Storing specimens under vacuum

• Place the EM-Storr vacuum specimen container on a stable and flat surface
• Make sure that the EM-Storr vacuum container is up-right and level
• Place specimens in the storage area: for SEM stubs use SEM stub gripper tweezers and push the pin in the holes. Select appropriate holes to maximise storage capacity
• Check if O-ring surface is clean - if not wipe clean with a lint-free cloth
• Check the glass lid is clean - if not wipe clean with a lint-free cloth
• Place glass lid on the O-ring  and centre so it doesn’t touch the protective posts
• Connect vacuum pump to the barbed hose connection on the vacuum valve using a 6mm vacuum hose
• Make sure the vacuum valve is opened (turn counter-clockwise)
• Switch the vacuum pump on and pump down (push down on the glass lid to provide an initial seal if needed)
• When the required vacuum level has been reached, close the vacuum valve (turn clock-wise)
• Switch the vacuum pump off and remove the 6mm vacuum hose.
• your specimens are now safely stored under vacuum

Retrieving specimens from vacuum

• Place the EM-Storr vacuum storage container on a stable and flat surface
• Make sure that the EM-Storr vacuum container is up-right and level
• Open vacuum valve (turn counter-clockwise) to vent - you might hear a hissing sound
• Remove the glass lid - it might be needed to pull the glass lid to break the seal on the O-ring
• Place the glass lid on a soft clean surface
• The specimens can be removed from the vacuum container

Maintenance of EM-Storr

EM-Storr vacuum storage containers require little maintenance and these simple guidelines will enable you to get the best from your EM-Storr:

• Keep the sealing O-ring clean and dust-free
• When the O-ring gets damaged; replace with an NBR (Nitrile rubber) O-ring size: Ø85mm ID x Ø5mm cross section
• When the O-ring dries out, remove, clean and use high vacuum grease on the O-ring - but fully remove excess grease before replacing
• Over time, the PTFE seal on the vacuum valve may require some tightening - do not over-tighten
• The pin stubs and the Hitachi adaptors are held by small O-rings underneath the specimen plate, if they become damaged replace with a silicon O-ring size: Ø3mm ID x Ø1.5mm cross section
• If the glass lid becomes damaged do not use it and replace it with a new glass lid. Part number: 13-001050-G

• EM-Storr vacuum container is constructed to high vacuum design guidelines using high vacuum compatible materials: acuum grade aluminium, protective anodised coating only outside the vacuum chamber
• Overall size of EM-Storr vacuum storage container: 120 x 120 x 44mm. Octagonal-shaped EM-Storr vacuum containers are stackable
• Hardened safety glass lid Ø100mm x 10mm, specified to withstand 7 bar
• NBR O-ring with size: Ø85mm x Ø5mm cross section
• All-metal high vacuum valve with PTFE shaft seal and 6mm (1/4”) barbed hose connection
• Silicon O-ring to hold pin stubs or Hitachi stub adaptors with size: Ø3mm ID x Ø1.5mm cross-section
• Outside of the aluminium container is hard-anodised for protection. To reduce outgassing and to hold vacuum for extended periods, the inside surface is made of machined vacuum grade aluminium with a glass lid
• maximum specimen height including specimen stub is 15mm within a circular cavity of Ø80mm for EM-Storr models 81
• EM-Storr model 83 comprises a vacuum chamber of 26mm x Ø80mm
• EM-Storr is capable of reaching vacuum in the 10^-4mbar range
• The vacuum connection for pump-down is a 6mm (1/4”) barbed hose fitting - compatible with 6mm thick-wall silicon vacuum hose