Compustage problem can be caused by loose locater pin

[Bob Grassucci]

Hi Everyone,
	I wanted to warn everyone of a problem we had with of our Gatan UK CT3500 
cryo transfer stage.  During the removal of the holder from our Tecnai F20 
the locater pin which engages the airlock mechanism to open and close the 
airlock was sheared or fell off the holder.  This resulted in the airlock 
remaining partially open resulting in a vacuum leak.  To make matters worse 
our compustage was destroyed and now must be replaced.  This repair is NOT 
covered under our service contract.  When we contacted Gatan, their 
response was that while they have never heard of this happening it is a 
potential problem since the pins for those holders are pressed onto the 
shaft and then silver soldered.  They told us that they now machine the pin 
out of the same block that makes up the shaft of the holder but I am sure 
that there are a great number of CT3500 holders in the field with this 
potential problem.  Please be aware of this potential problem and be very 
watchful of the tightness and straightness of this pin.  Do not let this 
happen to you!
	Bob Grassucci


Robert Grassucci
Howard Hughes Medical Institute at The Wadsworth Center
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12201-0509
Phone: (518)474-5821
Fax: (518)486-2191
E-Mail: bobg at wadsworth.org
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