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Sampler Cone stuck

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trus1019

Participant

Posts: 3

Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:23 pm

Post Wed Oct 08, 2014 10:30 pm

Sampler Cone stuck

Anyone know how get a sampler cone unstuck?? We just want to clean it and the cone removal tool isn't working.
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mleipold

Guru

Posts: 5792

Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2013 5:30 pm

Location: Stanford HIMC, CA, USA

Post Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:50 pm

Re: Sampler Cone stuck

What do you mean by "unstuck"?

1. Is the sampler not rotating at all?
2. Is the sampler rotating, but it's not wanting to come out of the wing-slots? In other words, the magnets on the removal tool are not strong enough to remove it from its current position?


If it's #1, try putting a screwdriver through the side-holes in the removal tool, and using that for better leverage (rather than just the strenght of the grip of your hand).
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trus1019

Participant

Posts: 3

Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:23 pm

Post Thu Oct 09, 2014 5:32 pm

Re: Sampler Cone stuck

with a screwdriver, we can get it to rotate about 45 degrees. But, the magnet is still not strong enough to pull it out after rotating it. I tried clean all around it with methanol. still nothing.
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mleipold

Guru

Posts: 5792

Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2013 5:30 pm

Location: Stanford HIMC, CA, USA

Post Thu Oct 09, 2014 5:49 pm

Re: Sampler Cone stuck

You have to turn it a full 90 degrees, or the wings won't line up with the gaps and will therefore will keep it in place no matter how hard the magnet holds on.

Have you tried turning it the other way?
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robem01

Participant

Posts: 12

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2014 5:18 pm

Post Thu Oct 09, 2014 6:56 pm

Re: Sampler Cone stuck

We had the same issue a few months ago. One of my colleagues found a metal rod that was long enough to go through the magnet, ie both holes, allowing him to grasp the bar on both sides. If you can find something like this you may have better torque. It did take some muscle power. Also, when you return the cones after cleaning, don't be shy about tightening them all the way back, as we were. The threads need to be in full contact to allow proper chilling of the cones while plasma is running!
-Emily
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trus1019

Participant

Posts: 3

Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:23 pm

Post Thu Oct 09, 2014 8:41 pm

Re: Sampler Cone stuck

Thanks everyone. We got it unstuck. Built a tool that used the 2 screw holes on the sampler cone and it came right out.

chris

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