There are two forepump options for the TSQ Series II mass spectrometers:
- Roots vacuum pumps: Leybold EcoDry pump or Edwards nXL110i pump
- Oil-sealed rotary vane vacuum pumps: Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum™, SOGEVAC™ SV 65 BI
Roots vacuum pumps cannot be serviced in the field. For service or to extend the life of the forepump to prevent downtime, Thermo Fisher Scientific recommends purchasing a factory reconditioning service using the following time frame:
- Leybold EcoDry pump—Every 4 years
- Edwards nXL110i pump—Every 5 years
Maintaining the oil-sealed forepumps requires inspecting, adding, purging (ballasting), and changing the pump oil. Refer to the manufacturer’s manual for instructions.
See these topics:
Check the level of the forepump oil before daily use
Procedure
- Make sure that the oil level is visible in the oil-level sight glass between the MIN and MAX marks.
- If the oil level is below the MIN mark, add oil.
Purge or change the oil
New oil has a translucent, light amber color. If the oil is cloudy or discolored, purge (ballast) the oil to decontaminate dissolved solvents. If the pump oil is still discolored, change it.
Change the pump oil every 10 000 hours (or about every 12–13 months) of operation.
CAUTION
To minimize the risk of oil contamination in the vacuum system, make sure that the purging ballast is closed when you vent the system to atmosphere.