6875D Freezer/Mill
1300-87052-1A, REV 1
SPEX SamplePrep LLC
Page 24 of 36
6.2.5 Loading a Very Small Sample into a Vial and Keeping it Cold
A similar loading technique to Section 6.2.4 can be used to grind very small samples with an
upright, open pre-chilled vial. Place the sample on the chilled end plug and add a small amount
of fluid such as an extraction medium or water. The frozen fluid will bulk up the sample which
will allow the sample to be more efficiently ground during the run cycle. To speed up this
process with Small-
sized vials like the 6751, some users first prepare small “ice cubes” of the
sample frozen together with 0.5 ml to 1 ml of fluid.
6.3
Loading Vials into the Freezer/Mill
A vial can be inserted into either precooling chambers, Chamber 1 and Chamber 2 of the
assembly. The Gate keeps the vials in place during grinding for Chamber 1 and 2 only. Vials in
the precooling chamber will remain secure and unaffected by the magnetic coils in Chamber 1
or Chamber 2.
The Gate holds the vials in Chambers 1 and 2 during grinding. To lock a vial in place, turn Gate
Handle to the left, and position it to pass through the slot in the open Gate. Now close Gate
and turn Gate Handle to the right against the Gate, then fold down Gate Handle to lock the
Gate during grinding. Always use the proper adapters for mid-size, small vials and microvials
(Section 4.5).
The lid must be closed and latched for the Freezer/Mill to run. Push the lid down, hold it down
while engaging the bottom part of the latch, and then lock the latch by pushing its top end
toward the cabinet. The grinding program can be run using the controls described in Section 5.
6.4
Removing Vials from the Freezer/Mill
To remove samples, open the lid by holding the lid down with one hand, and with the other
hand pull the upper end of the latch toward you. Then pull the lower end of the latch to detach
it from the cabinet. Release the lid and it will raise up by the gas spring arms. The gas spring
arms will keep the lid in the upright position. The lid must be open for removal of vials. To
unlock a vials in grinding Chambers 1 and 2, lift Gate Handle and turn Gate Handle to the left,
and position it to pass through the slot in the closed Gate. Open Gate and remove vials.
6.5 Opening, Emptying, and Cleaning Freezer/Mill Vials
6.5.1 Opening a Vial
To open a vial, slip the open end of the appropriate Extractor/Vial Opener over a threaded end
plug, align the pegs in the end plug with the slots in the Extractor, and turn the knob clockwise
until the end plug is drawn out. If the end plug is drawn out within a millimeter or two of the
end of the center cylinder and stops, rock the Extractor gently to dislodge the end plug. Always
be careful that the vial does not fall and spill its contents.
If the Extractor/Vial Opener jams with the end plug part way out, let the vial warm up before
removing the end plug. Forcing out the end plug can damage the Extractor or break the
