Tuesday, January 28, 2014, 15:43

The target containers end-caps were coated with TaC spray and let dry.

Each cap is wrapped with a small piece of graphite foil and inserted in the target boat. [see attached photo]

The chamber is currently being pumped down overnight.

 Wednesday, January 29, 2014, 11:32

Chamber was pumped down to 1.6e-7 Torr overnight.

HS cooling water valve opened; no leaks detected.

TGHT was stepped up to 35A, voltage max set at 11.05V. TBHT currently at 0A.

Waited ~20min, current stabilized, vacuum started to drop, auto-ramp initiated at 0.2A/min and max setpoint to 580A.

Good vacuum: 3.00e-5 Torr, Bad vacuum 4.00e-5 Torr.

 Thursday, January 30, 2014, 09:06

TGHT has been slowly ramping up overnight at a rate of 0.2A/min.

IGP1 = 2.4e-7 Torr, TGHT = 283A; stepping ramping rate up to 2.0A/min.

 Thursday, January 30, 2014, 15:53

TGHT reached 580A at 11:45. Measured temp @1650C.

Initiating TGHT auto-cooling now at 2.0A/min.

 Friday, January 31, 2014, 09:04

Chamber cooled down overnight, vented and opened this morning.

Smooth run!

 Friday, January 31, 2014, 11:21

Opened up the end caps, turns out it wasn't such a smooth run...they're not fully sintered 

See attached photo comparison between fully sintered end cap [silver] and end cap from this run [green].

Will re-install and re-sinter next week.

 Wednesday, February 05, 2014, 11:34

End-caps re-installed into EVAP2

Target boat is wrapped with 3 x Ta heat-shield.

Chamber is currently being pumped down.

 Wednesday, February 05, 2014, 14:31

Chamber was pumped down to 5e-7 Torr this morning.

HS cooling water valve opened, no leaks detected.

TGHT was stepped up to 35A, voltage max set at 11.05V. TBHT currently at 0A.

Waited ~20min, current stabilized, vacuum started to drop, auto-ramp initiated at 0.2A/min and max setpoint to 580A.

Good Vacuum: 3.00e-5 Torr, Bad vacuum 4.00e-5 Torr.

 Thursday, February 06, 2014, 09:06

TGHT has been slowly ramping up overnight at a rate of 0.2A/min.

IGP1 = 1.1e-7 Torr, TGHT = 259A; stepping ramping rate up to 2.0A/min.

 Friday, February 07, 2014, 10:10

TGHT reached 580A yesterday. Measured internal temp @ 1500C.

Initiated TGHT auto-cooling this morning at 2.0A/min

 Tuesday, February 11, 2014, 13:30

Vented and opened chamber this morning.

Endcaps are toast  [see pictures attached]

Some of the endcaps broke/fried, others deformed-none useable.

Possibly due to new target boat resulting in more current?

Too much heat with Ta heat shields?

Bad News Bears