715002407 REV. G
Performance
Maintenance
Protocol
ACQUITY UPLC® H-Class/H-Class Bio/I-Class
Sample Manager – Flow Through Needle (SM-FTN) and
ACQUITY® Advanced Polymer Chromatography™ (APC) System
Sample Manager – Flow Through Needle (SM-pFTN)
Serial Number/
Firmware Version:
Date:
Performer:
© 2014 WATERS CORPORATION. ALL R IGHTS RESERVED.
*715002407*
*Rev.G*
715002407 REV. G
Performance maintenance
Goal
This performance maintenance protocol is a guide to performing maintenance tasks on your
system. Packaged as part of the performance maintenance kit, it is intended to ensure optimum
performance and an uninterrupted period of trouble-free operation.
Schedule
Waters recommends that performance maintenance visits be performed once a year. Systems
under heavy use or using aggressive solvents will need more frequent maintenance. For detailed
maintenance schedules, refer to the appropriate operator’s guide(s) located on the Waters web site.
Failure to follow the maintenance schedules as described in the operator’s guides may result in
unreliable operation and inaccurate laboratory results. For some protocols, optional tests can be
performed by Waters field service engineers for added confidence and reliability.
Safety considerations
Caution: Always observe Good Laboratory Practice and, when handling Waters Critical
Clean™ parts, refer to the Controlling Contamination in UPLC/MS and HPLC/MS Systems,
P/N 715001307.
Warning: To prevent personal contamination with biologically hazardous or toxic materials,
carefully dispose of the replaced component in the appropriate waste container.
Warning: When performing maintenance to components of an ACQUITY UPLC system,
remove power to the unit by powering down and disconnecting the power cord.
Warning: Always use proper static protection when handling any printed circuit boards.
Warning: Dispose of components in accordance with local or customer regulations. If the
component comes with a Waters Corporation return sheet, follow its instructions.
Warning: Avoid contact with solvents by wearing suitable gloves and safety glasses.
Some protocols may involve removing instrument covers, exposing the performer to high voltages,
high currents, and moving parts. This presents risks of electric shock and/or damage to the
instrument. To reduce these risks, Waters recommends that these protocols be conducted by
certified Waters field service engineers, who have access to the latest information on Waters
products. Waters does not advise and is not responsible for an unqualified performer initiating
actions that they do not understand. If there is any doubt on the part of the performer, a Waters
certified field service engineer should conduct the performance maintenance activity.
Waters Quality Parts
Waters designs and manufactures Waters Quality Parts® to the same strict regulatory standards as
your high-performance Waters systems. Waters recommends using Waters Quality Parts for all
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maintenance activities. Failure to use Waters Quality Parts may compromise laboratory results and
reliability.
Customer education
Waters offers several operation and maintenance courses for ACQUITY® UPLC®, Alliance® HPLC and
MS systems as well as courses designed to help you maintain professional competency and further
your knowledge in Chromatography, UPLC, Informatics and Mass Spectrometry. For more
information on available training courses from Waters Educational Services please visit the Waters
web site.
Compliance services
Waters Compliance Services help you achieve and maintain the regulatory compliance of your LC
and MS instruments and software with a combination of expertise, compliant-ready systems and
software, and a portfolio of services to ensure that you have quality data, consistently. To learn
more about Compliance Services, please visit the Waters web site.
General tasks
Use the following guidelines when conducting performance maintenance visits. This information is
intended to be a guide only. For example:

If a particular module has been recently serviced, it may need only testing and replacement
of fewer parts.

Not all procedures apply to all instruments (specify NA in the Comments section if the
procedure does not apply).

If the instrument fails to perform adequately during pre-performance maintenance checks,
further service may be required beyond the scope of this protocol. Such service may incur
additional parts and labor charges.
The following table lists the general tasks to be performed during a performance maintenance visit.
Perform and confirm the steps listed for each procedure and record any comments that you have
about the results at the end of each section.
For detailed instructions and a list of the necessary tools, refer to the Operator’s Guides located on
www.waters.com.
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Inspect
Maintenance tasks
Post-performance
maintenance checks
Firmware version1
Side panel air filter
Initialization diagnostics
Fan
Syringe, 100 µL
Prime SM-FTN/SM-pFTN
Waste management
FTN needle and needle
guide
Calibrations and
characterizations
Tubing & fittings
Vespel seat
Readiness and leak tests
Error logs
Inject valve cartridge
assembly
Reset injection counter
Inject/wash station
Pump outlet tubing2
Wash needle3
Seat port assembly
Create log entry
1
Firmware upgrades, if required, should be performed by a Waters field service engineer prior to beginning
performance maintenance. Firmware upgrades may require re-qualification of the upgraded instrument if it is in
a regulated environment.
2
Pump outlet tubing not replaced in the ACQUITY Advanced Polymer Chromatography System SM-pFTN.
3
Perform only if the needle and inject/wash station were cleaned.
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Inspect
Firmware version
Confirm what firmware versions are installed. Update if required.
NOTE:
Refer to Software Downloads section under the Services & Support tab on the
waters.com home page for the latest firmware and driver pack release notes.
These release notes detail software and data system requirements, and
installation notes.
From the ACQUITY Console:
1. Click Sample Manager-FTN in the systems tree.
2. From the menu bar, click Configure > View module information.
3. Check the firmware version and note it on the cover page.
Firmware check complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Comments:
Fan
To inspect the fan:
1. Observe the fan on the rear of the Sample Manager-FTN.
2. Ensure that the fan grate is clear of debris and dust. The fan should be blowing outward.
3. Clean if necessary.
Fan inspection complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Comments:
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Waste management
Inspect the waste management system for leaks and proper routing of waste tubing. Ensure that
there are no loops or kinks in the tubing that could result in the back up of solvent.
Waste management inspection complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Comments:
Tubing and fittings
Check tubing and fittings for leaks.
Tubing and fittings check complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Comments:
Error logs
To inspect the error logs:
1. From the Run Samples window in Empower, click the ACQUITY Console icon in the
Sample Manager control editor.
2. In the system tree, click ACQUITY UPLC System.
3. Click on Logs to review error logs.
Review error logs complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Comments:
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Inject/wash station
Caution: SM-FTNs/SM-pFTNs may have visible salt precipitation on certain parts (needle
and wash housing) when used with mobile phases containing non-volatile salts and buffers.
Never use a squirt bottle to direct a stream of water onto the system. Some parts may be
damaged by getting wet (load cell, cables, and PCBs).
Caution: In severe cases where salt precipitation has migrated to the base of the
inject/wash station, a Waters field service engineer may be required to properly disassemble
and clean the wash station.
If cleaning is necessary:
1. Reset the SM-FTN/SM-pFTN in the ACQUITY Console. This will move the needle carriage to
the middle of the instrument, enabling access to the inject port.
2. Open the front door. Using a T20 Torx driver, loosen the two captive screws that secure
the access panel, and then remove the panel.
3. Dampen a Kimwipe® with HPLC-grade water and use it to wipe off the inject port.
Caution: Take care not to bend or scratch the needle.
4. Replace the front access panel.
Needle and inject/wash station inspection complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Comments:
Maintenance tasks
The following procedures are routinely performed as part of the performance maintenance.
Waters Quality Parts have been used to replace/rebuild all parts.

Side panel air filter

Syringe, 100 µL

FTN needle and needle guide

Vespel seat

Inject valve cartridge assembly
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
Pump outlet tubing (SM-FTN only)

Seat port assembly
Yes
No
N/A
Comments:
Post-performance maintenance checks
Perform the post-performance maintenance checks only in the order listed.
NOTE:
Procedures not included here can be found in the ACQUITY UPLC Sample
Manager – Flow Through Needle Operator’s Overview and Maintenance
Information Guide, ACQUITY Advanced Polymer Chromatography Sample
Manager – Flow Through Needle Overview and Maintenance Guide, or in the
ACQUITY Console Online Help.
Initialization diagnostics
Turn on power, allow instrument to complete and pass on-board software checks.
Initialization diagnostics check complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Comments:
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Prime SM-FTN/SM-pFTN
Prime the SM-FTN/SM-pFTN in the following manner:
Prime
solvent
Duration
Wash
60 secs
Purge
5 cycles
Priming the SM-FTN/SM-pFTN complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Comments:
Calibrations and characterizations
Calibrate needle Z-axis
Calibrate needle Z-axis complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Z offset
mm
Comments:
Characterize needle seal
NOTE:
Characterizing the needle seal finds the position at which the needle achieves a
seal on the wash station block. Pass/fail of the test is driven by firmware
criteria.
Characterize needle seal complete.
Yes
No
N/A
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Seal
constant
(N/mm)
Pass/Fail
Pass
Distance to
seal
(mm)
Foot offset
(mm)
Fail
Comments:
Readiness and leak tests
Needle seal readiness test
NOTE:
The needle seal readiness test determines the integrity of the needle and seal
interface by monitoring pressure. Pass/fail of the test is driven by firmware
criteria.
1. Attach the active pre-heater to the inlet of the column.
For H-Class/H-Class Bio/I-Class, use the ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 x 50 mm;
1.7 µm; P/N 186002350).
For APC, use the ACQUITY APC XT 200Å column (4.6 x 150 mm; 2.5 µm; P/N
186007005).
2. Set the flow rate.
For H-Class/H-Class Bio/I-Class set to 0.6 mL/min using 90:10 water/acetonitrile mobile
phase.
For APC set to 0.6 mL/min using 100% stabilized THF.
3. Perform the needle seal readiness test when the pressure is stable.
Needle seal readiness test complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Pass/Fail
Pass
Pressure
difference
(psi)
Flow
(mL/min)
Fail
Comments:
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Sample syringe leak test
NOTE:
The sample syringe leak test determines the integrity of the sample syringe by
monitoring pressure. Pass/fail of the test is driven by firmware criteria.
Sample syringe leak test complete.
Yes
Test
pressure
(psi)
Pass/Fail
Pass
No
N/A
Compressed
volume
(µL)
Decompressed
volume
(µL)
Start
pressure
(psi)
End
pressure
(psi)
Pressure
change
(psi)
Average
pressure
leak
(psi/sec)
Fail
Comments:
Dynamic leak test
1. Flush all of the solvent lines with 100% degassed, new, and clean solvent to remove all air
bubbles.
2. Prime the system for at least three minutes.
3. Exercise the seals for at least 30 minutes before performing the test.
4. In the Console, select Quaternary Solvent Manager (H-Class/H-Class Bio); Binary
Solvent Manager (I-Class) or Isocratic Solvent Manager (APC System) from the
system tree.
5. From the menu bar, select Maintain > Leak test (H-Class/H-Class Bio/APC System) or
Dynamic Leak test (I-Class).
6. In the Parameters tab, specify your typical operating pressure (9000 psi) in the
Accumulator field text box.
7. In the Solvent (H-Class/H-Class Bio/APC System) or Pump (I-Class) field, select one of the
lines to which a new solvent filter was attached. Place a check mark in the prime box to
prime that solvent line.
8. Choose one of the following End Points for the dynamic leak test:
Column (inject valve outlet including the sample manager needle and seal) – to
evaluate the fluid-handling integrity of the QSM/BSM/ISM including the sample needle
and seal of the Sample Manager.
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Caution: To avoid damaging the instrument, and to insure a valid result, a pin
plug will be required at port 6 on the inject valve. Include a check mark in the
‘include sample needle and seal’ check box.
Column (active pre-heater outlet exclude sample manager needle and seal) – to
evaluate the fluid-handling integrity the QSM/BSM/Isocratic Sample Manager (ISM)
excluding the sample needle and seal of the Sample Manager.
Caution: To avoid damaging the instrument, and to insure a valid result, a pin
plug will be required in the outlet of the pre-column heater. No check mark in the
‘include sample needle and seal’ check box.
9. Click Start to perform the test. When complete, record the results below.
NOTE: When using an End Point of Column (including or excluding the sample
manager needle and seal), the leak rate should be < 300 nL/min.
Leak test complete.
Yes
No
N/A
End point column (choose one)
Pumps
Inject valve
outlet
Active preheater outlet
Leak rate
(nL/min)
Accumulator
Pass/Fail
Pass
Fail
Comments:
Reset injection count
Reset injection count complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Comments:
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Wash needle
NOTE:
Perform only if the needle and inject/wash station were cleaned.
1. In the ACQUITY UPLC Console, click on Sample Manager-FTN in the system tree.
2. From the menu bar, click Control > Wash Needle. The Wash Needle dialog box appears.
3. Enter a wash time of 60 seconds.
Wash needle complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Comments:
Create log entry
1. In the ACQUITY UPLC Console, click on Sample Manager-FTN in the system tree.
2. From the menu bar, click Maintain > Create log entry. The Create Log Entry dialog box
appears.
3. Enter the operator’s name, the date the performance maintenance was performed, and
any other comments.Creation of log entry complete.
Create log entries complete.
Yes
No
N/A
Comments:
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Performance maintenance confirmation
I confirm on
behalf of
Company Name
that this performance maintenance
procedure has been satisfactorily completed on:
Serial No.
Signed:
Date:
Customer
Type Name
I certify that the maintenance has been successfully completed.
Signed:
Date:
Waters Engineer
Type Name
Comments:
Waters Corporation
34 Maple Street
Milford, Massachusetts
01757 USA
Waters, MassLynx, The Science of What’s Possible and Waters Quality Parts are registered trademarks of Waters
Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
©2014 Waters Corporation. Printed in the U.S.A.
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