Medilite 6 and 12 Place Operation Manual Rev 1 Nov 2001

SIMPLIFIED OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS GENERAL The Thermo IEC Medilite is a portable benchtop centrifuge designed for use in the physician’s office, the small clinical laboratory, and in the educational field, to perform separations by centrifugal force, and not for any other purpose. Note: Typical sound level emissions do not exceed 70 dB(A) INSTALLATION The location of the centrifuge must be clean and dry to allow the suction cup feet to properly and safely secure the centrifuge. The location must be level and rigid to provide quiet and vibration free performance. International Electrotechnical Commission standard 1010 part 2-20 limits permitted movement of a centrifuge to 300mm in the event of a disruption. Therefore, mark this clearance envelope boundary around the centrifuge. Laboratory procedures should require that no person or any hazardous materials are within this boundary during operation of the centrifuge. Plug the unit into a 120 VAC ± 10%, 50/60 Hz (Cat. No.s 448 & 458) or a 220/240 VAC ± 10%, 50/60 Hz (Cat No.s 449 & 459) grounded receptacle. OPERATION To open the cover, press the black latch button upward, and lift the cover. The rotor is installed by orienting it on the shaft and pressing down on its center hub. Close the cover securely, ensuring that the latch is fully engaged. To start a run, turn the timer knob to the desired run duration. (For runs of less than five minutes, turn the timer past the five (5) minute setting and then back to the desired run duration.) For runs of infinite duration, turn the timer knob to the ‘∞’ setting. The motor will take several seconds to reach top speed. A run is stopped by either turning the timer knob to the zero (0) setting or by allowing the time to expire. Wait until the rotor has stopped before opening the cover. SAFETY Below are listed warnings against operating procedures which could result in an accident and/or personal injury. Also listed are cautions against procedures which could result in damage to your centrifuge or accessory equipment. Warnings: •Plug the power cord into a grounded outlet. •Never remove the grounding prong from the power plug, or use any adapter which does not complete the grounding circuit. •Always unplug the power cord before attempting to clean or service the centrifuge. •Do not spin fluids having a specific gravity greater than 1.5. •Do not operate the centrifuge if the shields or rotor show signs of damage. If deterioration is visible, replace the affected parts immediately. •Load the rotor SYMMETRICALLY with 2,3,4 or 6 tubes in the six-place rotor (NOT 1 or 5); or 2,3,4,6,8,9,10 or 12 tubes in the twelve-place rotor (NOT 1, 5, 7 or 11). The tubes must be of equal size and with contents of equal (to within 1 gram) weight. Cautions: •The Thermo IEC Medilite is not intended or recommended for use with chemical solvents that may weaken critical parts. Refrain from using prohibited chemicals (see Table 1) for cleaning and/or centrifugation. WARRANTY & SERVICE For warranty information, or to obtain service, contact your local Thermo IEC authorized distibutor.

i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 2 3

INTRODUCTION ... 3 INSTALLATION... 4 OPERATION... 5 3.1 Warnings and Cautions ...5 3.2 Loading ...6 3.3 Starting a Run ...6 3.4 Stopping a Run ...6

4

MAINTENANCE ... 7 4.1 Cleaning ...7 4.2 Fuse Change ...7

5

SERVICE... 8 5.1 Troubleshooting...8 5.2 Latch Assembly ...8 5.3 Timer/ Relay...9 5.4 Motor...9

6 7

SPECIFICATIONS ...10 DRAWINGS ...11

IMPORTANT This manual may not contain information on all changes that have occurred to the subject instrument since the manual issue date. It was prepared for use by Thermo IEC authorized factory-trained personnel who are kept current through a program of service letters, bulletins and training seminars. This manual contains warnings against operating procedures that could result in an accident and/or personal injury. It also contains cautions against procedures that could result in damage to your centrifuge or accessories. Read this manual thoroughly before operating or servicing this centrifuge.

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1

INTRODUCTION

The Thermo IEC Medilite is a portable centrifuge designed for use in the physician’s office, the small clinical laboratory and the classroom. The unit consists of: •

A baseplate with three rubber suction cup pads for stability.

•

A brushless AC motor is attached to the cabinet. The motor is thermally protected at 100°C in accordance with UL specifications

•

A six or twelve place plastic 45° angle rotor

•

A 30 minute timer (with hold function)

•

A viewport in the cover for easy speed verification

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2

INSTALLATION The unit requires minimal assembly before use. 1. After unpacking, place the unit on a clean, level surface. The surface must be level to ensure quiet, vibration-free operation. A rigid, stable location is important because an improperly loaded unit can vibrate or move. 2. Lift the lever to release the latch. Remove the soft material covering the plastic shields (6 or 12) that are shipped in position inside the rotor. 3. Press down on the center hub to ensure that the rotor is secured to the shaft. Turn rotor by hand to verify it turns freely. 4. Inspect the shields for damage. Make sure the flange of the shield is flush with the surface of the rotor. 5. Plug the unit into a 120 VAC +/-10%, 50/60 Hz (Cat. Nos. 448 and 458) or a 220/240 VAC +/- 10%, 50/60 Hz (Cat. Nos. 449 and 459).

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3

OPERATION

3.1

Warnings and Cautions

Warnings

• • • • • •

Plug the power cord into a grounded outlet. Never remove the grounding prong from the power plug or use any adapter that does not complete the grounding circuit. Always unplug the power cord before attempting to clean or service the unit. Do not spin any fluids which have a specific gravity greater than 1.5. Do not operate the unit if the shields or rotor show signs of damage. If deterioration is visible, replace the affected parts immediately. Do not open the lid while the unit is spinning.

Note: Chemical damage can appear as crazing, frosting, peeling or similar deterioration of the inner cavity or exterior surface of the shields or rotor. Mechanical damage can appear as cracks, scratches or gouges on the shield or rotor surfaces. Cautions

•

The Thermo IEC Medilite is not intended or recommended for use with chemical solvents that may weaken critical parts. Refrain from using prohibited chemicals (see table 1) for cleaning or centrifugation.

Table 1: Prohibited chemicals Concentrated Mineral acids (e.g. Hydrochloric, Sulfuric, Nitric acid, etc.) should not be allowed to come into contact with the base assembly, rotor or shields of this centrifuge. These and other parts of the Medilite are not adversely affected by short-term exposure to other acids or solvents, hydrocarbons, alkalies or gases. Good Laboratory Practices for cleaning should be followed and any part of the centrifuge exposed to strong chemicals should be thoroughly cleaned as soon as is practical.

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3.2

Loading Unlatch and open the cover. Check that the rotor turns freely and that there are no loose objects in the chamber. Load the rotor symmetrically with 2,3,4 or 6 tubes in the 6-place rotor (but not 1 or 5) or 2,3,4,6,8,9 or 12 in the 12-place rotor (but not 1, 5, 7 or 11). The tubes must be of equal size and with contents of equal (within 1 gram) weight. Close the cover securely, ensuring that the latch is engaged.

3.3

Starting a Run Turn the timer knob to the desired run duration (for runs of under 5 minutes, turn the timer past the five minute setting and then back to the desired time). For runs in the HOLD mode (infinite duration), turn the knob speed to the ∞ setting. The motor will take several minutes to reach top speed.

Note: periods of slight vibration during acceleration are normal. If excessive vibration occurs, turn the timer knob to zero (0). When the rotor has come to a stop, open the cover and check that the load is balanced. If the rotor is properly balanced and vibration persists, ensure that the suction cup feet are clean and adhering to the surface on which the unit was placed.

3.4

Stopping a Run To stop a run, turn the timer knob to zero or allow the time to expire. Wait until the rotor has come to a complete stop, then unlatch and open the cover.

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4

MAINTENANCE

4.1

Cleaning This section describes the proper method for cleaning your centrifuge. Always unplug the unit before cleaning. 1.

Release the latch, open the cover and unplug the unit.

2.

Check the chamber for spills or broken glass. If present, wipe out the chamber with a water-dampened sponge.

Note: If glass breakage is an on-going condition, we recommend that all the plastic shields be replaced. Microscopic particles of glass become embedded in the plastic shields. These particles can come in contact with new glass tubes, creating a pressure point that may result in recurring tube breakage. 3.

Clean the outside of the unit, the rotor and the chamber with warm water, mild detergent and a sponge.

Note: To remove the rotor, lift it straight up off its drive shaft. The rotor is held in place by spring clips that line up flat to the surface on the drive shaft. To reinstall the rotor, line up the clips with the flat surface and press it as far down the shaft as it will go. Warning: Never use any of the chemicals listed in Table 1 for cleaning. Never use a cleaner that contains abrasives. Check your cleaner to be sure none of its ingredients will damage the unit.

4.2

Fuse Change To change the internal fuse(s), open the cover and remove the rotor and shields. Close the cover. Unplug the centrifuge, carefully place the machine on its cover and remove the baseplate (four bolts - 1/4 inch socket). The fuses have the following values: For 120 VAC (Cat. No. 448 & 458) - one 2.5A Slo-Blo part number 65767 For 240 VAC (Cat. No. 449 & 459) - two 1.25A Slo-Blo part number 42517

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5

SERVICE

5.1

Troubleshooting If the unit will not start, check the following in order to isolate the problem: • • •

Check the fuse by removing the base of the unit. Check the resistance across the coils of the relay, which is approximately 3.5 kΩ. Check the latch microswitch and the proximity switch. There are two switches in the unit. One is the latch switch and the other is the proximity switch. Both are in series with the relay and must be ‘closed’ in order for the unit to operate. To access the components, unplug the centrifuge, open the cover, and remove the rotor. Carefully place the unit upside down on its cover and remove the four bolts (1/4 inch socket) which secure the baseplate. Lift the baseplate off.

5.2

Latch Assembly The latch assembly consists of a catch, a striker, a microswitch, and a proximity switch. When the cover is closed, the cover striker engages the microswitch, which senses the status of the cover (open, closed/locked). The proximity switch also senses the position of the cover for the purpose of disabling a run unless the cover is fully closed. The proximity switch magnet is located in the cover and causes the switch located in the cabinet to actuate. To remove the latch switch, remove the two Phillips head screws at the front plate of the unit. Note the wiring to the switch and disconnect.

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5.3

Timer/ Relay The Thermo IEC Medilite has a built-in 30-minute mechanical timer. It also has a hold mode for indefinite time runs. The timer acts as a switch delivering power to the motor. To replace it, the knob must be removed. The knob is pressed onto the timer shaft and may require pliers to remove. The timer is secured to the base with a nut. When the timer is set, the timer, through the relay, delivers 120VAC to the motor. This can verified using a voltmeter measuring across the two black leads coming out of the timer.

5.4

Motor The Thermo IEC Medilite uses a brushless induction drive motor. It requires no maintenance. The speed of the motor is approximately 3100 rpm (60 Hz) or 2700 rpm (50 Hz). This can be verified using an optical tachometer through the viewport in the cover. (Note: Less than nominal line voltage will affect the centrifuge’s top speed.) When isolated, the motor resistance should be approximately 12 Ω. To replace the motor, remove the four nuts, which secure it to the base. Disconnect the wiring harnesses of the motor to the relay.

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6

SPECIFICATIONS

Specification

Cat Nos. 448&458 (120 V)

Cat Nos. 449&459 (240 V)

Maximum Speed

3100 RPM

2700 RPM

Maximum RCF

1228xg

920xg

Tubes Size (mm) O.D. x Length Min

7x100

same

O.D. x Length Maximum 6 tubes (in 6 or 12 place)

16x133 or 17x120

same

O.D. x Length Maximum 12 tubes

16x100

same

Maximum Volume 6 place 12 place

90 mL (6x15mL) 120 mL (12x10 mL)

same same

Centrifuge Motor

.022 hp

same

Power Requirement

120 VAC ±10% 50/60 Hz, 2A

220/240 VAC ±10% 50/60 Hz, 1A

Cover Closed: Cover Opened:

9.5” (24.1 cm) 18” (45.7 cm)

same same

Width

11.5” (29.2 cm)

same

Depth

14.75” (37.5 cm)

same

Net Weight

9.5 Lbs (4.3 Kg)

same

Shipping Weight

12.5 Lbs. (5.7 Kg)

same

Height

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

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7

DRAWINGS

Drawings included in this section: 11006 448 PL448

Note:

System Schematic Medilite Assembly Medilite Parts List

At time of publication, these drawings were accurate. Changes do occur. If you have any questions regarding these drawings, contact Thermo IEC at +(781) 449-8060, or your local dealer.

Medilite Operation Manual 11

ThermoIEC

Printed: 11-28-2001

Technical Service Dept.

Tel.: +(781)449-8060

Fax: +(781)455-9749

ThermoIEC

Printed: 11-28-2001

Technical Service Dept.

Tel.: +(781)449-8060

Fax: +(781)455-9749

ThermoIEC

Printed: 11-28-2001

Technical Service Dept.

Tel.: +(781)449-8060

Fax: +(781)455-9749