Transportable LIBS Workstation User's Manual
Contents
1. Step 8 The LIBS Head and umbilical may now be stored inside the Pelicase by laying the umbilical around the main console as shown in previous figures It may be necessary to compress the length of the umbilical while laying around the main console in order to allow sufficient room for the LIBS Head to locate at the front left side of the Pelicase as shown in previous figures 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 13 of 16 6 Operating LIBS instrument in open beam configuration The Transportable LIBS Workstation may be used without the sample chamber if required Under these conditions the laser beam is not contained and hence additional safety precautions must be observed including the use of appropriate laser goggles and operating the LIBS instrument in a suitable laser laboratory environment It is the responsibility of the user to conduct an appropriate risk assessment prior to using the LIBS instrument in open beam mode If the sample chamber is not fitted to the LIBS Head it will be necessary to disconnect the BNC cable to the Interlock In port on the laser power supply and fit the blanking cap so as to disable the safety interlock feature WARNING As outlined in Section 2 1 fitting the blanking plug to the Interlock In port on the laser power supply will disable the sample chamber safety interlock feature and allow the LIBS Head to emit potentially hazardous levels of laser radiation 1 e Class 4 laser system It i2. Ltd Unit 8 Carleton Business Park Skipton North Yorkshire BD23 2DE United Kingdom Date July 2008 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 16 of 16
3. instructions should be followed for draining coolant water from the laser power supply For draining the coolant water from the laser head following the procedure given in the laser manufacturer s instructions 9 Trouble shooting fault finding Laser does not activate 1 Isthe laser shutter on the LIBS Head set to the OPEN position 2 Is safety interlock connected correctly 3 Is Interlock indicator light on laser power supply controller flashing If yes then check that sample chamber door is fully closed If sample chamber is not fitted to LIBS Head and instrument is required to be operated in open beam mode then the blanking plug must be fitted to the Interlock In BNC connector on the laser power supply 4 If the safety interlock appears to be working correctly but the laser still does not activate refer to the operating instructions provided with the laser 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 14 of 16 Laser induced plasma appears to be adequately intense although a poor signal is observed on some or all of the spectrometer channels 1 Are the data acquisition settings on the AvaSoft software set up correctly 2 Is the composition of the sample such that emission lines are not expected to be seen on some or all of the spectrometer channels If yes then use an alternative sample which has numerous emission lines eg iron containing material to check for correct operation of the LIBS instrument 3 Is the
4. 0 of 16 Step 2 Prior to connecting the laser power supply personal computer etc the LIBS Head should first be removed from the Pelicase and placed on a suitable surface such as a laboratory bench It is highly desirable to secure the LIBS Head in some way eg by utilizing the M6 tapped holes located in the base of the LIBS Head to prevent damage from impact should the unit be allowed to fall from a height Step 3 If the sample chamber is to be used fit the LIBS Head to the sample chamber using the three M5 screws supplied with the unit as illustrated in the previous figures Step 4 Connect the 12 Volt DC power adaptor to the main console The power on indicating lamp should now be illuminated Step 5 Connect the coolant pipes and electrical cables supplied with the laser between the LIBS Head and the laser power supply Refer to the laser manufacturer s instructions Step 6 Using the supplied BNC to BNC cable connect the Laser Interlock port on the main console to the Interlock In port on the rear of the laser power supply Step 7 If the Door Interlock feature is not to be used fit the blanking cap to the Door Interlock BNC port Step 8 Using the supplied BNC to BNC cable connect the Trigger In port on the main console to the Q Switch Out port on the rear of the laser power supply see following figure Q Switch Out BNC connector Interlock In BNC connector le View of la
5. B 2 0 cable The PC should be running the AvaSoft spectroscopy software in order to communicate with the optical spectrometers within the main console Step 16 Follow the instructions provided with the AvaSoft spectroscopy software to correctly configure the spectrometers for acquiring data NB As shipped spectrometer with bandwidth 711 900 nm should be configured as master Step 17 Fire the Nd YAG laser beam by activating the Q Switch on the laser power supply controller flashlamp must be activated also Spectra will be acquired by the AvaSoft spectroscopy software and stored to the memory of the personal computer if AvaSoft software is configured to do so Step 18 After successfully testing the LIBS instrument it is now ready for use Measurement conditions such as Nd YAG laser pulse energy and laser beam focus will need to be adjusted to suit the requirements of the experiment 5 Shut down procedure Step 1 Switch off laser power supply and isolate from mains electrical supply Step 2 Close the laser safety shutter on the LIBS Head by turning the handle located on LHS side panel of LIBS Head to vertical position Step 3 Isolate 12 Volt DC adaptor from mains electrical supply and disconnect from main console Step 4 Disconnect gas supply USB computer cable laser I O connections and BNC cable connections to main console Step 6 Dismantle the LIBS Head from the sample chamber by unscrewing the three M5 screws see earlier figures
6. BS Head and laser power supply of the LIBS instrument contain electrical circuits operating at potentially lethal voltage and current levels Before removing any access covers isolate mains power from the laser Consult the manual supplied with the laser for further guidance on the safe use of the laser 3 General description 3 1 Overview The main components of the Transportable LIBS Instrument are illustrated in the following figures Pelicase container housing main console Main console Modular sample chamber Flexible umbilical 3 metres connecting LIBS Head to main LIBS Head console Image showing main components of Transportable LIBS Workstation laser power supply not shown Alternative aperture cover Wee Flexible opaque m s umbilical Removable o LIBS Head aperture cover transparent Image showing main console and LIBS Head removed from Pelicase 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 5 of 16 3 2 Main console The main console shown in the close up view below is semi permanently fitted to the Pelicase as illustrated above The console provides the interface between the LIBS Head and 1 the laser power supply and 11 the personal computer and contains the optical spectrometers up to six spectrometer modules may be installed The console requires a 12 Volt DC electrical supply which is derived from the mains electrical supply using the low voltage adaptor 12 VDC 5 Amps supplied wi
7. IBS Head 1s removed from the sample chamber the interlock circuit 1s designed to de activate the laser See section 6 on Operating instrument in open beam configuration Warning do not operate the LIBS instrument if the safety interlock is not functioning correctly Step 14 Place a sample of material eg a metal block at the focal plane of the Nd YAG laser beam inside the sample chamber Using the controls on the front panel of the laser power supply controller see following figure and refer to laser manufacturer s instructions the laser beam may now be fired by 1 first activating the flashlamp and 11 then activating the Q Switch If the sample material is located at or near to the focal plane of the laser beam a laser induced plasma will be produced on the surface of the sample It may be necessary to adjust the position of the aperture cover to obtain correct positioning of sample surface see figure on following page Fault warning light 3 View of front panel of laser power supply controller 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 12 of 16 Distance may be adjusted by several mm by rotating the aperture cover Use this feature to set position of aperture cover to facilitate correct positioning of sample surface Locking screw CAD view of LIBS Head showing method for adjusting position of aperture cover Step 15 Connect the personal computer to the Computer I O port of the main console using the supplied US
8. Transportable LIBS Workstation Model No 0158 User s Manual July 2008 Doc Ref UM 0158 00 dN TIN APPLIED PHOTONICS Applied Photonics Ltd Unit 8 Carleton Business Park Skipton North Yorkshire BD23 2DE United Kingdom Tel 44 0 1756 708900 Fax 44 0 1756 708909 Web www appliedphotonics co uk Contents Page l Introduction 3 2 Safety 3 2 1 Laser radiation 3 2 2 Note on testing of laser safety window material 4 2 Electrical 5 3 General description 5 3 1 Overview 5 3 2 Main console 6 3 3 LIBS Head 6 3 4 Sample chamber 8 3 5 Laser power supply and cooling group unit 10 4 Operating procedure 10 5 Shut down procedure 13 6 Operating LIBS instrument in open beam configuration 14 di Maintenance and inspection 14 8 Shipping and Storage 14 9 Trouble shooting fault finding 14 Appendices Al Certificate of Conformity 16 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 2 of 16 1 Introduction The Transportable LIBS Workstation is designed to be a highly versatile product suitable for use either in a laboratory environment or in the field The modular design helps to improve its transportability and versatility A range of application specific sample chambers is soon to be launched for this product although the sample chamber described in this User s Manual is likely to be adequate for most applications Further information about this product including optional extra components is available at our webs
9. amber Circular array of six lens holders used to collect plasma light Laser beam aperture Front view of LIBS Head showing plasma light lens holder array Threaded fitting for lens holder Gas purge outlet Grub screw for locking aperture cover do not over tighten Lens holder 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 7 of 16 Front view of LIBS Head showing three of the six lens holders removed Water connections Electrical connections Rear view of LIBS Head showing electrical and water connections to laser 3 4 Sample Chamber A general view of the sample chamber is given in the following figure The sample chamber 1s designed to fit to the LIBS Head using three M5 screws as illustrated in the figure on the following page The sample chamber is equipped with a small breadboard plate which is attached to a single axis translation stage Transverse movement of the breadboard is achieved by manual adjustment of the knob on the side of the sample chamber see following figure Laser safety window OD6 1064 nm Electrically interlocked hinged lid Adjustment knob for single axis translation stage View of modular sample chamber The sample chamber is equipped with a number of features as illustrated in the following figures It 1s not necessary to have the aperture cover fitted to the LIBS Head although it is useful to help define the position where the sample should be placed on the breadboard plate in
10. he equipment poses a risk of personal injury eye skin injury and poses a fire risk As with all Class 4 laser products appropriate safety precautions must be taken as identified via a suitable risk assessment conducted by the user in consultation with a suitably qualified and experienced Laser Safety Officer The most significant hazard relating to exposure of personnel to the laser radiation is eye injury since direct or scattered laser radiation produced by the LIBS instrument can cause serious and permanent damage to the eyes including blindness such damage may be instantaneous Precautions must be taken to avoid exposure of personnel to hazardous levels of laser radiation Such precautions may include the setting up of a temporary or permanent controlled area Other measures may also be necessary as determined by appropriate and thorough assessment of the risks 1e a risk assessment conducted by the personnel responsible for the safe use of the LIBS instrument Consult the manual supplied with the laser for further guidance on the safe use of the laser The door of the sample chamber is equipped with an electrical interlock switch which is designed to prevent activation of the laser unless the door is closed The interlock switch connects to the laser power supply using a length of BNC to BNC cable which is supplied with the LIBS instrument The cable connects to the BNC port on the main console labelled Laser Interlock and to the inter
11. ite www appliedphotonics co uk or by contacting us directly 2 Safety 2 1 Laser radiation The Transportable LIBS Workstation is designed to be both a field deployable device and a research and development tool for use by organisations interested in conducting their own LIBS R amp D program The Transportable LIBS Workstation contains a high power Nd YAG laser Class 4 and so it is imperative that it is operated only by suitably trained and experienced persons who are fully aware of the hazards inherent to this type of high power laser equipment It is imperative also that prior to using the equipment an appropriate risk assessment is conducted in such a way as to take account of the proposed use of the equipment the environment in which the equipment is to be operated and how its use may affect people who are not directly involved with the use of the equipment The LIBS instrument is designed to meet the laser safety requirements of the relevant European standards BS EN 60825 and USA standards ANSI Z136 1 2007 Although the LIBS instrument may be supplied with a sample chamber which provides adequate containment of the laser radiation to Class 1 limits it is possible for the user to operate the LIBS instrument without the sample chamber ie operation in open beam mode as may be required for certain types of experiment Accordingly it is necessary to consider the LIBS instrument to be a Class 4 laser product and so by definition t
12. lock BNC port on the rear panel of the laser power supply labelled Interlock In Note that the laser power supply 1s fitted with an over ride feature a cap which fits to the Remote Interlock BNC port which when fitted disables this safety interlock feature It 1s necessary to use this over ride feature when operating the LIBS instrument without the sample chamber 1e operating in open beam mode In view of this the LIBS instrument must be categorised as a Class 4 laser product since the safety interlock feature may easily be over ridden by the user ie no tools are needed to disable this safety feature If however the sample chamber is correctly fitted to the LIBS Head and the electrical safety interlock is connected correctly then the laser radiation is adequately contained by the design of the hardware 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 3 of 16 IMPORTANT 2 2 NEVER allow unauthorised and or untrained personnel operate the LIBS instrument ALWAYS use appropriate laser safety protective eyewear when operating the LIBS instrument in open beam configuration you should seek advice from your Laser Safety Officer on this matter ALWAYS switch the instrument off when not in use and remove the key from the keyswitch of the laser power supply to prevent unauthorised activation NEVER operate the LIBS instrument in areas where explosive gas mixtures may be present NEVER place inside the sample chamber flammable li
13. ning surface of the sample if loose material eg oxide surface contamination etc is present 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 15 of 16 Appendix Al Certificate of Conformity A y 0 N APPLIED PHOTONICS Applied Photonics Limited Unit 8 Carleton Business Park Skipton North Yorkshire BD23 2DE United Kingdom EC Declaration of Conformity Applied Photonics Ltd declares that the product listed below has been designed and manufactured in compliance with the relevant standards as follows Product name Transportable LIBS Workstation Model Number 0158 Laser product safety This device conforms with the principal objectives of safety of laser products by application of the following standards PD IEC TR 60825 14 2004 and BS EN 207 1999 Electrical Safety This device conforms with the principal safety objectives of the European Directive 73 23 EEC as implemented by the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 1994 by application of the following standard BS EN 61010 1 2001 Electro Magnetic Compatibility This device conforms with the principal objectives of the European Directive 89 336 EEC as amended by 91 31 EEC and 93 68 EEC as implemented by The EMC Regulations SI 1992 No 2372 and amendment SI 1994 No 3080 by application of the following standard BS EN 61326 1 2006 Year of affixation of the CE Marking 2008 Signed Name Andrew I Whitehouse Title Managing Director Place Applied Photonics
14. quids or any other material which may give rise to flammable explosive gas mixtures Activation of the laser under these conditions could result in an explosion leading to severe personal injury and or fire hazard ALWAYS thoroughly inspect the LIBS instrument for damage prior to use Particular attention should be given to the laser safety windows and the electrical safety interlock fitted to the door of the sample chamber NEVER point the LIBS Head at a person even with laser switched off especially towards the eyes even if the person is wearing laser safety eyewear The laser should be considered active unless the laser power supply is deactivated and the safety shutter fitted to the LIBS Head is switched to the CLOSED position Laser safety shutter switch Horizontal OPEN Vertical CLOSED Image of LIBS Head showing location of laser safety shutter switch Note on the laser safety window material The laser safety window material fitted to the sample chamber is rated at OD 6 1064 nm It therefore provides adequate protection against scattered laser light of wavelength 1064 nm and so 1s suitable for use with the LIBS instrument It provides no protection at other laser wavelengths and so it is the responsibility of the user to ensure that it 1s appropriate for the type of laser being used if the sample chamber is used with an alternative laser source 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 4 of 16 2 3 Electrical The LI
15. s the responsibility of the user to ensure that safety 1s maintained when operating the Transportable LIBS Workstation in this mode of operation As a minimum it will be necessary to operate the Transportable LIBS Workstation in a laser controlled area e g a laser laboratory and for all personnel in the controlled area to wear appropriate laser protective eyewear Consult your Laser Safety Officer before operating the Transportable LIBS Workstation in this mode Ta Maintenance and inspection The Transportable LIBS Workstation should be periodically inspected for signs of damage or wear and tear Of particular importance are the safety features including the laser safety windows and the lid interlock switch mechanism If any damage to the laser windows of the sample chamber is observed or suspected the LIBS instrument should be temporarily removed from service until a replacement window is fitted For maintaining and inspecting the laser the documentation supplied with the laser should be consulted If necessary contact the manufacturer of the LIBS instrument for further advice on maintenance and inspection of the product 8 Shipping and Storage The laser power supply and laser head within the LIBS Head MUST be drained of coolant water 1f there is any possibility of the unit being exposed to temperatures below 4 Celsius Failure to do so could result in serious damage to the laser head and or the laser power supply The laser manufacturer s
16. sample positioned correctly relative to the laser beam focus It may be necessary to adjust the position of the aperture cover 4 Is the laser pulse energy too low Increase if necessary Recorded spectra show some emission lines which are saturating the detector flat top appearance to the emission line 1 Reduce the pulse energy of the laser using the controls on the front panel of the laser power supply 2 Increase spot size of laser beam on sample by adjusting the position of the sample relative to the focal plane of the laser beam Recorded spectra show some emission lines suffering from self reversal ie a dip in the centre of the emission line 1 Reduce the pulse energy of the laser using the controls on the control panel of the laser power supply 2 Increase spot size of laser beam on sample by adjusting the position of the sample surface relative to the focal plane of the laser beam it is usual to set focus to be a few millimetres into the sample surface Air breakdown is observed in the path of the laser beam just in front of the sample surface 1 The focal plane of the laser beam is set incorrectly 1e it is set to be in front of the sample adjust position of sample so that the focal plane of the laser beam is coincident or preferably just into the sample surface 2 On irradiation by the laser beam the sample is creating considerable quantities of dust in the path of the laser beam Try clea
17. ser power supply showing electrical connections Step 9 If the gas purge feature is to be used connect a suitable inert gas supply Argon Helium Nitrogen to the Inert Gas Supply port using 4 mm OD flexible tubing a length of this type of tubing is supplied with the LIBS instrument coloured green The gas supply MUST be regulated to restrict pressure to less than 10 psi 2 to 3 psi should be adequate and to control the flow rate 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 11 of 16 Step 10 Follow instructions supplied with laser for correct procedure for adding coolant water to the laser power supply Step 11 Open laser safety shutter located on LHS side panel of LIBS Head by turning handle to horizontal position Step 12 Activate laser by switching on key switch see instructions supplied with laser Step 13 With the laser switched on coolant water flowing but laser flashlamp not yet activated check for correct operation of the safety interlock by observing the Interlock light on the front panel of the laser power supply controller see following figure and opening closing the lid of the sample chamber with LIBS Head fitted If the interlock is working correctly the Interlock light should flash when the sample chamber lid is open and be constantly illuminated when the lid is closed If the interlock is found not to be operating correctly refer to the Fault Finding section of this User s Manual Note that if the L
18. side the sample chamber 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 8 of 16 View of modular sample chamber prior to attachment to LIBS Head View of modular sample chamber attached to LIBS Head MS x 45 Cap Hd screw Qty 2 M5 x 30 Cap Hd screw Qty 1 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 9 of 16 3 5 CAD image illustrating the method of attachment of sample chamber to LIBS Head M5 x 45 Cap Hd screws Qty 2 M5 x 30 Cap Hd screw Qty 1 View of modular sample chamber showing location of LIBS Head attachment screws Magnetic catch Electrical interlock switches Qty 2 Breadboard plate with array of M6 tapped holes on 25 mm centres View of modular sample chamber showing electrical interlock Laser power supply and cooling group unit See manufacturer s instructions for description of the laser power supply and cooling group unit 4 Step 1 Operating procedure The LIBS instrument should first be checked for obvious signs of damage loose fixings etc prior to use If any of the components of the instrument are found to be of suspect condition take remedial action before assembling and using the instrument critical components such as the laser safety windows and electrical lid interlock of the sample chamber Seek advice from the manufacturer if necessary Do not operate the LIBS instrument with any of the covers removed 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Of particular importance are the safety Page 1
19. th the LIBS instrument Inert gas inlet port requires 4 mm OD plastic tubing for gas purge of sample MAX 10 psi NERT Electrical connection for pe laboratory door interlock Laser interlock connects to laser power supply Spectrometer trigger input connects to laser power supply Over ride cap for S Door Interlock BNC port LASER DOOR INTERLOCK INTERLOCK O Indicator lamp for 12 12 Volt DC Volt DC power power input USB 2 0 connection for external computer Do Electrical fuses 1 Amp Z 0o for LIBS Head 4 Amp aye for spectrometers Close up view of control panel of main console 3 3 LIBS Head The LIBS Head contains the laser and associated optics required to focus the laser beam on to a sample and collect the plasma light for transmission to the spectrometers located within the main console The main features of the LIBS Head are illustrated in the following figures Use of the transparent aperture cover allows the operator to view the laser plasma even when a sample is placed up against the aperture cover WARNING Note that the transparent aperture cover provides no protection to the user against exposure to the laser radiation LIBS Head fitted with opaque aperture cover LIBS Head fitted with transparent aperture cover 2008 Applied Photonics Ltd Page 6 of 16 LIBS Head with transparent aperture cover LIBS Head with aperture cover removed Electrical connection to sample ch
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