Unloading and Loading Film into the Electron Microscope

 

 

Unloading:

 

1.        When preparing to remove exposed film from the camera chamber of the electron microscope, first, lock all entrance doors to the room and shut off all white lights, including panel lights on the scope. Turn on red safety lamps only. If there is a Do Not Disturb sign to post outside the room, do so. You will be working under red lights only.

 

2.        Turn off the filament.

 

3.        Under red safety lights conditions, turn off the film storage dessicator's vacuum and allow the dessicator to pop open. When it does, remove (with powder-free gloved hands) the new film box and new receiver box. The new film box contains 50 plates of unexposed film. The new receiver box should be empty. Note how each box is labeled and the direction of the arrows. Place these on the scope counter.

 

4.        On the electron microscope, turn the camera chamber's door handle clockwise until it stops. Wait for this door to pop open.

 

5.        Once the camera chamber door opens, the following steps should be done as quickly as possible (so that the camera chamber is not exposed for a long time).

 

6.        Pull out the drawer by its handle.

 

7.        Remove both the film box and the receiving box and place both on a free area of the counter. The film box may be empty or still have a few unexposed films. The receiver box should contain plates of exposed film.

 

8.        Place the new set of boxes (taken from the dessicator) into the camera chamber. Place the new film container into the rear of the drawer, seating it properly. Shine the red safety lamp if you need to see if the container is seated properly in the drawer. Then place the new receiver box in the front area of the drawer. Again, make sure it is seated properly. Any ill-fitting boxes can damage the camera chamber when the drawer is forced closed.

 

9.        Push in the drawer all the way back into the camera chamber by its handle.

 

10.     Before closing the chamber door, run your ungloved finger around the block O-ring in the door to remove any lint, dust, etc. Do the same for the outside of the chamber that will be in contact with the O-ring.

 

11.     Close the door well and turn the handle counterclockwise as far as it will go. Do not over-tighten!

 

12.     The vacuum system for the camera chamber will activate. Look on page 3 of the TV screen to confirm normal vacuum sequence. If the camera chamber is not evacuating properly or is taking too long, suspect that there is a vacuum leak in the camera door. To check this, open the camera chamber again. Then pull out the drawer and check that the boxes are seated properly. Next, run your finger again over the o-ring and the outside contact area of the chamber. Then re-close the door and allow the vacuum operation to re-commence. If there still seems to be a problem, call on someone else for help, or call JEOL USA, Inc., in Peabody, Mass. and speak to a specialist there (1-800-343-6766).

 

13.     The next step is to unload the exposed films for later development in the darkroom. To do this, have ready a light-tight container box to transport the exposed film to the darkroom.

 

14.     Prepare to unload exposed sheets of film from the receiver box. Slide the receiver box open. Remove all of the plates and place them, film-side up on the counter. Close the receiver box with its cover and place this box into the film dessicator.

 

15.     Carefully remove each film from its plate by touching its edge only. Bend each negative slightly to remove it from the 4 corner notches. Stack each film negative in the light-tight box. When all exposed films are removed, place them into a foil envelope. Then place this folded envelope into the light-tight box and tape the cover on it shut. Only open this box under dark/red light conditions. Put aside for now.

 

16.     Prepare to load new, unexposed film sheets into these 50 or less empty plates. To do this, get new film from the film dessicator.

 

17.     Carefully, prepare to insert a new film sheet, gray emulsion side up into a film plate. Note that each negative is gray on one side and black on the other. Note too that there is one notched corner on the film. The final position of the notched corner will be close to the ring hole in the plate. See diagram below. Slide the film into the bottom two corners of the film plate. Then bend the top corners of the film and insert into the top two corners of the film plate. Wiggle the film sheet around a bit to check if it is seated in all four corners of the film plate.

18.     The film box is spring loaded, so before placing any plates into this box, push the floor of the box all the way in. Then, one by one, place each film/plate into the box, with the ring holed side of the plate positioned towards the right. See diagram:

19.     Once all of the plates are in the film box, then slide the cover closed. The cover, like the cover on the receiver box, should follow the proper track when closing it. Then, pop the spring on the underside of the box to release the spring. This should force all the plates up against the cover and serve to keep the lid closed. Place the film box into the dessicator.

 

20.     Run an ungloved finger around the O-ring of the dessicator cover before closing it. After closing the door/cover, turn on the vacuum. While the dessicator is achieving vacuum, note if the red light on the dessicator control panel is blinking. This would indicate that there is a leak somewhere. In that case, turn off the vacuum operation. Allow the cover to open. Run your finger over the O-ring again and over the rim of the dessicator itself. Re-close the door/cover and turn on the vacuum button. Check to see if red light starts to blink again. Call someone for help if problem persists or call JEOL USA, Inc.

 

21.     Turn off the red safety lights. Turn room lights on if needed. Remove the Do Not Disturb sign from outside door.

 

22.     On the TV screen, go to page 1. You will type in FUN to enter the new # of unexposed films now in the scope. So, after typing in FUN, then hit the return key. Type in 50, then hit return.

 

23.     The next job to do is to develop your exposed films in the darkroom. See next chapter.