Precisionary Compresstome VF-310-0Z User Manual
Compresstome® VF-310-0Z User Manual
1
Thank You
Thank you for choosing the Compresstome® VF-310-0Z!
At Precisionary Instruments, we are thrilled to help you get started with your new vibrating
microtome, and we take great pride in quality customer service. Please read the following manual
to help you get started with the Compresstome® VF-310-0Z.
Note
The information, numerical data, notes and value judgements contained in this manual
represent the current state of scientific knowledge and state-of-the-art technology. We aim to
update the present manual regularly and on an ongoing basis according to the latest technical
developments. Please contact us or visit our website to find the latest versions of this user
manual.
Contact info@precisionary.com for updated information.
Website: www.precisionary.com
2
Table of Contents
Thank&You&................................................................................................................................................................................&1&
!
Part!1:!Introduction!.............................................................................................................................!3!
Safety&..........................................................................................................................................................................................&4&
Model&Description&................................................................................................................................................................&5&
Technical&Specifications&.....................................................................................................................................................&6&
Model&Components&..............................................................................................................................................................&7 &
Control&Box&Anatomy&..........................................................................................................................................................&9&
Accessories&...........................................................................................................................................................................&11&
Starter&Kit&Components&...................................................................................................................................................&12&
!
Part!2:!Setup!........................................................................................................................................!13!
IMPORTANT!&How &t o&R e p la ce &th e &V ib ra tio n &H ea d &..............................................................................................&14&
Mounting&the&Cutting&Blade&to&the&Blade&Holder&.................................................................................................&19&
Preparing&Agarose&for&Embedding&.............................................................................................................................&25&
Cutting&Parameters&Guideline&......................................................................................................................................&26&
Embedding&Tissue&in&Agarose&......................................................................................................................................&28&
!
Part!3:!Operation!...............................................................................................................................!30!
Sectioning&with&the&Compresstome®&Tissue&Slicer&............................................................................................&31&
!
Part!4:!General!Information!...........................................................................................................!33!
Cleaning&and&Maintenance&.............................................................................................................................................&34&
Buffer&Tray&Maintenance&and&Cleaning&....................................................................................................................&36&
Auto&Zero-Z®&Technology&.............................................................................................................................................&37&
Troubleshooting&.................................................................................................................................................................&38&
Warranty&Information&.....................................................................................................................................................&41&
Contact&Information&..........................................................................................................................................................&42&
3
Part 1: Introduction
4
Safety
Dangers, warnings, and cautions appear in a box and are marked by the warning
triangle.
Important information for the user, such as disclaimers, appear in a box and are
marked by the information symbol.
Caution! Follow the accompanying documentation.
5
Model Description
The VF-310-0Z tissue slicer model is the latest version of our flagship product in the
Compresstome® slicer family. With patented Auto Zero-Z® technology, the VF-310-0Z is fully
automated to section both fixed and live tissues with a thickness range of 4 µm* to 1000 µm and
an adjustable precision of 1 µm.
The Compresstome® VF-310-0Z excels at sectioning slices used for:
● Electrophysiology
● Immunohistochemistry
● Organotypic culture slices
● Precision cut tissue slices
● Sectioning of mature or older brain tissues
● And much more!
*Slice thickness minimum depends on tissue sample and organ system.
6
Technical Specifications
Advance Speed
0-20 mm/s, adjustable
Return Speed
20 mm/s
Vibration Frequency
0-45 Hz, adjustable
Vibration Amplitude
2 mm
Z-axis Vibration
~0 µm
Compatible Blades
Stainless Steel, Ceramic, Tungsten Carbide,
Sapphire Diamond
Cutting Angle
15 degrees (no need for blade alignment)
Thickness Adjustment
Automatic
Micrometer Resolution
1 µm
Maximum Tissue Diameter
6.5mm (small), 12.5 mm (standard), 15.5 mm
(large), 22mm (extra large)
Maximum Tissue Length
3 mm
Minimum Slice Thickness
4 µm*
Cutting Mode
Single or Continuous
Cutting Bath
140 x 60 x 30 mm
Power Source
120 V AC
Power Consumption
18 W
Dimension ( L x W x H )
330 x 240 x 190 mm
Weight
5 kg
*Depends on tissue type and organ system.
7
Model Components
(1)$Blade$Holder
(2)$Buffer$Tray
(3)$Vibration$Head
(4)$Specimen$Tube
(5)$Control$Box
(7)$Tissue$Advancement$Plunger
(8)$Buffer$Tray$Plug
(1)$Blade$Holder (2)$Buffer$Tray
(3)$Vibration$Head
(5)$Control$Box
(6)$Transportation$Fixture
(8)$Buffer$Tray$Plug
8
Figure'Number'
Compresstome'Part'
Part'Number'
Function'
1
Blade Holder
VF-BH-VM-310-0Z-NC
Holds and stabilizes the
cutting blade
2
Buffer Tray
VF-BT-VM-LP-BOS
Holds buffer or
solutions during
sectioning
3
Vibration Head
VF-VHU-VM-310-0Z-NC
Blade oscillation
assembly, which
includes a blade holder,
and an oscillation
motor
4
Specimen Tube
VF-SPS-VM-6.5-BOS
VF-SPS-VM-12.5-BOS
VF-SPS-VM-15.5-BOS
VF-SPS-VM-22-BOS
Four different tube
sizes (6.5, 12.5, 15.5,
and 22 mm in diameter)
that hold the specimen
for sectioning and
embedding tissue in
agarose
5
Control Box
--
Controls for the cutting
speed, oscillation
frequency, and desired
thickness in microns.
6
Transportation Fixture
--
Stabilizes vibration
head for safe transport
7
Tissue Advancement
Plunger
--
Pushes the specimen
tube forward for sample
to be cut
8
Buffer Tray Plug
VF-BT-PL-BOS
On/off knob to keep
solution in buffer tray
and easily remove
solution when needed
9
Control Box Anatomy
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5a)
(5b)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12a)
(12b)
(13)
10
Figure'Number'
Control'Box'Part'Name'
Control'Box'Function'
1&
Slice&Count&Display&Screen&
Displays&how&many&slices&have&been&
cut&in&a&cutting&cycle&
2&
Total&Amount&Sectioned&(in&µm)&
Displays&the&total&amount,&inµns,&
of&tissue&that&has&been§ioned&since&
you&began&to&cut&in&a&cycle&
3&
Current&Slice&Thickness&(in&µm)&
Displays&the&thickness&range&your&VF310-0Z&will&cut&slices&to&(in&µm)&
4&
Tissue&Advancement&Plunger&
Advances&the&specimen&tube&forward&
after&each&slice&is&made&
5a&
Fast&Forward&Function&
Moves&the&tissue&advancement&
plunger&forward,&towards&the&
specimen&tube.&Use&this&function&to&get&
the&tissue&advancement&plunger&to&
touch&the&end&of&the&specimen&tube&
before&you&begin&a&cutting&cycle&
5b&
Fast&Reverse&Function&
Moves&the&tissue&advancement&
plunger&in&reverse,&for&easy&removal&of&
the&specimen&tube&from&the&buffer&
tank&
6&
Start&Button&for&Sectioning&
The&button&that&will&start&your&
sectioning&after&turning&the&machine&
one&and&setting&your&settings&&
7&
Knob&that&Controls&Speed&Setting&
Knob&that&will&control&how&fast&the&
blade&holder&moves&on&the&cutting&
track&
8&
On/Off&Switch&
Turns&the&VF-310-0Z&on&and&off&
9&
Reset&Button&
This&reset&button&is&for&resetting&the&
total&number&ofµns&cut&in&a&
cutting&cycle&
10&
Knob&that&Controls&Oscillation&
Setting&
Knob&that&will&control&the&oscillation&
frequency&of&the&blade&h o lde r&a s&it&c uts &
11&
Knob&for&Slice&Thickness&Setting&
Use&this&knob&to&adjust&your&desired&
slice&thickness&for§ioning&
12a&
Single&Cutting&Mode&
Single&cutting&mode&will&only§ion&
one&slice&at&a&time&
12b&
Continuous&Cutting&Mode&
Continuous&cutting&mode&will§ion&
continuous§ions&in&a&row&
13&
Stop&Button&for&Sectioning&
The&button&that&will&stop&the&vibrating&
head&wherever&it&is&along&the&cutting&
track&
11
Accessories
Figure'Number'
Compresstome'Part'
Part'Number'
Function'
1
Chilling Block
VF-VM-CB-6.5-BOS
VF-VM-CB-12.5-BOS
VF-VM-CB-15.5-BOS
Rapidly chills agarose in
specimen tube for
sectioning with the
Compresstome
2a
Specimen Tube: White
Plunger
VF-SPS-VM-6.5-BOS
VF-SPS-VM-12.5-BOS
VF-SPS-VM-15.5-BOS
VF-SPS-VM-22-BOS
Where tissue specimen is
glued onto
2b
Specimen Tube: Metal
Tube
End with tapered lip for
compression technologywhite plunger will move
through the metal tube for
sectioning
3
Acetone Bath for Blade
Holder
VF-VM-AB
Use to remove glue from
the blade holder before
reapplying a new blade
4
Allen Wrench for Blade
Holder
VF-BH-VM-AW
Use to remove and tighten
the small screw on the
blade holder when taking it
on/off the machine
5
Power Cord
VF-VM-PC-BOS
Power cord for the VF-3100Z model
(1)$Chilling$Block (2a)$Specimen$Tube:$
White$Plunger
(2b)$Specimen$Tube:$
Metal$Tube
(3)$Acetone$Bath$
for$Blade$Holder
(4)$Allen$
Wrench$for$
Blade$Holder
(5)$Power$Cord$
12
Starter Kit Components
Note: All of our Compresstome® consumables can be ordered online at:
http://precisionary.com/e-store/
Contact us directly at info@precisionary.com, and we will send you a quote.
Consumable
Part Number
Quantity
Description
Agarose Tablets
VF-AGT-VM-10
10
Low melting agarose for
embedding tissue.
Blades
VF-BL-VM-SSB
10
Double-edged stainlesssteel blades.
Pipettes
__
4
Plastic, disposable
pipettes included for easy
transfer of agarose into
the specimen tubes for
embedding.
Glue
VF-VM-GLUE
1
Used for securing blades
to the blade holder and
tissue specimens to the
specimen tube.
Forceps
VF-VM-FORCEPS
2
Small forceps for easy
manual manipulation of
tissue sample.
Petroleum Jelly
VF-VM-PJ
2
Petroleum jelly
recommended for
application to the inside
of the tube adapter to
help prevent minor leaks
for Compresstome→
slicer buffer trays (0.16
ounces each packet)
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