Specimen Drying
Turbo Pumping Station
The turbo pumping station is used for primarily two reasons. The pumping station can be used to speed vacuum pump down in the TEM airlock. Use of the pumping station is advantageous when inserting a specimen that is considered "wet"; this technique serves as a pre-pump to dry the specimen.
Turbo Pumping
| 1. Remove the red plastic port cover. | VIEW | |||||
| 2. Carefully twist the holder as you insert it into the vacuum tube. | VIEW | |||||
| 3. Open the valve at end of tube. | VIEW | |||||
| 4. Turn ON the pump (green switch). | VIEW | |||||
| 5. Allow the vacuum to reach the 10-5 range and leave it to pump for 5-10 minutes. NOTE: Depending on your goal, such as drying a web specimen, leave the pump running for 30 mintues. |
VIEW | |||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pump Shut Down
| 1. Close the valve at the end of the tube. | VIEW | |||||
| 2. Turn OFF the pump (green switch). | VIEW | |||||
| 3. Wait until the pump stops "whining" (2-3 minutes) and then pull/twist the holder from the tube. | VIEW | |||||
| 4. Replace the red plastic port cover. WARNING: If you pull the specimen holder out of the tube while the pump is on it will destroy the pump. |
VIEW | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
