INFICON CHC-15 Crystal Holders GC-15 Glass Cell - Manual (Page 14)

CHC-15 CRYSTAL HOLDER & GC-15 GLASS CELL
2.1.2 HOLDER CARE AND HANDLING
With a robust design, INFICON crystal holder requires little care. However, the crystal holder is in direct
contact with the sensor crystal and your experiment environment. Thus, care must be taken to ensure its
cleanliness eliminating any contaminants that may react with the crystal or the experiment media. The
following guidelines are recommended for general handling of the holders.
♦ Always keep the holder clean and dry when not in use.
♦ Always use clean room grade gloves while handling the holder and its components.
♦ Never handle the holder with bare hands as human skin oils may deposit on it and react with your
experiment.
♦ Always rinse the holder generously with deionized water and thoroughly blow dry using filtered
air after each experiment. This is especially important if the holder has been exposed to oxidizing
acids.
♦ Always act fast in the event that liquids or chemicals have entered the crystal cavity in the holder.
Immediately clean the holder using the following procedure.
o Remove the crystal to expose the crystal cavity.
o Remove both Pogo® contact pins from their sockets. Use a pair of tweezers (or gloved
fingernail), grab the Pogo® head firmly and pull it straight out of its socket.
o Rinse the holder, the crystal cavity and the Pogo® sockets generously with deionized
water to remove all traces of chemicals and thoroughly blow-dry the whole holder using
filtered air. Ensure all liquids that may have been trapped inside the sockets are
removed.
o Generously rinse the Pogo® contact pins with deionized water, occasionally squeeze the
pins to push out any liquids that may have been trapped inside the pins. Thoroughly
blow-dry the pins using filtered air.
o Install the Pogo® pins back into their sockets. Use the tip of a pair of tweezers and push
down on each Pogo® pins to verify their deflection.
♦ It is always a good idea to inspect the O-ring and test the travel of the Pogo contacts whenever the
crystal is being replaced.
♦ Check the general appearance of the O-ring. It should be free of any deposits or defects when
viewed with the naked eye. Inspect it from the side for low spots or insufficient height above the
center ring.
♦ Gently depress the pogo pins. Make sure that they move freely and that travel is not restricted.
They should depress to a level well below the surface of the O-ring, at least by an amount equal to
the thickness of the crystal. When extended they should extend well above the surface of the O-ring.
Again, at least by an amount equal to the crystal thickness.
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