Evaporator
Carbon coating
Evaporator
Step 1

Check that all
switches on control
console are to OFF
position. Automatic
Vacuum Control knob
should be at the OFF
LEFT position.
Step 2

Make sure water
supply is ON. These
are the orange
handled valves on
pipes on the wall unit
left side of evaporator.
(Orange handles are
parallel with the
pipes, i.e., vertical,
when water is ON.
Step 3

Turn on Main Power
(isolation switch) for
electrical power
supply. Switch is on
the right side of
console, orange part
of switch will show
when switch is in the
ON position. (The
light is on all the
time.)
Step 4

On the Automatic
Vacuum Controller (AVC)
toggle the "MAINS"
switch to the ON position.
The amber colored light
on the switch will glow
when it is in the ON
position. Then toggle the
AUX2 switch ON to start
the roughing pump. (You
will hear this pump come
on.)
Step 5

Turn "Automatic
Vacuum Control"
knob to WARM UP.
Leave in this position
for approximately 20
minutes. (It takes
about 20 minutes for
the diffusion pump to
heat properly.)
Waiting for the DP to warm up

YOU CAN DO THE NEXT STEPS, (6)
THROUGH (11), WHILE THE DIFFUSION
PUMP WARMS UP.
Step 6

Remove implosion
guard and bell jar.
Carefully place the
atop the chiller next to
the evaporator. Don’t
let them fall. Careful
not to chip the bell jar.
Step 7

Check carbon rods.
To check carbon rods
rotate slit assembly
so rods are visible.
Use the tools
provided.
Step 7a

To shape the carbon
rods, loosen the set
screws holding them,
and then slide them
out of the jig.
Step 7b



Sharpen carbon rods
in the rod sharpener.
Careful not to get
carbon powder
everywhere.
To get a clean flat
end on the other rod,
use the knife edge
stored in the drawer.
Step 7c

Replace the rods.
Make sure there is
tension on the pointed
rod so that as the
carbon is evaporated,
the rods remain in
contact.
Step 8

Place samples on the
SEM stub holder spin
table. Samples should be
held in place by set
screws, but DO NOT
OVER TIGHTEN. Thin
Sections go on the flat
table. (It is best to use a
small piece of double
sided tape to hold the
sections on.)
Step 9

Position the rods over the sample(s) to be
coated. The carbon rods should be about
3 inches from the samples but make sure
that the jigging does not touch the sample
holder as it spins.
Step 9a

The sample spin
control is the toggle
switch on the left side
of the carbon coater.
Switch it UP for
rotating the SEM
sample holder.
Switch it DOWN for
turn the large platten
(generally used for
microprobe samples).
Step 10

Cover Jigging with bell jar; make sure
plate is clear of any dust particles. Also,
check for dust particles on the rubber seal
on bell jar. Use YOUR HAND clean the
rubber seal and the base plate.
Step 11

Cover bell jar with
implosion guard.
Step 12

Turn "Automatic
Vacuum Control" to
PUMP. Vacuum system
will begin automatic
sequence. Wait untill
diffusion pump opens to
bell jar. Now wait till
vacuum reaches about
10-4 mbar on the Penning
Gauge, ~ 20 to 30
minutes.
Step 13

Check that the
"EVAPORATION
CONTROL SWITCH"
on the Evaporation
PSU is on the PULSE
side.
Step 14



Turn on the AUX 1 switch
(lamp will light).
Turn the Electrode
Voltage Control knob on
the Evaporator PSU to 8.
Turn the Amperage
control on the Evaporator
PSU to CARBON.
Step 15

Start spinning the
appropriate table.
Toggle switch (left
side of evaporator) up
for SEM and down for
thin sections. Careful
not to spin too fast.
The samples can fly
off.
Step 16 Coating

Press and hold the Pulse
Button on the Evaporator
PSU. This will take about
5 second, if you have
positioned the carbon
rods relatively close to
the samples. DO NOT
HOLD FOR MORE
THAN 10 SECONDS--YOU WILL BLOW THE
FUSES.
Step 17
Now shut off the electricity
 Turn Amperage control to OFF.
 Turn Electrode Voltage to 0 (Zero) volts.
 Table spin Toggle switch to middle
position. Table should not be spinning.

Step 18

Vent
Turn Automatic
Vacuum Control to
VENT and wait for
system to vent (about
2 minutes).
Shut down







Switch Automatic Vacuum Control to OFF
RIGHT position.
Turn MAINS and AUX switches to OFF.
Turn Electrical Isolation Switch to OFF.
Remove implosion guard and bell jar.
Remove Samples.
Replace bell jar and implosion guard
Switch Automatic Vacuum Control to OFF LEFT.