Leica CM1510, Instruction Manual

Page: 23 / 32

Leica CM1510 – Cryostat 23
9. Trouble shooting
Problem Causes Remedies
Chatter during sectioning
Condensation on anti-roll plate and
knife/blade during cleaning
Anti-roll plate damaged after
adjustment
Thick-thin sections
- Specimen insufficiently frozen
onto the specimen disc.
- Specimen disc not clamped
tightly.
- Specimen holder ball joint not
clamped.
- Knife/blade not clamped tightly
enough.
- Specimen has been sectioned
too thickly and has detached
from the disc.
- Very hard, inhomogeneous
specimen.
- Blunt cutting edge.
- Knife profile inappropriate for
the specimen to be cut.
- Incorrect clearance angle.
- Brush, forceps and/or cloth are
too warm.
- Plate too high above the cutting
edge. The adjustment was
carried out in the direction of
the cutting edge.
- Temperature incorrect for the
tissue cut.
- Knife profile inappropriate for
the specimen cut.
- Ice buildup on the knife back.
- Handwheel speed not uni-
form.
- Knife/blade not clamped tightly
enough.
- Specimen holder not clamped
tightly.
- Cryocompound applied to cold
specimen disc; specimen
detached from the disc after
freezing.
- Blunt cutting edge.
- Incorrect clearance angle.
- Microtome not properly dried
before reinstallation.
- Refreeze specimen onto the
disc.
- Check disc clamping.
- Check ball joint clamping.
- Check clamping.
- Refreeze specimen onto the
disc.
- Increase section thickness;
reduce specimen surface area
if necessary.
- Use different part of the cutting
edge or replace the knife/blade.
- Use knife with different profile.
- Set correct angle.
- Store all tools in the cryocham-
ber.
- Raise plate when aligning.
- Be more careful next time.
- Select correct temperature.
- Wait until the correct tempera-
ture is reached.
- Use knife with different profile
(c or d).
- Remove ice.
- Adapt speed.
- Check clamping.
- Check clamping.
- Apply cryocompound on warm
disc; mount specimen and
freeze.
- Use different part of the cutting
edge or replace the knife/blade.
- Set correct angle.
- Dry microtome thoroughly.