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Pumping/Baking the Chamber
Appendix B
7.4. Starting the Ion Pump
Install the magnets on the turbo pump. Check the AC, BAT, and HV switches on
the ion pump power supply, and make sure that they are off. Connect the ion
pump HV cable (#9) to the ceramic connector on the pump. Connect the small
green safety ground umbilical of the HV cable to one of the banana jacks located
on the base of the dropping chamber near one of the handles. Connect the safety
HV ground cable (#10) to the other banana jack on the base of the dropper. Set
the meter select knob on the ion pump controller to PUMP VOLTAGE (KV).
Start the ion pump by turning on the AC, BAT, and HV switches on the ion
pump controller. Leave the turbo pump running and connected to the dropping
chamber until the ion pump starts. After turning on the ion pump, check the
meter on the ion pump power supply. The voltage should be at least 2 KV
within five minutes after turning on the ion pump. At operating pressure,
nominal voltage is 4 KV (on AC), and 3 KV (on battery). If the ion pump has not
started within five minutes, turn off the power and continue pumping with the
turbo pump for at least one hour before trying the ion pump again. Leaving the
ion-pump on with excessive current (> 10
-5
Torr) shortens the lifetime of the
pump dramatically. Once the ion pump is at a stable 4 kV and the current
(monitored by switching to the 10
-3
µ
A scale), is starting to slowly decrease, the
ion pump has “started”. Slowly close the bellows valve on the chamber. It is
normal for the current to rise again, but after five minutes or so, it should once
again start to decrease. Once the ion pump has started with the bellows valve
closed, it is now safe to turn off the turbo pump. Turn off the turbo pump power
switch, and once the turbo pump has come to a stop, vent it by slowly opening
the small relief valve. The flexible hose should relax, and it is now safe to
remove the flexible hose and replace the blank flanges on the vacuum valve and
turbo pump intake.
7-4
Summary of Contents for Micro-g LaCoste FG5
Page 7: ...Table of Figures This Page is Intentionally Blank vii ...
Page 8: ......
Page 13: ...Design Components and Function 2 Figure 2 3 Side view of the dropping chamber 2 3 ...
Page 23: ...Design Components and Function 2 Figure 2 9 The Superspring 2 13 ...
Page 31: ...Design Components and Function 2 Figure 2 12 Rotation Monitor 2 21 ...
Page 32: ...Design Components and Function 2 This Page is Intentionally Blank 2 22 ...
Page 36: ...How to Set Up and Run the FG5 3 Figure 3 1 Superspring Interferometer Setup 3 4 ...
Page 56: ......
Page 59: ...Adjustment and Maintenance 4 4 3 ...
Page 78: ...Adjustment and Maintenance 4 4 22 ...
Page 106: ......
Page 138: ...Checklists and Logs Appendix D Measure gap between two levers near ZPM 9 24 ...
Page 143: ...Checklists and Logs Appendix D This Page is Intentionally Blank 9 29 ...
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