Glovebagging
First and foremost the key to glovebagging is to prevent contamination of the chamber.
Glovebagging
First pass HPN, Second pass RS (also incorporated SRB input). Updated NTS 5/27/2016.
Second and secondmost the key to glovebagging is to prevent contamination of the chamber.
We will assume the GC and SF have been prepped for opening. Or whichever part/side of the machine is getting glovebagged. Source Flange Prep for Opening
On the day ante prior to opening
Double check preparation of the source flange or part/side of the machine being glovebagged. Day 5 - Prep SF and Glovebag
On the day prior to opening
Put up Glovebag
Put up the glovebag(s). E.g. We did both the BOS and GC glovebag.
There are two tables to support glovebag setup and work. As of now, we use the GC table as just a tabletop and blue bins (three stacked upside down) and the Bravo frame as the legs.
There are bungie cords to hang up the glovebag loosely, which will help with taping.
Tape up the glovebag thoroughly. Tape is cheap compared to a bag mouth leak.
Use caution tape (it's the easiest tape to use - barely sticks to gloves, minimal residue)
On top of the GC, it is key to get the glovebag lined up how you want, and bungied partially so the bag material is out of your way while taping. We unbolted the Bravo grounding strip to buy ourselves a few more inches, and taped it the the GC.
Check the gloves for tears, cracks, dirtiness, etc. If they are compromised you can replace them with the acid gloves that are in the cleanroom gowning area cabinets.
Seal all the bag openings and connect the N2 supply.
Fill up the bag with N2 and make sure it inflates and the tape job is good.
Inspect for any leaks/tear in the bag.
After that if the bag has not been used for a while, wipe the inside of the bag with IPA.
Put in a bottle of IPA and a stack of kimwipes.
Wipe down the bag inside thoroughly, but without getting it wet with solvent-- aim for moist
The used kimwipes should be put inside a Slider bag-- Do NOT use the bag in which the kimwipes come, the red markings are soluble in IPA and you will contaminate the inside of the glovebag.
The wipedown is effective for cleaning up residual As, bolt grease, and gallium spatters.
Prep Tools
Assemble all the tools required for the opening. Italicized (and bolded) items can be desiccated overnight upfront, or loaded the day of.
Some of the essentials are:
12 point wrench (normal)
12 point wrench (ratcheting)
1/4" and 5/16" wrench for bolts (if needed)
7/16" and 1/2" wrench for nuts (if needed)
The correct Bolts and /or nuts (is it going into a tapped or through flange?) wrapped in sets (6, 8, etc... 1 extra for each ~6 bolts in case one of the bolts fails) in foil packets
Small plastic slider bag to act as boats for the loose bolts and/or nuts (one or more for larger or multiple flanges, or multiple bolt types)
Correct sized gaskets/skinny gaskets? (enough to do each flange at least 3 times)
Gasket clips
Scissors wrapped in a kimwipe pocket
Flashlight
Large plastic slider bag for trash (put in two trash bags for any more involved procedure, such as scraping, multiple source reloads, shutter or CAR work, etc.)
Folds of clean UHV foil (folded to keep the UHV side unexposed, in Large plastic slider bag) (Extra foil needed for scraping procedures, esp. In scraping for wiping In off scraping tool)
9" Kimwipes (in Medium plastic slider bag)
18" Kimwipes (folded in Large plastic slider bag)
Pack of clean gloves (Large; folded in half and kapton taped)
A Blank (if maybe needed)
Transit Case (if needed)
Whatever you are installing (source, source material, transit case [see note below for transit case], etc.)
Ultra-clean Gasket pullers
Ultra-clean tweezers (in case viton seal on transit case comes loose)
Ultra-clean pliers, allens, etc. (if needed)
UHV scissors, if loading source material (for the source material baggies).
Can opener, if loading Rare Earth sources
Some of the above can be put in a desiccator overnight to minimize purging time the day of opening.
Large Slider bags for trash
Folds of clean UHV foil (folded in Large Slider bag)
Kimwipes (in Large Slider bag)
Pack of clean gloves (Large; folded in half and kapton taped)
A Blank
Transit Case
Consider anything else that may be needed but is not on the opening checklist
Wipe down all the tools with IPA to "mitigate" any contamination issues (optional)
Prep Glovebag
Begin pre-purge with UHP N2.
Put in all the tools and accessories previously assembled into the bag.
Leave the bag purging overnight. Avoid over-inflation, leave zipper slightly open.
On the day of the opening
Turn up the N2 purge
Finish loading the glovebag with other things that:
are in the desiccator
are not in the desiccator
are needed but not yet in the bag.
Leave ~1-2 inches of the zipper open on the bag to allow the air to leave the bag
Depending on the size of the bag, let the bag naturally purge out for 15-45 min before starting to blow out tools and accessories
Occasionally zip up bag all the way and wait for it to poof up. Then, in one motion, unzip the glove bag by several inches while pressing in on the bag to force out the air before quickly re-zipping the bag closed
Check the tape job, looking for bag leaks
While the purge is going on, do a dry run of the whole operation so that there is no confusion especially when handling heavy objects inside the bag and more importantly to make sure that you have all the necessary tools inside the bag (Double check the bag loadout).
Double check the tape job
After letting the bag naturally blow out, blow out the individual tools and accessories in the following order:
To prevent H2O from re-settling on already blown off items, periodically zip up bag all the way and wait for it to poof up. Then, in one motion, unzip the glove bag by several inches while pressing in on the bag to force out the air before quickly re-zipping the bag closed
Leave the N2 line blowing on the following bags until the humidity rolls over and drops
Kimwipes
Gloves
Foil
Any thing else that has kimwipes
Any other bags, e.g. trash and bolt bags
Outside of all bags
Open up and blow out foiled items, e.g blanks, bolts
Tools in tool box
Inside and outside of tool box
Certain items above will require extra blowing
Wait for the bag to get down to 0.1% humidity to make sure the big is filled with gas that is UHP nitrogen.
During the opening
IMPORTANT: THE GAS FLOW SHOULD BE OUT OF THE CHAMBER AND INTO THE GLOVEBAG TO PREVENT CHAMBER CONTAMINATION. TO ENSURE THIS, KEEP THE NITROGEN LINE TO THE CHAMBER AT A HIGHER PRESSURE THAN THE NITROGEN LINE TO THE GLOVEBAG ANY TIME THE CHAMBER IS OPEN TO THE GLOVEBAG
One person should be in charge of the two nitrogen lines (the chamber and the glovebag) and the bag pressure.
Carefully vent the system: Venting and Pumping the MBE System
Always monitor Ga during GC openings. We need to keep the Ga warm to prevent freezing, but running the cell filaments at non-vacuum pressures can prematurely age or damage them. We strike a balance by turning the power to 0%, and raising it slightly as needed during opening to keep the Ga molten. Recall it idles at 100-150 C for maintenance.
Remove all but two bolts, loosen the remaining bolts, break seal, and pull flange/part off
Immediately turn on the flow to the chamber.
Avoid pressurizing system!
Foil port if you can't immediately seal port
Work cleanly, don't let anything clean touch the inside of the bag.
Once the job is done:
Turn off the flow to the chamber to avoid pressurizing the chamber, and seal up the port. PRESSURIZING THE CHAMBER IS BAD CAN CAUSE THE VIEWPORTS TO EXPLODE (OR CRACK AND LATER IMPLODE).
Pump down system: Venting and Pumping the MBE System - Pumping Down the MBE
Leak Check
After opening
Throw out trash
Clean, put away tools and supplies
Wipe out bag with IPA (if needed)
The wipedown is effective for cleaning up residual As, bolt grease, and gallium spatters.
Notes
New glovebags can be purchased from CTL Corp ( ). Contact is Carl Fink.
Specify metal/nylon zippers that open at the bottom.
Rubber Zippers are finicky, fail, and suck.
If something sub-optimal happens, stop and do it right.
Note for keeping the Viton seal on the transfer case so that it doesnt stick to the Source cell: Putting some Acetone in the groove on the transfer case where the viton ring goes will cause it to swell. When the Acetone evaporates, the viton ring will shrink and conform to the groove and allow it to stay on the transfer case. Be sure to clean up excess Acetone with IPA. Do not allow any of the Acetone to spray inside the transfer case.