Page 70 Leica EM TIC 3X Operating Manual 07/17
4.4.2.5 Command line, Start/Pump/Vent
By pushing the Pump button, the system starts evacuating the chamber (see status
information) and the Start button can be activated subsequently. Therefore, it is not
necessary to stay in front of the instrument until the working vacuum is achieved. The
system starts automatically as soon as the working vacuum is reached.
Once the pumping process has been started the button indication changes to Vent.
This button is used to ventilate the camber after the sample has been processed and
needs to be removed.
To avoid humidity inside the chamber, the chamber should be kept under
vacuum even when the system is not in use. Please press
“Pump” even when
no further sample needs to be processed. You may switch off the mains switch
when a long break is expected (longer than three months). The vacuum is kept
at a certain level.
In order to prevent the surfaces becoming contaminated during venting, and
particularly while the surfaces are heated, it is recommended to vent the
system with nitrogen. To do this, connect a nitrogen gas bottle (or a fixed
nitrogen supply line) to the venting valve connector on the back of the system
instead of the air filter (3.3.10 Electrical and gas connection). Using nitrogen for
venting helps to improve the vacuum conditions and prolongs the service life
of the ion source.
