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How do I: Shutdown XO-VAC+?

The normal shutdown procedure for XO-VAC+ after a thermal cycling experiment consists of the following steps:

  1. Bringing XO-VAC+ to room temperature
  2. Stopping the Thermal Control system
  3. Venting the vacuum chamber
  4. Removing the test payload
  5. Pumping down the chamber
  6. Stopping the vacuum pumps

Bringing XO-VAC+ to room temperature

It is necessary to connect to XO-VAC+ using the XO-VAC+ User Interface to check the sensors temperatures within the main chamber.

Danger

Only vent the chamber if it is at temperatures 5 degrees above the water dew point and below 40C.

Tip

The water dew point can easily be estimated with online calculators if the room humidity is known.

If the chamber is not at temperatures safe for venting, it is possible to:

  • Start a new recipe to bring the XO-VAC+ to room temperature
  • Turn off the Thermal Control System and wait for the system to reach room temperature (slow)

Stopping the Thermal Control System

To ensure that Thermal Control System is not running when the chamber is vented, turn the key switch off at the front of the Thermal Control rackmount box. The power will be cut and the white LED on the front panel will turn off.

Venting the vacuum chamber

Detailed steps for venting the vacuum chamber are available here.

Removing the test payload

Note

Always use clean powder free gloves when touching vacuum parts or equipment going inside the vacuum chamber.

Warning

If gloves touch a contaminated surface, they can become contaminated by transfer.

Note

Always leave parts on clean surfaces and limit vacuum parts exposure to air (to limit dust collection).

The main sources of contamination in vacuum chambers are often:

  • skin oil / finger grease
  • surrounding environments (dust in air)
  • materials being tested

If a new device or equipment has been installed inside in the chamber, it is recommended to clean the parts of the chamber the more likely to get contaminated. See the cleaning page for more.

Pumping down the chamber

Note

The XO-VAC+ vacuum chamber should be kept under vacuum when not in use to reduce possible chamber contamination and maintain XO-VAC+ performance.

Detailed steps for pumping down the vacuum chamber are available here.

Disabling automatic venting

Stopping the vacuum pumps

Detailed steps for stopping the vacuum pumps are available here.