Sorry! The entire message appears not to have gone through on the first
try. There are 9 steps in the recovery procedure. If this message is also
shortened and you have interest, please respond and I will send it
individually. Thanks. MAE
AMMRL Bruker users with SampleXpress sample changers:
We have seen the subject error intermittently with the SampleXpress over a
few years. I did many wrong things to recover, before the light bulb came
on over my head and I made the first ³gizmo² out of a wooden swab and tape.
Now that the machine shop has fashioned a much classier version of the gizmo
(see description below), I suspect that, like carrying an umbrella to
prevent rain, we will not be seeing the error so much. So, I recommend you
trot right down to your machine shop and get one too if you have the
SampleXpress!
The error seems to occur when, for whatever reason (and we would like to
know the reasons!), the sample holder cannot move into the magnet at the
required moment and instead gets stuck in the cassette chain. For each
holder space in the chain there is a plastic tab that can be retracted by
pressing a rod into a small hole on the side of the chain. View the
cassette chain from the top: In the normal state, the tab is positioned
inside the circular holder space, so a sample holder will rest on it and be
held in the chain. When the sample must go into the magnet, the metal rod
on the sample changer obligingly pushes into the hole and makes the tab
retract, opening up the holder space so the sample is free to drop on the
air stream into the magnet. When something goes wrong, the sample fails to
drop before the metal rod retracts and lets the tab go back to its normal
position. In that case, the sample holder gets trapped in an awkward
position that is below its normal position, which is flush with the top of
the chain. Knowing this little bit of anatomy and physiology of the
SampleXpress goes a long way to recovering from the error. Below is the
step-by-step recovery procedure.
If you have seen this error, please let me know. Also I would be interested
in any observations that suggest how it can be avoided. We have had a lot
of broken-topped tubes being used, but canıt account for every case as being
due to the asymmetry of such a tube. Also, we get a lot of tubes that are
somewhat heavy with tall liquid columns, included capillaries, and parafilm
on the cap, but that does not account for all instances. The error just
seems to be intermittent.
Margaret
SampleXpress Sample Changer
Error Number: 117.310.203 ³Sample is still in cassette at #²
Likely scenario: The red light on the sample changer is on, and Icon has
stopped running the queue. The sample holder over the magnet is sunk below
its correct position in the cassette chain, and the plastic tab that
normally holds it in the correct position is not properly underneath the
holder.
Description of the gizmo: About 10.5 cm long cylindrical handle with 5 mm
diameter, with 1 cm long, ~ 2 mm diameter cylindrical peg screwed into the
end of the handle at 90 degrees to the handle (L-shaped). The short peg
must be the right size to fit into the holes in the cassette chain. The
perpendicular handle allows easier access to the holes, particularly for the
holder over the magnet bore, which faces the vertical part of the sample
changer. Peg may be brass and handle aluminum, but plastics may also work;
make sure it is entirely non-ferromagnetic.
Care must be taken (!): The gizmo is small enough to fit into the magnet
bore, so be sure never to drop it into the magnet!
Recovery Procedure:
1. If necessary, login to an account that allows you to run TopSpin. Go
into the BSMS Control Suite and click on the lift button to turn on the air.
(You may also want to put the legs down, but this is not required if you are
careful with the following steps.)
2. Remove the cover from the cassette.
3. Get up close to the cassette position over the magnet bore, probably
from the left side (facing the sample changer). Remove the sample holder in
the chain position on the corner that is closer to you, if it is in the way.
4. Press into the hole belonging to the holder position over the magnet
with the gizmo, until the sample over the magnet lifts back up into the
correct position in the cassette on the air stream. (If you try to remove
the sample and it still seems stuck, try applying the gizmo again.)
5. Lift the sample out by hand and examine it. If it is not damaged,
proceed with these instructions. (If the sample is broken, of course
stronger intervention is required.)
6. Turn the lift air off.
7. Place all removed samples back in the cassette at the correct
positions, if desired. Put the cover back on the cassette.
8. Turn the sample changer off, then back on again. When the power comes
back on, a message will appear stating that the lift is blocked. Choose the
option to restart, declaring no obstruction remains, since you fixed the
problem.
9. Watch the SampleXpress startup, restart the Icon queue, and run test
samples to ensure correct operation.
Received on Wed Aug 17 2016 - 11:56:02 MST