Leica Biosystems CM1100 - Manual (Page 19)

19 Leica CM1100 – Cryostat
8. Daily operation
8.2.4 Inserting the blade
Take care when handling disposable blades.
The cutting edge is extremely sharp and can
cause severe injury!
Never leave the knife holder with a blade
mounted lying around!
Avoid extended skin contact with cold parts
of the instrument as this can cause frostbite!
All components of the cryostat as well as the
knife or blade and the tools for specimen
preparation should be precooled in the cry-
ostat before starting sectioning!
7
5
3
Fig. 19.1
8.2.3 Adjusting the front pressure plate
• Place the pressure plate (7) in its correct position,
insert the clamping lever (2) and slightly fasten the
pressure plate by tightening the clamping lever just
a bit.
The screws (10) on the underside of the knife holder
are used to adjust the height of the pressure plate.
• Adjust the height of the pressure plate (7) with
screws (10). The upper edges of both pressure
plates (5) and (7) have to be at the same height and
parallel to each other.
The clearance angle of the pressure plate (7) is ad-
justed with screw (9) which can be accessed at a slant
angle from behind, through an opening in the under-
side of the knife holder.
• Insert the blade with the cutting edge facing down-
wards in order to minimize the risk of injury and fas-
ten it slightly with clamping lever (2).
• Adjust the pressure plate (7) with screw (9) in such
a way that only the upper edge of the pressure plate
actually exerts pressure on the blade. A visible gap
must remain. When the pressure plate is clamped
tightly, this gap will disappear.
4
3
Fig. 19.2
2
• Release the lever (3) by turning it counterclockwise.
• Turn the anti-roll guide (2) to the left.
• Insert the blade (4) carefully either from above or
from the side, so that it fits in between the pressure
plate and the knife support. Make sure that the blade
is in central position.
• Tighten the lever (3) by turning it clockwise.
• Reposition the anti-roll guide on the blade.