Mon Apr 11 10:21:56 2011: Target is wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shields.  Evaporator is pumping down. 

Mon Apr 11 14:34:32 2011:  Evaporator has been pumped down for over 4 hours.  Vac @ 2.83e-6 Torr.  (see attachment#1 for pumping down process).

Mon Apr 11 14:38:05 2011:  Auto heating beings.  (see attchement#2 for the parameter setup)

Mon Apr 11 17:06:51 2011:  Auto heating is in process,  TGHT @ 324A/2.031V.  The target heater should reach at the max 820A at around 21:30 and will remain at that current for at least 3 to 4 hours.  ISAC Ops will help start the auto-cooling tomorrow at 03:00.

 Tue Apr 12 09:43:46 2011:  Auto cooling down process ended. TGHT stayed at 820A for about 5.5 hrs.  (see attchment# for cooling down process).

Tue Apr 12 09:59:43 2011: Pumps and p/s off, evaporator vented.

Tue Apr 12 10:29:38 2011:  Target wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shields.  Evaporator is currently being pumped down.

Tue Apr 12 15:03:55 2011:  Evaporator has been pumped down for over 4 hrs.  Set TGHT @ 20A/ 0.066V, Vac @ 2.46e-6 Torr. (See Attachment#1 pumping down process).

Tue Apr 12 15:05:11 2011: TGHT @ 40A/0.142V, VAc @ 2.46e-6 Torr. 

Tue Apr 12 15:14:16 2011  Auto heating process begins (See attachment #2 for the parameter setup).  TGHT will reach to 820A max at around 21:45 and the current will stay there for at least 4 hours.  Instructions have given to ISAC Ops to being the auto-cooling down process tomorrow at 03:00 

Wed Apr 13 10:00:13 2011:  TGHT reached to 820A max and stayed for about 5 hrs before the cooling process begun (see Attachment#2: Cooling down process). 

Wed Apr 13 10:04:19 2011: p/s is now off and evaporator is now vented. 

Wed Apr 13 10:37:25 2011:  Target is wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shields.  Evaporator is currently being pumped down.

Wed Apr 13 15:28:02 2011:  Evaporator has been pumped down for over 5 hrs.  Vac @ 2.38e-6 Torr.  (See attachment1: Pumping process)

Wed Apr 13 15:29:21 2011: Set TGHT @ 20A/0.074V, Vac 2.98e-6 Torr.

Wed Apr 13 15:30:00 2011: Set TGHT @ 40A/0.158V, Vac @ 2.30e-6 Torr. 

Wed Apr 13 15:37:42 2011:  Auto heating begins.  TGHT will increase to 820A by 2A/min.  Cooling down will take after the current has stayed at 820A for at least 4 to 5 hrs.   ISAC Ops will help to start the cooling process on April 14 at 03:00.  (See attachment#2: Parameter Setup).

Thu Apr 14 09:49:31 2011:  TGHT reached to 820A and stayed there for about 5.5 hrs.  ISAC Ops helped to start the cooling process (see attachment3: Cooling process).  The target is ready to come out from the evaporator.   P/S is off and evaporator is vented.

Mon Apr 18 12:18:55 2011:  A problem with the bolt and washer occurred during the fin diffusion bonding.  (See attachment #1 and Message ID#15 for more details) .  This target needs to be repaired.

Thu Apr 14 09:52:59 2011: Target is wrapped with 3-Ta heat shield and ready to go into the evaporator. 

Thu Apr 14 11:57:29 2011: The process is on hold until the problem with the screw and the washer of the evaporator is resolved.  See ID#15 for more details.

Fri Apr 15 11:22:27 2011:  The shorter fully threaded bolts and un-threaded washer are being used. 

Fri Apr 15 11:23:30 2011:  Target is in the evaporator and ready for the fin diffusion bonding.  The evaporator is currently being pumped down.

Fri Apr 15 15:57:40 2011: TGHT @ 20A, Vac @ 4.53e-6 Torr.  ISAC Ops will help to start the auto heating process at 18:00hr tonight  and  begin the auto cooling on April 16 @ 18:00 hr. 

 Mon Apr 18 10:53:39 2011:  Target was heated @ 820A over the weekend and pumped down on Saturday April 16 in the evening.  P/S is off and evaporator is vented.  (see Attachment#1 for the striptool)

Mon Apr 18 12:16:22 2011:  Target fin diffusion bonding is nicely done, and the evaporator shows no sign of any coating.  It looks like the problem from the bolts and washers is resolved.  

Wed Apr 20 16:39:46 2011:  Target oven was coated with TaC early today.  The target was allowed to dry and then wrapped with 3 Ta heat-shields.  The target is in the evaporator and it is being pumped down.  Vac is currently at 9.48e-6 Torr. 

Wed Apr 20 17:51:12 2011 : TGHT @ 60A/0.225V, Vac @ 5.98e-6 Torr. 

Wed Apr 20 18:20:04 2011: Auto-heating begins @ 0.5A/min to max of 820A.

Thu Apr 21 10:12:34 2011: TGHT was auto ramping up slowly over night to 546A this morning.  The ramping rate has changed to 2A/min since the vacuuum is stable at ~3.9e-6 Torr.

 Tue Apr 26 11:10:03 2011:  TGHT reached to 820A max on April 21 and stayed at that current for a few hours.  ISAC Ops helped to ramped down the heater afterward.  (See attachment#1: Overall Process).

Result:  Good!  TaC is coated evenly on the target. 

Mon May 9 16:09:35 2011:  Target is wrapped with 3 Ta heatshields and the evaporator is begin pumped down.

Mon May 9 17:59:57 2011:  Vac is @ 1.33e-5 Torr.  TGHT was stepped up to 60A before starting the auto heating process (See Attachment#1: TGHT_ramping_up).   Note: Although the vacuum is at low e-5 torr, this should be fine to start the TGHT because it takes a while to heat up the high power target.

Tue May 10 11:10:44 2011:  TGHT reached to 820A and stayed for 4 hrs before ISAC Ops helped to begin the cooling process.  (See Attachment#2: Overall process).

Tue May 10 14:56:05 2011:  Target is wrapped with 3 heat-shields.  The evaporator is pumping down, vac @ 4.72e-6 Torr.  TGHT was raised to 60A/0.239V.  Auto heating will being now; THGT will be ramped up to 820A @ 2A/min. (See Attachment#1: Staring_process)

Wed May 11 10:16:03 2011: Auto cooling was started by ISAC Ops' help.  TGHT has ramped down to zero.  The p/s will be turned off and the evaporator will be vented soon. (See Attachment#2: Overall Process).

Before began the carbonization process, two cameras were setup in the hotlab for monitoring the evaporator and the power supply.  On duty ISAC Ops also helps to monitor on a regular basis and to grab the striptools + cameras (twice/shift) and put this information in the ISAC Logbook with subject header:  "UCx_2011_A 'date time'", for easy search.  

Wed May 25 14:39:31 2011:  UO2/C cast was dried in the fumehood over the weekend.  The cast was pilled off from the coated WD40 glass plate, rolled up and put in a target heating boat (/w TaC coating & sintered).   The boat was wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shields, then installed in the evaporator which is currently being pumped down.

Thu May 26 11:40:06 2011:  Vac @ 1.75e-6 torr, BP @ 0.032T.  TGHT stepped up to 30A/0.092V (panel @ 27A), ; TGHT has been held for over 10 mins, no change in vacuum yet.

Thu May 26 11:46:48 2011: TGHT @ 40A/0.123V (panel @ 37A), Vac 2.3e-6 Torr, BP@0.032T. 

Thu May 26 15:13:19 2011:  TGHT has been at 40A/0.123V for sometime.  Currently, Vac @ 4.39e-5 Torr, BP@ 0.27T.  (See Attachement#1)

Thu May 26 17:28:36 2011:  Auto ramping has begun.  (see attachment#2).  TGHT @ 40.60A, (panel @ 38A), vac @ 3.84 e-5 Torr.  

Wed Jun 1 13:28:58 2011:  TGHT currently at 395A/3.16V, vac @ 4.47e-5 Torr.  Heating sequence changed for the increment from 4.5e-5 Torr to 5.0e-5 Torr. 

Fri Jun 3 09:54:28 2011 :  The organics burnoff and the carbonization process are complete (see Attachment#3 for the striptool).  The cooling process will begin at a rate of 2A/min.  

Tue Jun 14 21:24:41 2011 :  The evaporator was about to be vented by argon on Jun 10 (Fri), but it was found that the argon cylinder was almost empty; a new one was replaced (see Attachment #4: Evaporator_Ar_flow).  After the argon cylinder was replaced,  the evaporator was purged with the gas and the vent valve was connected to the cylinder for venting of the evaporator.  The target oven was removed and stored in the hermetic transfer vessel, then transferred to the glove box.  (See attachment #5: UC2, Note: typo. Should read Ar gas, NOT N2).  The flakes were stored in the jar labelled "Stock# 2011_A", with total weight of 35g. 

Before began the carbonization process, two cameras were setup in the hotlab for monitoring the evaporator and the power supply.  On duty ISAC Ops also helps to monitor on a regular basis and to grab the striptools + cameras (twice/shift) and put this information in the ISAC Logbook with subject header:  "UCx_2011_B 'date time'", for easy search.  

P/S camera: http://isaccamera1, user/pw = admin

Evaporator camera: http://isac-cam01, user =admin, pw=yield 

Thu Jun 30 12:24:31 2011

UO2 used = 50.29g 

Green UO2/C = 71.96g, rolled up /w graphite sheet (15cm x 12cm), and put in the target boat, then wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shields.  The target is installed in the evaporator and is being pumped down.

Thu Jun 30 12:45:39 2011: Currently Vac @ 3.75e-5, CG2 @ 0.045T.

Friday, July 01, 2011, 13:28:  Vac @ 2.2-6 Torr.  TGHT set at 10A yesterday.   

Friday, July 01, 2011, 13:42:  TGHT stepped up to 36A (panel 33A), 0.134V.  No change in vacuum,  2.38e-6 Torr, CG @33mT. 

Friday, July 01, 2011, 13:51:  TGHT stepped up to 50A (panel 47A), 0.194V.  Vac @ 5.7e-6 Torr, CG2 @ 33mT.  

Friday, July 01, 2011, 14:09 :  Vac was rising slowly.  TGHT stepped up to 57A and the pressure started to increase faster.  TGHT was brought back down to 30A, and vac is coming down gradually.  (See attachment 1#2: Startup Vac/Current)

Friday, July 01, 2011, 14:16 :  Auto ramping began.  0.1/min, max currently @ 525A. (see attachement #3: Parameter)

Monday, July 04, 2011, 12:33:  TGTH @ 146.20A, Vac @ 4.74e-5 Torr.  (see attachment#4: 3-day trend).  Increase auto ramping rate to 0.5/min. 

Monday, July 04, 2011, 13:01:   TGHT @ 148A, Vac @ 5.20e-5 torr.  Auto rampiing paused until vacuum goes down to 5.0e-5 torr.  (see attachment#4)

Monday, July 04, 2011, 17:34:  TGHT @ 220A, VAC started to come down, indicating the burning off organics was done.  Increased heating rate to 1A/min. 

Friday, July 08, 2011, 21:30:  As per Peter Kunz, "I started the target cooldown sequence for IEVAP:TGHT1 at 20:35. The pressure came down to 4e-6 torr. The ramp down rate is 2A/min. Please check if the target heater current comes down to 0A. Then it can cool off over the weekend."

Monday, July 11, 2011, 12:17:  Evap glove box flashed with Ar gas, set pressure ~100psi.  Chamber also vented with Ar, set pressure  @ ~5psi.

 Monday, July 18, 2011, 15:53:  Target oven was coated with TaC and let dry over the weekend.  The target is now installed in the evaporator and currently being pumped down.  No Ta-heat shields are required for LP target ovens. 

Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 11:42:  Evaporator had to be vented to remove the target because Ta-heat shields were actually required for UCx target at 2uA p+.  Target heater was never turned on.   After removing the target oven, it was rolled around Ta wire; this prevent the Ta foil to stick on the oven.  Then 3 Ta-heat shields were wrapped around it, plus 2 shields on the back block.  The evaporator has been pumped down over night, currently vac @ 1.30e-6 Torr. 

Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 12:35: TGHT stepped up to 110A, pressure began to increase exponentially.   Brought THGT down to 100A. Will being auto cooling soon.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 12:48:  Auto heating beings.  2A/min, max current @ 520A.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 17:49:  TGHT reached to 520A.  Increased heater to 570A according to last year UCx procedures.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 19:46:  TGHT held at 570A for about 2 hours.  Cooling down has begun.  Set rate at 0.5A/min for slow cool down.  

Thursday, July 21, 2011, 12:20 :  TGHT cooling rate increased to 2A/min at about 10:25 am.  At 10:55am, TGHT p/s tripped off, and the water valve was closed.  Not sure what was the reason.  Rest p/s and water valve, and turned back the p/s and continue to cool down from 74A.  (see attachment#1: striptool)

Thursday, July 21, 2011, 14:45 :  TGHT off, chamber about to be vented into atmosphere.  

Wednesday, August 03, 2011, 20:27 :  Target was wrapped with 3 new Ta-heat shields and 2 around the back block.  The tar from the previous UCx conditioning remained in the chamber was removed and cleaned.  Chamber is currently being pumped down, vac currently @ 8.3 e-6 Torr. 

Wednesday, August 03, 2011, 21:01:  Begin to step up TGHT, currently vac @ 7.5e-6 Torr.

Wednesday, August 03, 2011, 21:30 : TGHT stepped to 110A, vac raising exponentially. 

Wednesday, August 03, 2011, 21:34:  Brought down TGHT to 100A, and began auto heating.  Set rate @ 2A/min, max current to 520A. 

Thursday, August 04, 2011, 00:33:  THGT is ramping up nicely and the vacuum is coming down.  It should reach to 520at 01:30.  I asked ISAC Ops to cool down the target heater at 04:00.

Thursday, August 04, 2011, 10:26 :  TGHT has reached to 0A.  Chamber will be vented.  See attachment1 for striptool.

 Monday, August 29, 2011, 13:16: Target oven was coated with TaC and let dry over night.  The target oven is in the evaporator and currently being pumped down.  

Monday, August 29, 2011, 15:12: Currently vac @ 8.41e-6 torr. 

Monday, August 29, 2011, 15:32: Stepped current up to 77A, started to see increase in pressure. 

Monday, August 29, 2011, 15:39:  Stepped current up to 110A.  Vac @ 1.32e-5 Torr.

Monday, August 29, 2011, 15:53: Vac went up to 3.8e-5 Torr @ 110A after 8 mins.  Brought TGHT back down to 100A, and began auto heating @ 2.0A/min to max current of 520A.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 08:39:  TGHT reached to 520A and was cool down by ISAC Ops at around 00:30.  See attachment#1 for striptool.  Evaporator will be vented. 

Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 09:29: Target Boat wrapped with 3 Ta heat shields. 6 D-End Caps and 6 End Caps coated with TaC. Pumping down - vac at 3.6e-5 torr.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 10:35: Stepped heater up to 100 A. Vacuum tripped heater. Stepped back up to 80 A then 70 A. Vac at 4.5e-5 torr.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 14:30: Manually increased heater to 580 A. Vac is 2.5e-5 torr. Local reading is 561 A for 570 A and 570 A for 580 A set points.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 15:57: Manually decreased heater in 12 min to 0 A from 460 A  vac starting at 6.3e-6 torr.

Anders Mjos wrote:

Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 09:29: Target Boat wrapped with 3 Ta heat shields. 6 D-End Caps and 6 End Caps coated with TaC. Pumping down - vac at 3.6e-5 torr. Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 10:35: Stepped heater up to 100 A. Vacuum tripped heater. Stepped back up to 80 A then 70 A. Vac at 4.5e-5 torr. Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 14:30: Manually increased heater to 580 A. Vac is 2.5e-5 torr. Local reading is 561 A for 570 A and 570 A for 580 A set points. Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 15:57: Manually decreased heater in 12 min to 0 A from 460 A  vac starting at 6.3e-6 torr.

 Vented evaporator. 

John Wong wrote:

Monday, August 29, 2011, 13:16: Target oven was coated with TaC and let dry over night.  The target oven is in the evaporator and currently being pumped down.   Monday, August 29, 2011, 15:12: Currently vac @ 8.41e-6 torr.  Monday, August 29, 2011, 15:32: Stepped current up to 77A, started to see increase in pressure.  Monday, August 29, 2011, 15:39:  Stepped current up to 110A.  Vac @ 1.32e-5 Torr. Monday, August 29, 2011, 15:53: Vac went up to 3.8e-5 Torr @ 110A after 8 mins.  Brought TGHT back down to 100A, and began auto heating @ 2.0A/min to max current of 520A. Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 08:39:  TGHT reached to 520A and was cool down by ISAC Ops at around 00:30.  See attachment#1 for striptool.  Evaporator will be vented.

 Tuesday, September 06, 2011, 17:04:  Re-conditioning sintered-TaC-coated target oven filled with sintered D-endcap.  No heat-shields.  Evaporator is currently pumping down:  CG2 = 51mT, IG1 = 2.65e-5 Torr.

TGHT auto-heating started by ISAC Ops as per JW at 18:45 yesterday when vacuum level at 6.6 e-6 Torr.  Then auto-cooling began at 05:30 this morning. BP @ 50mT - time to change backing pump oil. (see attachement1: overall striptool)

Wednesday, September 07, 2011, 11:16: Vented evaporator.  BP oil will be changed by Edi. 

Wednesday, September 07, 2011, 15:31

125 discs of TaC/C

Total discs mass = 125

Total length = 4.5mm

Total Mass = 30.41g

No Ta-heat shield. 

Left opening with D-TaC-sintered cap, and Right opening with regular TaC-sintered cap (orientation with the ionizer tube pointing out of the page).

Target is currently in the evaporator and being pumped down. 

Thursday, September 08, 2011, 09:13

Evaporator has been pumped down over night, IG1 currently at 1.74 e-6 Torr.   

Will begin TGHT, max @ 580A.

TGHT @ 50A, vac stable @ 1.7e-6 Torr.

Thursday, September 08, 2011, 10:18 

THGT @ 90A, pressure is increasing, currently at 4.7e-5 Torr and going up. 

 Thursday, September 08, 2011, 10:25

Auto-heating has begun. Set rate at 2A/min to max current 580A.

Incrementing if vac < 5.0 e-5 Torr, backing off if vac > 6.0 e-5 Torr. 

Friday, September 09, 2011, 07:58

TGHT auto cool down started @ 02:00, and at 0A.  IG currently @ 1.3e-6 Torr.  Venting chamber in progress.  Target will be removed from the evaporator afterward.

Target looks good :)  No signs of damage on the end cap or the target oven overall. 

See attachment 1 for the striptool. 

See attachment 2 and 3 for the target and endcaps after the sintering process.

Friday, September 09, 2011, 10:05

Target oven coated with TaC, and wrapped with 3-Ta heat shields.  Chamber is currently being pumped down. 

TGHT @ 140A, IG 9.2 e-6 Torr, BP 20mT. 

Started auto heating, rate @ 2A/min, to max current of 820A. 

Friday, September 09, 2011, 12:25

Evaporator tripped off at 163A. 

Stepped TGHT back to 160A.  Vacuum holding at 4.3e-5 Torr.

Monday, September 12, 2011, 09:55

Evaporator was cooled down over the weekend. 

Chamber will be vented shortly.

See attachment#1: striptool

Monday, September 12, 2011, 13:07

Target boat is loaded with coated TaC end caps for sintering.  Target boat is wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shields. 

Max TGHT = 580A

Monday, September 12, 2011, 14:58 

Vac @ 3.72e-6 Torr.  Stepping up TGHT to 90A; pressure starting to increase.

 Monday, September 12, 2011, 15:33

Evaporator tripped twice when TGHT was at 90A and 85A.  Lowered TGHT to 75A.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 09:56 

TGHT was on auto-heating and reached to 580A yesterday evening.  The auto cooling began at mid-night after heated for a few hours. 

The chamber will be vented shortly.

See attachment#1: striptool.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 16:51

Target is wrapped with 3-Ta heat shields. 

Loaded with 555 SiC discs (total mass 64.24g)

18cm in length.

D-end cap on one end, and a regular end end on the other.

Chamber is currently being pump down

 Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 09:58

Evaporator has been pumped down over night, currently IG @ 1.71e-6 Torr. BP @ 23mT.

The target will be heated up to 550A and will wait to see any reaction happen before increasing TGHT (Max 820A).

TGHT stepped up to 90A, local @ 87A.  Pressure slowly rising, IG @ 2.7e-6 Torr. BP @ 23mT. 

Start auto-heating @ 0.5A/min to max TGHT @ 500A.  

 Friday, September 16, 2011, 00:27:

TGHT @ 250A and pressure has already started to come down, currently at 2.8e-5 Torr.  

Increased TGHT rate from 0.5A/min to 2A/min, and pressure started to rise.  Stopped auto-ramping after pressure increased to 4.4e-5 Torr.  (see attachment#1: TGHT_270A-300A.jpg).

Decreased TGHT rate back to 0.5A/min and changed pressure limit to 3.0e-5 Torr.  

Friday, September 16, 2011, 01:49 :

TGHT @ 347A, and pressure seems to come down slowly. 

Change TGHT auto heating to 550A and pressure limit at 2.5e-5 Torr.  Vac currently at 2.4e-5 Torr.  Ramping rate at 0.5A/min. 

Friday, September 16, 2011, 10:58  

TGHT reached 580A and no spike in the vacuum.  Ramping up TGHT to 590A, keeping pressure limit @ 1.35e-5 Torr,

Currently IG @ 1.33 e-5 Torr.  Current TGHT @ 585.5A, local @  579A.

(see attachment 3: TGHT_580A)

Friday, September 16, 2011, 11:35:

TGHT reached to 590A, not much of out-gassing.  Pressure increased from 1.30e-5 Torr to 1.40e-5 Torr.  

Continue ramping up TGHT, set to 700A, pressure limiting @ 1.5e-5 Torr.

Friday, September 16, 2011, 15:29:

TGHT reached to 700A, local @ 692A; pressure was stable at 1.38e-5 Torr throughout the whole time.  

Continues ramping up TGHT to 820A (max) at 0.5A/min; pressure limiting @ 1.5e-5 Torr. 

Friday, September 16, 2011, 22:05 

TGHT reached to 820A (local 810A) and held for ~3hrs.  IG @ 5.4e-6Torr and coming down, BP @ 20mT. 

See attachment#4:  TGHT_820A.

TGHT cooling down begins... 

 Monday, September 19, 2011, 10:08

TGHT was cooled down over the weekend. 

See attachment#4: archiver_TGHT_0-820A. 

Currently, IG @ 6.9e-7 Torr, BP @ 27mT.

Evaporator will be vented. 

Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 08:51 

Target turned out well.  

D-cap was removed and replaced with a regular TaC-coated sintered endcap with a graphite foil.  

See attachments for details.

Target is now ready for assembly and test for test-stand. 

Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 13:23

Target oven was wrapped with 3-Ta heatshields including the back block. 

Target is in the chamber and currently being pumped down.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 15:52  

IG @ 5.9e-6 Torr.  

TGHT stepped up to 85A, and pressure slowly rising. 

Started auto heating:  0.5A/min.  TGHT to max 580A.  

Thursday, September 22, 2011, 10:19 

Target was heated up to 580A, and held for 3 hrs. 

Currently IG @ 6.15e-6 Torr.

Auto-cooling started...

Thursday, September 22, 2011, 20:20 

Target oven was removed from the evaporator, and it was successfully sintered with TaC. 

Friday, September 23, 2011, 13:39 :

See attachment1: Archiver_TGHt0-580A.