Section 6 - Care & Maintenance
6.1 System Care
Recommend system care procedures should be followed by any users of the system. For further
information on any of these procedures, contact an authorized service representative for assistance.
6.1.1 When Working in the Sample Chamber
• Keep surfaces clean. Avoid touching any surfaces inside the sample space with your fingers as
oils or other foreign contaminates can easily be transferred to the surfaces, the sample, or
optics. Always wear sterile gloves.
• Use proper grease and adhesives in the sample chamber. The accessory kit includes Apiezon®
L-grease, N-grease, and the adhesive GE Varnish (VGE).
• Avoid using too much grease – a thin layer (just enough so the surface is shiny) is best for
metal-to-metal surfaces, samples, and O-rings. Too much grease can outgas and contaminate
other surfaces in the sample chamber.
• Inspect, wipe, and grease O-rings. Make sure that the O-rings are clean with a thin layer of L-
grease.
• Check to ensure wires are preserved. Make sure wires do not overlap under thermal clamps and
ensure the clamps are not too tight. Make sure wires do not touch the radiation shield or
contact the sample mount directly after the thermal clamp.
6.1.2 When You Will Not Be Using Your Cryostat
• Keep the lid on the sample chamber to keep it free from dust.
• Supply a slight amount of nitrogen to keep the system clean and dry.
o Use the VENT command with “Vent Continuously” enabled to keep nitrogen flowing
through the chamber at atmospheric conditions.
• Keep the sample chamber under vacuum. Use the PULL VACUUM command button to pull and
keep the chamber under a medium vacuum state.
6.1.3 Standard Checks Before Every Cooldown
• Ensure radiation shield is bolted down and secured. Make sure all radiation shield windows are
in place.
• Ensure the sample is mounted properly.
• Check that the software starts up and reads all thermometers. The temperature channel values
should be slightly fluctuating, indicating the thermometer readings are active.
• Check helium pressure to ensure values are >1.55 MPa for both supply and return. See Helium
Check on page 64 for details.
6.1.4 Periodic Checks Every 6-12 Months
• Inspect VGE joints and repair if needed. VGE can flake off after several thermal cycles.
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