16
Maintenance
SEAL BEAMS AND COUNTER BEAMS
To achieve a quality seal, it is necessary that the seal beam and counter beam are in good condition.
1. Clean the seal and counter beams daily with a dry cloth.
2.
Replace the Teflon tape on the seal beam if damaged and replace the sealing wire if kinked.
3. Replace the silicone rubber seal if it is burned in.
Depending on the type of machine, there are three seal beam versions:
1. Single-seal beam (T2).
2. Stainless steel seal beam.
3. Aluminum seal beam.
SINGLE-SEAL BEAM
REMOVE THE SEALING WIRE AND TEFLON TAPE AS FOLLOWS:
1. Grab the seal beam in the middle and pull it straight up and out of the machine.
2. The beam is held in place by 2 pins; some force may be necessary to loosen the beam.
3.
Remove the brown Teflon tape that is applied to the seal beam.
4. Remove the two screws on the underside of the seal beam; this releases the sealing wire.
5.
Clean the seal beam thoroughly and remove any glue residue off the Teflon tape.
NOTES
•
Check the condition of the tensioning springs at both ends of the seal beam; replace if necessary.
•
These springs maintain tension on the sealing wire.
•
Using the seal beam without the springs may cause sealing wires to break.
INSTALL THE SEALING WIRE AND TEFLON TAPE AS FOLLOWS:
1. Position the sealing wire across the beam and fasten it on one side with a small bolt.
2. Apply tension on the wire by pulling it with a pair of pliers.
3. Fasten the wire on the opposite end of the beam with the second bolt and cut the wire to length; the ends
of the sealing wire must be long enough to make electrical contact with the pins in the vacuum chamber.
4.
Apply the Teflon tape smooth and tight over the seal beam; make sure that the beam is clean and free of
grease.
5. Re-install the beam in the vacuum chamber; check to make sure that the ends of the sealing wire make
contact with the steel pins.
ALUMINUM/STAINLESS STEEL SEAL BEAM
REMOVE THE SEALING AND CUTTING WIRES AS FOLLOWS:
1. Remove the old wires by pulling them loose from the seal beam contacts.
2.
Loosen the clamp screws and remove the seal beam from the U-profile.
3.
Remove the Teflon tape from the seal beam.
4. Remove the mounting plates on both ends of the seal beam by loosening the screws; this releases the
sealing wires and/or sealing and cutting wires.
5. Clean the seal beam thoroughly.
