Leica Biosystems CM1510-S - Manual (Page 34)

34 Instruction manual V 1.4 – 04/2010
7. Troubleshooting
7.1 Possible causes and remedies
Frost on chamber walls and
microtome
Ice formation on the bottom of
the cryochamber.
Sections smear
Sections splinter
Sections not properly flattened
Problem Cause Remedy
- Cryostat is exposed to air cur-
rents (open windows and
doors, air conditioning).
- Sliding window open over a
longer period of time at a very
low chamber temperature.
- Frost built up by breathing into
the cryochamber.
- Drain of the quick freeze shelf
defrosting water obstructed.
- Specimen not cold enough.
- Knife/blade and/or anti-roll
plate not yet cold enough and
thus warm the sections.
- Specimen too cold
- Static electricity/air currents.
- Specimen not cold enough.
- Large area specimen.
- Anti-roll plate poorly posi-
tioned.
- Anti-roll plate poorly aligned
with knife edge.
- Incorrect clearance angle.
- Knife/blade blunt or damaged.
- Change place of installation
for the cryostat.
- Close sliding window correct-
ly.
- Wear mask if necessary.
- Switch off the instrument and
let it thaw and dry completely.
- Align the instrument with a
spirit level.
- Select lower temperature.
- Wait until knife/blade and/or
anti-roll plate have reached
cryochamber temperature.
- Select higher temperature.
- Remove cause.
- Select lower temperature.
- Trim the specimen parallel,
increase section thickness.
- Reposition anti-roll plate.
- Align correctly.
- Set correct angle.
- Use different part of the cut-
ting edge or replace.