Leica CM3050 S Manuel D’Utilisation

48

 Instruction Manual V1.1 02/2000

6.

Troubleshooting, applications tips

6.2

Potential problems - causes and remedies

Remedies

- Eliminate draft sources or

change place of installation of
the cryostat.

- Close sliding window.

- Consider wearing a mask.

- Select lower temperature.
- Wait until knife and/or anti-roll

plate have reached chamber
temperature.

- Select higher temperature.
- Eliminate cause.
- Select lower temperature.
- Trim specimen parallel; in-

crease section thickness.

- Readjust anti-roll plate.
- Align correctly.

- Set correct clearance angle.

- Use different part of knife or

replace knife.

- Clean with dry cloth or brush.

- Replace anti-roll plate.

- Use different part of knife or

replace knife.

Causes

- Cryostat is exposed to draft

(open windows, doors, air-
conditioning).

- Sliding window has been open

for a long period of time at a
very low chamber temperature.

- Frost build-up caused by

breathing into the cryocham-
ber.

- Specimen not cold enough.
- Knife and/or anti-roll plate not

yet cold enough - sections
melt.

- Specimen too cold.
- Static electricity / draft.
- Specimen not cold enough.
- Large surface specimen.

- Anti-roll plate poorly adjusted.
- Anti-roll plate poorly aligned

relative to knife edge.

- Wrong clearance angle

selected.

- Knife blunt or damaged.

- Knife and/or anti-roll plate dirty.
- Edge of anti-roll plate dam-

aged.

- Blunt knife.

Problem

Frost on chamber walls and
microtome

Sections smear

Sections splinter
Sections not properly flattened

Sections not properly flattened
despite correct temperature
and correctly aligned anti-roll
plate