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8
Troubleshooting
8.3
Possible sources of error, causes and remedies
Problem
Frost on cryochamber walls and
microtome.
Ice formation on the bottom of
the cryochamber.
Lubricate sections.
Sections splinter, cracks in the
section.
Sections not properly flattened.
Sections not properly flattened
despite correct temperature and
correctly aligned anti-roll plate.
Sections curl on anti-roll plate.
Scraping noise during sectioning
and specimen head return
stroke.
62
Cause
• The cryostat is exposed to air
currents (open windows, doors,
air conditioning).
• Sliding window was open too
long at a very low cryochamber
temperature.
• Frost built up by breathing into
the cryochamber.
• Draining of condensation
water of the quick freeze shelf
defrosting system obstructed.
• Specimen not cold enough.
• Knife and/or anti-roll plate not
yet cold enough – the section
melts as a result.
• Specimen too cold.
• Static electricity/air currents.
• Specimen not cold enough.
• Large scale specimen.
• Anti-roll plate poorly
positioned.
• Anti-roll plate poorly aligned
with knife edge.
• Incorrect clearance angle.
• Knife dull or jagged.
• Dirt on knife and/or anti-roll
plate.
• Edge of anti-roll plate
damaged.
• Dull knife.
• Anti-roll plate does not
protrude far enough beyond
the knife edge.
• Anti-roll plate protrudes too far
beyond the knife edge and is
scraping against the specimen.
Remedy
• Eliminate cause or relocate
instrument.
• Close the sliding window
correctly.
• Wear a mask if necessary.
• Level the instrument.
• Select lower temperature.
• Wait until knife and/or anti-
roll plate have reached
cryochamber temperature.
• Select higher temperature.
• Eliminate cause.
• Select lower temperature.
• Trim the specimen parallel;
increase section thickness.
• Reposition anti-roll plate.
• Align correctly.
• Set the correct clearance
angle.
• Use a different part of the
knife.
• Clean with dry cloth or brush.
• Replace anti-roll plate.
• Use a different part of the
knife.
• Align anti-roll plate correctly.
• Align anti-roll plate correctly.
Version 2.0, Revision K
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