During the use of instruments, it is inevitable that some factors may lead to various problems. If every problem is waiting for engineers to come and solve it, it will inevitably delay the experimental progress and cause economic losses to the company. Here are some methods for dealing with small problems encountered in daily life, so that experimenters can quickly restore the instrument to normal.
How to handle software crashes:
A common problem encountered when using Analyst is software crashes. With the gradual upgrade of Analyst software to this year, the stability of the software has been greatly improved. However, no programmer dares to guarantee that a software is bug free. There are many reasons for software crashes, such as when the computer configuration is not high, the mouse operation is too fast, and too many windows are opened, resulting in crashes. When Analyst is running, in addition to the front-end running Analyst.exe, there is also an Analystseerviceexe running in the background. Restart the Analyst software without restarting the Analystservice, and the data being collected will not be lost. When stopping AnalystService, communication between the computer and the instrument is interrupted, and the data being collected is lost. Of course, restarting Windows will also result in the loss of data being collected. When the current Analyst is stuck or crashes, use CTRL-ALT-DEL, Windows Task Manager to end the Analyst.exe task in the process, and then double-click the desktop Analyst icon to restart the software. Here is a tip to note for reducing software crashes:
When the software is collecting data, try not to use arrows to scroll through the previous and subsequent data when viewing the spectrogram in real time. You can open a new spectrogram. Be careful not to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio multiple times on a single spectrogram, and do not choose a background range that is too wide.
When SYRINGE PUMP reaches its end (API2000, QTRAP, QSTAR), the icon in the bottom right corner turns yellow, and you must first click on STANDBY and then click READY.
When the icon turns red due to HPLC reasons, such as night leakage, the HPLC fault should be resolved first, and all HPLC equipment should be turned on and off again. After the self check is passed, deactivate first and then reactivate.
Handling method when the instrument cannot be activated:
If the Hardware Profile cannot be activated, pay attention to which modules or instruments cannot be activated as indicated in the software error message. Then perform the following processing:
Check the instrument module prompted in the error message to see if it is turned on and has passed the self-test without any errors. If there is an error, turn off the power and restart it. After self checking, try connecting again. If the hardware still reports an error, contact the corresponding engineer.
After troubleshooting the hardware issue, if the software still cannot activate the corresponding hardware profile, try restarting the Analyst software. If restarting the software does not work, restart the computer.
If step 2 is ineffective, perform the following actions: If an error message indicates that the liquid phase cannot be connected, close all liquid phase modules and also shut down the computer. After 5 minutes, turn on the liquid phase module. Once all the liquid phase modules have passed the self check, turn on the computer and try connecting; If the error message indicates that the mass spectrometry cannot be connected, turn off the computer and go to the rear of the mass spectrometry host. Press the red and green buttons for 1 second and then release them. The mass spectrometry will restart. After 5 minutes, turn on the computer and wait for the green light at the rear of the mass spectrometry host to stay on before attempting to connect.
Note: 5 minutes is very important here, everyone should patiently wait for 5 minutes before turning on the computer.
If there are still problems, everyone can only contact the relevant engineers.
Cleaning and maintenance methods for ion sources and pipelines
a. After each sample is completed, rinse the sample tube with pure organic phase or mobile phase until the sample signal returns to baseline b Remove the ion source and rinse the sample tube with methanol using a syringe. If a non-polar sample has been injected, other organic solvents such as acetone and chloroform can be used for rinsing. Finally, rinse again with methanol Put the spray needle into methanol and clean it with ultrasonic wave d Regular cleaning of CURTAIN PLATE and ORIFICE is important! ORIFICE: It is strictly prohibited to use sandpaper to wipe or poke e The baseline cannot be cleaned by rinsing down the ion source f Do not spray directly on ORIFICE spray g Avoid using inorganic salts or other non volatile buffer solutions
Routine maintenance methods for instruments
a. Start up sequence: First open all gas supply pipelines, then turn on the mechanical pump, and then turn on the power of the mass spectrometry host after 20 minutes. The shutdown sequence is exactly the opposite Check the air pressure at any time. The current gas pressure is 0.35-0.4 Mpa The exhaust gas pressure should not exceed the limit of 0.35-0.4 Mpa Regularly replace or clean the air filter Regularly calibrate the instrument e Note that the exhaust outlet behind the instrument must be kept unobstructed.
Maintenance methods for mechanical pumps
a. Pay attention to the color of the mechanical pump oil, change the oil when it becomes darker, and change it at least once a year Regularly check the normal position of the mechanical pump oil level. The method for replacing the mechanical pump oil is to first shut down the machine and discharge it when the oil is in a warm state. Do not add too much new oil, and only about 70% between the maximum and minimum limits is needed. c. When starting after a long-term shutdown, if the pump oil temperature is too low, it may not be possible to start successfully at once. You can first increase the pump temperature and start multiple times.
