Maintenance
and
Storage
Chapter 3
Maintenance and Storage
3-1
3.1
Storing and transporting the IBP-YAG
If the IBP-YAG will be stored for an extended time, transported, or will be exposed to freezing
temperatures, the cooling water must be drained to avoid damage.
Disconnect the electrical and signal cables from the IBP-YAG. Disconnect the Cooling water
lines and drain the water into a collection basin. To completely drain the water from the
instrument, it will be necessary to invert the instrument so that the water outlet is lower than
the inlet.
3.2
Cleaning and Replacing Optics
The Primary sampling mirror must be kept clean and dust free to avoid damaging the coating. Any
contamination will increase the absorption of laser energy and lower the damage threshold when
exposed to a high power beam
To reduce the risk of damage to the IBP-YAG optics
and minimize the amount of cleaning required, keep
the shutter closed whenever not actually taking
measurements. Using Purge Air in the IBP-YAG can
also reduce the amount of dust that collects on the
sampling optics.
3.2.1
Cleaning the sampling optics
To remove small amounts of dust from the primary sampling mirror, open the shutter and use
photographic type canned air and lens brushes to carefully clean the sampling mirror. Use care to
avoid transferring dust deeper into the instrument. Using purge air during this procedure will
greatly reduce the possibility of transferring dust to other optical elements.
Avoid using shop air to clean optics because it often
contains water and/or oil. These can create
absorbing films on the optics and destroy the
coatings.
If this procedure does not remove the debris, the unit will need to be partially disassembled to
remove and clean the optics. Follow the procedure in the next section to disassemble and remove
the primary optics for cleaning.
Great Care should be taken when handling optics. Observe the following precautions to reduce the
chance of damage:
•
Wear powder free rubber/latex gloves or finger cots when handling optics. Skin oils can
contaminate the coatings and may cause permanent damage.
•
Always place optics on lens tissues for protection.
•
never place optics on hard or rough surfaces. The coatings are easily scratched.
•
Use high quality lens tissues. The use of reagent grade acetone and isopropanol is
recommended.
IBP-YAG
