Hinds Instruments Exicor Gen5, User Manual, Page: 78 / 98

Chapter 6: Maintenance and Cleaning
68 Exicor GEN5 User Manual
Figure 6.1 Fast Axis Orientation of Polymer Film Sample
2. Let the sample sit for at least 10 minutes. This ensures that the temperature
of the sample has become steady after handling.
3. Perform a stationary scan of 100 points at the center of the sample. Be sure
to take air offsets before this scan.
Compare the mean and standard deviation to the data provided by Hinds
Instruments for this sample. Some variation in the mean is expected due small
changes in temperature and humidity. The standard deviation should still be within
the acceptable range (see the ATP document for the proper range). Also make sure
that the fast axis is being reported correctly.
Determine the appropriate system check schedule that fits well with the system use
schedule. A system check should be performed at least once per week but is
recommended before every shift.
Consumables
Exicor systems are designed so that the downtime due to component failures is very
low. The items in the system that do have fixed lifetimes are the laser and the
detector filters.
The laser intensity will decrease over a period of time and the detector filters will
degrade over time, resulting in decreased light transmission. The typical
replacement schedule in most applications is every 2-3 years and the procedure
should be done by a Hinds Instruments engineer or a factory trained representative.
This schedule may vary according to the amount of time the system is powered on
and the operating environment. Regular system evaluations should be performed so
that the system measurement repeatability does not fall outside of the specified
tolerance.
The first point of feedback for the laser and detector filter condition is the DC level at
the detectors
with no sample in the beam path
. The DC levels are shown as
vertical bar graphs in the main user interface (see figure below).