Leica Biosystems CM1520 - Manual (Page 53)

Leica CM1520 – Cryostat 53
8. Troubleshooting
8.3 Possible sources of error, causes and remedies
Problem Cause Remedy
Frost on chamber walls and micro-
tome.
- Cryostat is exposed to air cur-
rents (open windows and doors,
air conditioning).
- Sliding window was open and
exposed to air currents too long.
- Frost built up by breathing into
the cryochamber.
- Change place of installation
for the cryostat.
- Close the sliding window
correctly.
- Wear a mask if necessary.
Ice formation on the bottom of the
cryochamber
- Drain of the quick freeze shelf
defrosting water obstructed.
- Level the instrument.
Lubricate sections. - Specimen not cold enough.
- Knife and/or anti-roll plate not yet
cold enough - the section melts
as a result.
- Select lower temperature.
- Wait until knife and/or anti-
roll plate have reached cryo-
chamber temperature.
Sections splinter, cracks in the
section,
- Specimen too cold. - Select higher temperature.
Sections not properly flattened. - Static electricity/air currents.
- Specimen not cold enough.
- Large area specimen.
- Anti-roll plate poorly positioned.
- Anti-roll plate poorly aligned with
knife edge.
- Incorrect clearance angle.
- Knife/blade blunt or damaged.
- Eliminate cause.
- Select lower temperature.
- Trim the specimen parallel;
increase section thickness.
- Reposition anti-roll plate.
- Align correctly.
- Set the correct clearance
angle.
- Use different part of the cut-
ting edge or replace.