Obtaining radio frequency/microwave (RF/microwave) magnetrons education and training makes you more marketable in the industry. In some cases, training and education help establish you as a worker willing to put in the time and effort to produce the best quality work in the field of electronics engineering.

The modern world uses RF magnetrons and microwave magnetrons for many tasks from cooking to radar. Knowledge of how magnetrons work and knowing how to fabricate them are great assets in this technological era. To gain education in RF and microwave magnetron functions and usage, you might want to consider the following choices:

1. Learn about RF magnetron electronics as you earn a degree from a college or university.

2. Further your RF/microwave magnetrons education and training with advanced courses.

3. Delve into the world of RF magnetron electronics through engineering offerings from top industry manufacturers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Study microwave magnetrons and their uses as you work for a college degree

Gets hands-on lab experience in RF magnetron electronics as you earn a degree in electrical engineering. You need this degree to get a job in the industry.

I recommend: The University at Buffalo offers undergraduate electrical engineering classes. Its course RF and Microwave Circuits I is the introduction course to RF/microwave magnetrons, but you need to have taken the prerequisites before you can sign up for it. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. The university provides a variety of learning experiences for students including internships and access to laboratories.

Expand your knowledge base of RF microwave magnetrons as you earn an advanced degree

Continue your education in RF magnetron electronics and learn about the industrial magnetron as you take online courses to earn an advanced degree. This makes you more marketable, and learning online allows you to educate yourself while fitting learning opportunities around your work schedule.

I recommend: Stevens Institute of Technology offers a graduate certificate program in the field of electrical engineering. Its Satellite Communications Engineering program includes Microwave Engineering 1, which covers the component and system levels of microwave techniques. Learn more about the electrical engineering facilities at Cornell University, which offers an undergraduate and graduate program in its College of Engineering. Students get hands on training with an RF/microwave in the courses offered by the university.

Attend conferences, webinars or other events put on by a magnetron manufacturer

A science fair or seminar is not a place to buy magnetron tube components, but rather a place where can learn about the latest industry changes and offerings from a magnetron supplier. It's also a place where you can network with other professionals in the field. The type of event scheduled will depend on the company, so you may want to find a manufacturer that offers your preferred type of event.

I recommend: ABI Research, a leader in the RF/microwave magnetron industry, offers webinars on a variety of topics pertaining to the design of microwaves. Many of the webinars look at the role of the company's products in terms of future expectations. Skillbox provides training for staff on topics such as RF engineering through experts like the ones at Gaddon Consultants. Its online tutorial has exercises and practical demonstrations, covering RF engineering.

When you consider purchasing Radio Frequency/microwave magnetrons (RF/microwave magnetrons), you need to consider the various types of tubes in which the electrons flow to create power. The correct magnetron tube enables RF current to travel through the tubes without backfeed. If the tube does not direct the current properly, it compromises the transmission. Sometimes maximizing performance is simply a matter of adjusting the tube length.

Whether you are purchasing magnetron tubes for use in radar, television, radio or microwave ovens, it's wise to:

1. Define your RF magnetrons specifications so the tubes work symbiotically with pre-existing equipment.

2. Consult with a specialist regarding the best RF/microwave magnetrons for your particular uses.

3. Purchase from a magnetron manufacturer who is willing to work with your specialized needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Contact an industrial magnetron expert to find the perfect tools for your job

There is a wide variety in industrial microwave magnetron tube choices. Contacting an expert gives you inside information on which products best suit your purposes and where you can find these products.

I recommend: Intota offers a listing of experts and consultants for magnetron information. These experts cover many areas from microwave development to materials. Sanders RF Consulting is a group of consulting engineers specializing in radio frequency and microwave solutions. It offers competitive rates and is willing to offer services at your location.

Purchase from magnetron manufacturers with varied inventory

Whether you plan to purchase a military microwave magnetron or one for non-military use, consider purchasing from a manufacturer who offers a wide range of product including retrofits and custom products.

I recommend: Angstrom Sciences offers a wide range of products including cylindrical magnetrons, custom magnetrons and retrofits. ARS Electronics offers top quality microwave and RF magnetrons for military, government and civilian purposes.

Purchase from a magnetron supplier who is knowledgeable in your field

Purchasing magnetrons microwave electronics from a supplier who knows the ins and outs of the business is a smart move. Suppliers frequently know changes in the industry as well as what might be coming down the pipe in regards to equipment that will make your job easier.

I recommend: Penta Laboratories, an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer and supplier of magnetrons, offers customers personalized information as well as tutorials on maintenance and various educational topics. L-3 Communications' subsidiary, California Tube Labs, provides customers with magnetrons for various fields including cooking, heating, medical and weather. Its distributors consult with customers on the best equipment, and it is willing to rebuild high-power vacuum tubes for new applications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider the size and shape of the microwave magnetrons you need to get optimal performance on your equipment before purchasing, then buy magnetron tubes according to these specifications.

A microwave or radio frequency magnetron is a cross-field device that employs magnetic and electric fields in its operations. A microwave magnetron usually consists of a diode vacuum tube that has cavities and is capable of generating non-coherent microwaves. Magnetron technology is common in microwave ovens and radar applications.

While interacting with the RF/microwave magnetrons service providers, you will come across various technical terms. This guide will help you understand RF/microwave magnetrons related key terms, such as microwave oscillator, microwave klystron, magnetron sputtering and radio frequency safety standards.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Vacuum tube

A vacuum tube (also known as an electron tube or thermionic valve) is a device used to create or amplify an electrical signal by controlling the flow of electrons in vacuum.

I recommend: Penta Laboratories, a reputable manufacturer of vacuum tubes, provides detailed information about vacuum tubes, their workings and applications.

RF/Microwave klystron

A microwave klystron is a specialized vacuum tube used as an oscillator or amplifier at microwave frequencies to produce high-power radio signals.

I recommend: For information about a klystron, browse through the technical glossary by The Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex (SRMSC), an online information resource.

RF/Microwave oscillator

Microwave oscillators convert DC power into radio frequency power, which is very important in a microwave system. RF or radio frequency oscillators generate periodic electric signals.

I recommend: Read through the basics of RF/microwave oscillators at Electronics-manufacturers.com, an informative Web site for electronics products.

Waveguides

Waveguides are metallic transmission lines that interconnect transmitters and receivers with antennas at microwave frequencies. A waveguide is capable of transmitting extremely high peak powers and has negligible loss during transmission.

I recommend: Learn more about waveguides at Microwaves101, an informative Web site about microwave technology.

TWT (Traveling Wave Tube)

A TWT is a microwave tube in which a beam of electrons interacts with a guided electromagnetic field to amplify microwave frequencies.

I recommend: For detailed information about TWT, you can read through the glossary by Earthnet Online, an informative Web site by the European Space Agency.

Magnetron sputtering or sputtering

Magnetron sputtering is a technique of coating material with a wide range of materials. Sputtering is the removal of atomized material from a solid due to energetic bombardment of its surface layers by ions or neutral particles.

I recommend: For more information about magnetron sputtering, browse through Angstrom Sciences, Inc., a supplier of magnetrons and high-purity materials.

Radio frequency safety standards

Radio frequency and microwave safety standards refer to the restrictions and exposure limits for protecting the user from dangers that arise from working with radio frequencies.

I recommend: At The International Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Dosimetry Project , you can get a better understanding of various ANSI (American National Standards Institute), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and NCRP (National Council on Radiation Protection & Measurements) safety standards for radio frequencies.