pressure cycle without leakage
- ✅ Box Body: Clean inner wall without oil stains or electrolyte residue, intact anti-corrosion coating
5.2 Equipment Selection & Installation
- ✅ Small Hydraulic Press: 5–20T manual/electric type, flat tabletop, accurate pressure display, fixed with anti-slip and shockproof mats
- ✅ Crimping Machine: Compatible with 20-series coin cells, pneumatic/electric type, working pressure 800–1200kg, mold concentricity ±0.1mm
- ✅ Operation Bench: Corrosion-resistant PP/PTFE material, well matched with glove box size, stable and shake-free
- ✅ Tools: Insulated tweezers (1 plastic + 1 metal), medicine spoons, dust-free paper and trays with no burrs or oil contamination
5.3 Cables, Air Pipes & Safety Configuration
- ✅ Cables: Protected by flame-retardant bellows, concealed wall laying, equipped with explosion-proof waterproof sockets and functional earth leakage protector
- ✅ Air Pipes: PU material, separately bound from cables, fully sealed interfaces without air leakage, external exhaust design
- ✅ Safety Distance: Electrolyte bottles keep over 20cm away from electrified/high-pressure equipment, no exposed cables in operation area
- ✅ Emergency Supplies: Equipped with dust-free paper, absorbent cotton and neutral detergent inside the box for electrolyte leakage treatment
5.4 Operation Procedure & Daily Maintenance
- ✅ Material Preprocessing: All incoming materials undergo vacuum drying at 60–80℃ for 4 hours to eliminate moisture residue
- ✅ Standard Access Route: Follow at least 3 vacuum-argon cycles for transition chamber material access with strict one-way operation
- ✅ Routine Maintenance: Clean the box body daily, inspect sealing rings, cables and air pipes weekly, calibrate water/oxygen probes monthly
- ✅ Record Specification: Daily recording of water/oxygen data, equipment operation status and experimental batches for traceability
6. Conclusion
The core of building a laboratory coin cell assembly line lies in efficient space utilization, stable and controllable inert atmosphere, as well as safe and convenient operation. Through modular zoning layout, neat concealed cable and air pipe routing, closed-loop transition chamber route design, combined with a standardized inspection checklist, researchers can quickly build a semi-automatic assembly line meeting academic research requirements inside a standard glove box. This solution perfectly satisfies small-batch and high-precision coin cell R&D demands, while reducing experimental risks and improving working efficiency and test data repeatability.
