IEC Centra-CL3, Centra-CL3R Operation Manual

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OPERATION·.··

MANUAL

OM3750

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IEC

INTERNATIONAL

300 SECOND

TEL.

[phone]

AVENUE,

EQUIPMENT

NEEDHAM HEIGHTS, MA 02194

•TOLL

FREE [phone]

COMPANY

U.SA

•FAX

[phone]

1 Introduction

1.1

General Product Description

Centra-CL3 series units are high-speed, multipurpose
centrifuges, used
applications.

The CL3 Series
(Centra-CL3) and refrigerated (Centra-CL3R). Sections
this manual that apply
designated Centra-CL3R

Both units accommodate a wide variety
fixed angle, swinging bucket, and fixed horizontal designs.
They can process tubes, bottles, microplates, microcapillary
tubes, cytological slide carriers, and microsample tubes.
The units can centrifuge up to one liter

operation.

Each centrifuge has an easy to use front panel that provides
two modes

of

operation: Manual and Programmed.

in

medical, industrial, and scientific

is

available in two versions: ventilated

to

the refrigerated version will be

or

refrigerated only.

of

rotors, including

of

fluid in a single

of

f

l

Manual mode
speed/force, and time values for individual runs.

Program mode allows you to define and save a maximum
ninety-nine specific sets
reuse.

Centra-CL3 Series Operation Manual

is

used for entering temperature (CL3R only),

of

run parameters, to recall and

1

of

TABLE

OF

CONTENTS

I

t

.Centra-CL3 Series Operation Manual

.Chapter 1: Introduction

1.

1 General Product Description ............................................................................... 1

1.2 About this Manual .............................................................................................. 2

1.3

Warnings, Cautions,

Chapter 2: Installation

2.1

Receiving the Unit .............................................................................................. 5

2.2 Site Preparation .................................................................................................. 5

2.3 Power Configuration ........................................................................................... 7

2.4 Moving the Unit .................................................................................................. 8

2.5 The Front Panel .................................................................................................. 8

. Chapter 3: Operation

3.

1 Rotor and Accessories ......................................................................................

3

.2

Starting and Stopping a Run .............................................................................

3.3 Stored Programs ............................................................................................... 20

3

.4

Centra-CL3 Series Refrigeration .......................................................................

3.

5 Diagnostic Messages and Error Codes ..............................................................

and

Notes ........................................................................... 3

13
17

21
23

Chapter 4: Applications

4.1

Introduction ......................................................................................................

4.2 Speed and Force Tables .................................................................................... 27

4.3

Derating for Dense Samples Table ....................................................................

4.4 Chemical Resistance Table ................................................................................ 39

4.5 Decontamination Table ..................................................................................... 40

4.6 RCF Nomograph ..............................................................................................

Chapter

5.1

5.2 Care and Cleaning .............................................................................................

5.3

5.4 Condition

5.5

Chapter 6: Specifications

Unit Specifications ................................................................................................... 49

5:

Maintenance

Introduction ......................................................................................................

Cover Interlock Bypass Switch ......................................................................... 46

of

Returned Equipment ..................................................................... 47

Warranty ........................................................................................................... 47

Centra-CL3 Series

Operation

I

Manual

25

36

41

43
43

,!

..

~·,

. "

. t

The CL3 Series features a maintenance-free, brushless

motor, and an easy-to-use front panel, which provides three
versatile timing modes: automatic timed run, momentary
spin, and continuous operation (hold mode). Acceleration
and brake rates may be controlled,
for fast separations or slow for delicate samples. Repeat
runs, with the same speed and time settings, may be
achieved at the touch

A fail-safe cover interlock insures that
before a run can begin, and keeps the cover closed, until the

rotor has reached a safe low speed (below 100 rpm), even in

the event

The rugged steel cabinet and rigid construction provide

quiet operation and long term reliability.

1.2 About This Manual

of

a power failure.

of a key.

to

optimize runs: rapid

the

cover is closed,

!

;

I

The Operations Manual contains all
needed to install, operate, and maintain a CL3 Series
centrifuge. Refrigerated and ventilated models operate
similarly, and any differences are highlighted and noted,
throughout this manual. This manual, also, contains speed
and force, derating, chemical resistance, and
decontamination tables. The last chapter lists the units'
specifications.

This manual
to operation information, it contains a few basic
troubleshooting techniques, and a chapter on maintenance.
This Operation Manual
centrifuge units.

is

written for centrifuge operators. In addition

is

not a guide for servicing

of

the

information

Centra-CL3 Series Operation Manual

2

1.3 Warnings, Cautions, and Notes

The tenns warning, caution, and

in

meanings

Warning

• A
that could result

Caution

• A

this manual.

advises against certain actions

in

personal injury.

advises against actions

note

have specific

or

or

situations

situations that
could damage equipment, produce inaccurate data, or
invalidate a procedure.

• A Note provides useful infonnation regarding an
operation, function,

or

procedure.

Centra-CL3 Series Operation Manual

3

- !

t

-

2.1

Receiving the Unit

International Equipment Company (IEC) ships the
centrifuge
Follow the unpacking instructions on the carton.
complete and return the postage-paid warranty card.

2 Installation

in

a carton that protects it from shipping hazards.

Be

sure

to

2.2

·

Site Preparation

The unit normally resides on a bench top. The Centra-CL3

in

(ventilated model) can be placed
than 0°C), for processing temperature-sensitive samples.
When you remove the centrifuge from a cold environment,
do not operate for a minimum
condensation will evaporate.

Note: When used

noise may become evident. The bearing lubricant thickens
at low temperatures.
thinned and distributed more evenly. Once this occurs, any
noise should subside.

in

a cold room environment, some bearing

As

the centrifuge speeds up, it

a cold room (no colder

of

two hours, so that any

is

Centra-CL3 Series Operation Manual

s

The following table lists the physical dimensions for
Centra-CL3 and Centra-CL3R:

the

CL3R

Sample

Cover

Cover

Width

Depth

A clearance

side
centrifuge on a clean, dry surface,
suction feet at the
area beneath the unit free

The resting surface must
free operation.
improperly loaded centrifuge may vibrate

Closed

Open

of

the unit,

Loading

Height

Height

Height

of

8 cm (3 inches) should

to

ensure proper ventilation. Place

bottom

A rigid and stable location is important. An

12.5" (32 cm) 12.5" (32 cm)

14.5" (37 cm) 14.5" (37 cm)

33" (84 cm)

26.5" (68 cm) 19.25" (49 cm)

21" (53 cm) 21" (53 cm)

be

to

make certain that

grip the surface firmly. Keep

of

debris and loose materials.

be

level,

to

ensure quiet, vibration-

CL3

33" (84 cm)

provided on each

the

the

the

or

move.

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Centra-CL3

Series

Operation

6

Manual

2.3

Power Configuration

Power Cord

The CL3 Series uses
appropriate for use throughout the world. Please check
catalog number
ensure that the machine you have is the proper power
configuration. For best results, the refrigerated centrifuge,
Centra-CL3R, should be used
Variations in line voltage
speed and other characteristics. Less than nominal line
voltage may prevent the centrifuge from reaching maximum
published specifications
Power line voltage, at some locations, may sag, when
refrigeration system turns on.

The unit requires a grounded power supply

If

outlet).
outlets, arrange for a proper grounding. The power
plugs in on the left rear side

your facility does not have grounded

AC

power in different configurations,

of

the model that you have purchased,

on

a dedicated line.

or

frequency affect the

of

speed and/or temperature.

(3

prong

of

the unit.

the

to

unit's

the

power

cord

~=~o~=:i:ili~~~t~~~e

power plug tbatdoes not

have

~

gr~Undilig

pin.

··

·.···

· ·

Circuit Breaker

The

power

highest

interchanged
demand.

createa

The system provides
emergency situations, such as power surges, that could
damage the unit.

If

the circuit breaker trips:

1.

Unplug the unit.

2.

Press the white button, on the left side

3.

Plug the unit back

cord

current

with

Exchange

fire

hazard.

provided with the tiJlltiscorrectly rated

demand.

cords

of

This

poweirord.shouldJ1ot

from

equipinentwitb.Jower current

power

cords

befiVeell

an

automatic circuit breaker, for

in.

equipment•may

of

the unit.

be

forthe

Centra-CL3 Series Operation Manual

7

2.4 Moving the Unit

Suction cups, at the bottom
the work surface. Keeping the unit stationary is a safety
feature.

To move the unit to a new location:

1.

Check that the new site meets the criteria

2.2., before moving the unit.

2.

Position a flat object, such as a tongue depressor, near a
suction cup at the bottom

3.

Lift up
enough to break the vacuum seal.

4.

When
work surface.

an

edge

of

all

four cups are disengaged, lift the unit from the

Caution: When the unit

the suction cups adhere correctly to the work surface.

of

the unit, keep it anchored

in

Section

of

the unit.

the cup, and insert the flat object far

is

in

its new location, ensure that

to

2.5 The Front Panel

©

The Front Control Panel

(Centra-CL3R)

Centra-CL3

Series

Operation

8

Manual

©

On/Off

use
control panel and refiigeration system (Refrigerated model
only). The
Stop a run with the
display chamber temperature whenever they are plugged in,
but will not cool down
light indicates that the centrifuge is plugged

key:

The On/Off key must be activated,

of

the front panel. This key applies power

On/Off key is inoperative during actual runs.

STOP key. Refrigerated models

if

the unit

is

off

to

enable

to

the

The red STOP

in.

The control panel contains numeric displays for
(Speed/Force), Time, and Temperature (Refrigerated only).
These displays have
display) and Set (dim display).

In Actual mode (bright display), they indicate current run

conditions, such as:

• rotor speed

• elapsed time of,

• actual temperature (Refrigerated only).

In Set mode (dim display), the display indicates the desired

settings for the run. Set mode

• whenever you use the up and down arrows

• briefly, at the start

• briefly, after the unit

The display
The display
numeric displays can, also, display warning
messages (see Section 3 .5). Descriptions
appear on the following pages.

is
is

two

states

or

force

or

time remaining

of

is

bright, when it shows Actual run conditions.

dim, when it shows Set parameters.

or

modes: Actual (bright

is

operative:

a run

switched ON

in,

the run

RPM/RCF

or

error

of

the displays

The

Centra-CL3 Series Operation Manual

9

0

Speed/Force display: The number in the speed/force

rotor

speed

display (above this symbol) represents the

RPM

or

force in RCF. Press this symbol

RPM

and RCF. When
indicates revolutions per minute. When
the display indicates relative centrifugal force.

to

arrow keys
shows speed within 50 RPM. It never requires calibration.
Select speed in increments
through 8,500 RPM. Select RCF in increments from

1 - 1,000 xg by 50 xg and above 1,000 xg by 100 xg. The
numeric display can, also, display warning
messages (see Section 3.5).

change the set speed

RPM

is selected, the display

of

100 RPM, from 1,000

or

to

toggle between

RCF

is selected,

force.

or

The

error

Use

in

the

display

Time display: The number

symbol) indicates time. Below ten minutes, time is

displayed as minutes:seconds. Above ten minutes,

minutes are displayed.

Time is set

• 1 second increments, from 1 ­15

•

• 1 minute increments, from 5 - 99 minutes.

In normal timed mode, the system counts
point. In time
counts up.

In At-Start mode, the timer begins counting
run. In At-Speed mode, the timer begins counting when the
rotor

Temperature display: The number

this symbol) represents temperature
from - 9 °C

in:

second increments, from 1 - 5 minutes.

Hold

or

reaches

95%

of

through+

in

the display (above this

59

seconds.

down

momentary spin modes,

at

the set speed.

in

the display (above

in

degrees Celsius,

40 °C (Refrigerated only).

just

from the set

the

system

the

start

of

a

Centra-CL3 Series Operation Manual

10

:I

Program

key: This key saves the currently displayed

desired settings as stored programs I through 99 (see
Section 3.3). The numeric display (above this symbol)
shows the stored program number and mode

of

operation

(see Section 3 .2).

Rotor/Radius
indicates the selected rotor number

Key: The display (above this symbol)

or

the

rotor radius,

in
centimeters. The rotor/radius key toggles between the two
displays. The applicable IEC rotor numbers are supplied

in

the memory, along with their maximum radii, in

centimeters. To select a rotor number, toggle

to

ROTOR,
and press an arrow key under the rotor/radius display. To
change the radius, toggle to RADIUS, and press an arrow

Note

key under the rotor/radius display.

that the radius
cannot be changed to a radius larger than the maximum
radius,

or

less than the minimum radius, for the selected

rotor.

Use the arrow keys to view or change the Set parameters
for Speed/Force, Time, Temperature (Refrigerated only)
Rotor/Radius,

or

Program. The first time the key is

pressed, the numeric display switches from Actual readings

If

to Set parameters, without changing them.
key a second time, the selected parameter increases

decreases once for each depression.

will

down, the setting

keep changing, until you release the

If

you hold the key

you press the

or

key.

The longer you hold the key, the more rapidly the setting
changes. Hold a key down, to approach a desired setting.
Then, press the up or down key, repeatedly, to select the
exact setting. When you release the arrow keys for
3 seconds, the display returns to the Actual readings.

Centra-CL3 Series Operation Manual

11

l

Acceleration and Braking

Gentle acceleration and braking can be selected, when

centrifuging delicate samples. The gentle settings avoid
mixing

This key controls rotor acceleration up to 400 RPM.
yellow light over the rabbit is lit,
selected.
acceleration
3 5 seconds to achieve 400 RPM, depending on the rotor
and its contents. After 400 RPM,

applied, until the set speed is reached.

This key controls rotor braking.

rabbit

the turtle

rotor

out,

operating speed to a stop.

This key starts a run. A run is governed by the Set

parameters (manual

light blinks, until the rotor reaches 95%
speed. The light stays on until the end

of

density gradients

If

the yellow light over the turtle

is

selected. Slow acceleration takes from

is

lit,

full

braking

is

lit,

slow braking is selected. (This means the

will

coast down from 600 RPM.)

all

braking is disabled; and the rotor

or

or

breakup

full

If

is

selected.

programmed). The associated green

of

pellets.

If

acceleration

is

full

acceleration

the yellow light over the

If

the yellow light over

If

both lights are

will

of

the set run

of

the run .

is

lit, slow

15

is

coast from

the

to

l

}

I

l

1

•

This key stops a run. (A run will, also, stop automatically
when the set time has elapsed
momentary mode.) The red light will flash, to indicate the
rotor

is

still slowing down (braking
run ends, the red light stays on, indicating that the rotor has
stopped.

This key unlocks the cover. This key

is

in

progress. Pressing it will not stop the run. The cover

will not unlock, until the rotor has slowed to below 100

rpm. The cover will open automatically, on ventilated units
only, at the end

of

a run.

or

the start key

or

coasting). When the

is

is

released, in

inoperative

if

a run

Centra-CL3

Series

Operation Manual

12

3 OPERATION

3.1

Rotor and Accessories

A balanced
unbalanced load produces vibration, and can damage the
unit. A 2 gram load imbalance, at a speed
imparts force equivalent to
Always ensure that the rotor is loaded symrn.etrically, with a
full

complement

tubes. Tube adapters should also be installed symmetrically.

IEC rotors are dynamically balanced at the factory. IEC

matches removable parts (trunnion rings, shields, buckets,
and carriers) to within I gram, and stamps the weight on
each piece. Check these markings, whenever you
interchange parts, to ensure that opposite parts are matched.
Ensure that the total weight
parts, loaded
within 1 gram. The position numbers, present on many
rotors and adapters, identify opposing tube positions.

To

obtain good dynamic balance, opposite loads must not
only be equal
of

gravity. Opposing containers must be alike
thickness, and distribution
especially important for large containers.

lo.ad

is

essential for all centrifuges.

9.

I kg (20 pounds) at rest.

of

accessories, and a

of

samples and removable

in

opposing positions, are equal

in

mass, but must, also, have the same centers

of

glass

full

or

plastic. This

An

of

4600 RPM,

(or paired) set

in

weight, to

in

of

shape,

is

Centra-CL3 Series Operation Manual

13

I

Tubes loaded into swinging bucket
symmetric, around the

ax.is

of
rotating the entire rotor 180°,
in

the same apparent positions (not mirror images). In

rotors

must be
rotation. Verify this by
by

hand.

The

loads should be

addition, the loads within each bucket must, also, be

symmetric around the bucket's pivot axis. Verify this
ensuring that each bucket

from the vertical, when the rotor is

balance within each bucket ensures that
tubes swing out to horizontal, when

is

loaded so that it does not tilt

at

rest. Maintaining

the

bucket and the

the

rotor reaches

by

operating speed, applying centrifugal force toward the

of

bottom

causes vibration and premature wear

the tubes. Failure to achieve full swing-out

of

the rotor and the

motor.

Samples oflike (similar) specific gravities may be processed
in

the same run, provided that the samples

of

the same type

are balanced around the rotor, as though they were the only

in

pairs

the rotor.

I

Rotor Balance

Load tubes

1.

Load two tubes at positions:

2. Load four tubes at positions:

3.

Load six tubes at positions:

4.

Loading

recommended.

in

the following manner:

9

and

18.

1,

5 and 10,

7, 3 and 16,

1,

9, 5 and 14, 18,

7, 9, 3 and 12, 18,

an

14

or

12

or

odd number

10

16

of

tubes is not

Caution:

Do

not exceed maximum rated speed for each

rotor/accessory combination. Maximum rated speeds can

in

be found

Section 4.2 - Speed

And

Force

Tables.

I

r -

Centra-CL3 Series Operation Manual

14