If the load lock is under vacuum, vent it through SVV5
(see figure above) note there is a manual valve in
line with this automatic valve.
Remove the blankoff on the top of the lock by undoing
the three bolts with the allan key located on the side of the lock.
Keeping the rubber o-ring in place, mount the clean end of the
manipulator into the vacuum lock and seal it using the
three screws and the allan key. Do not get the manipulator's
clean end dirty by touching it with your bare hand
for example. Rough out the lock:
Go To the Control Room and Get the operator to
open up the EPICS page shown above
Make sure the vent valve SVV5 is closed
Turn on the roughing pump if it is off. (the round black circle
BNMRBP5 above should be green)
Note the Fuji dry roughing pumps are often
switched off due to their short lifetimes
If the roughing pump is working the convectron gauge BNMRCG5
should go down to some low value like 50 mT - that's T for Torr
Open the valves to the lock: PV5, RVX6 and RV5
You can watch it rough down on the convectron gauges CG6A and
CG5D Rough out the backside of the sliding seal:
Ensure the KF25 flexible pumping line is connected to the flange
on the side of the manipulator
Close RV5
Note typically the lock pressure comes up when you isolate it due
to outgassing this can be seen on CG5D
Open RV7
Watch it pump out on convectron CG6A Spin Up the Turbo Pump
BNMRTP6 - the yellow circle above
You need to back it with the roughing pump first, close VX6 then open BV6
When it is safe, open the inlet side of TP6 using GV6 Pump
out the lock and the backside of the sliding seal:
Let it pump for a while, then close RV7 and start
pumping on the lock (open RV5)
Pump the lock for 15mins
The gauge CG5D will quickly bottom out, but
After a while you can turn on the ion gauge IG6 at the turbo
and watch it come down to a few microTorr Prepare to open the gate valve:
Turn off the ion gauge IG6 to protect it
Close RV5, isolating the lock
Then QUICKLY open RV7 to pump on the "differential space" at
the back of the sliding seal
If you are too slow the TP will trip off
and you have to turn it back on.
Note when the manipulator is going into the UHV
space, you must pump continuously on the differential space with the turbo
Let it pump for a minute or two Open the gate valve (SLV5) now the
lock is open and the UHV is spoiled (not badly if you have followed
the above)
Go to the platform push the manipulator down, opening the hatch if you
haven't already Using
the motor and the side-to-side play of the bellows on the lock
position the manipulator directly
over the threaded hole in the sample holder Unscrew the sample: note
this is a reverse thread, so you turn as
if you were taking it out (pressenig gently to engage the
threads). This is Counterclockwise!
Once the reverse thread is fully engaged, the outer normal threads
will begin to pull out. Continue turning the same way until the holder
is free
Retract the manipulator (with holder attached) into the lock all the way
ENSURE the holder is up by using the brass rod to keep
the manipulator handle at the necessary height
Once this is done, close the gate valve from the
control room SLV5 Vent the lock
Remove sample and manipulator (without touching the clean end)
Blank off the lock to keep it clean
Turn off the roughing pump if you are going to be a while.