Thursday, September 11, 2014, 13:14

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

The caps are inserted in the target boat wrapped in graphite foil with 3 x Ta-heat shields.

The chamber is currently pumping down.

 Friday, September 12, 2014, 14:17

Chamber was pumped down overnight.

HS cooling water valves opened, no leaks detected.

IGP1 = 7.2e-7 Torr.

TGHT stepped up to 35A, TBHT at 0A.

Waited ~30min, current stabilized, vacuum started to drop, auto-ramp initiated at 0.2A/min.

Will ramp TGHT to 580A with a max 10V.

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

 Monday, September 15, 2014, 11:31

TGHT stopped at 500A due to not high enough voltage max.

Increased max voltage to 12V

 Monday, September 15, 2014, 14:17

IGP1 = 6.3e-7 Torr

Increasing ramping rate to 1.0A/min

 Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 09:04

TGHT reached 577A and finished auto-ramping, then proceeded to drop down to 560A overnight.

Increased max voltage to 13.05A and TGHT to 580A.

 Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 13:52

TGHT reached 580A and sat there for ~5hrs.

IGP1 = 6.1e-7 Torr.

Initiating auto-cool at 2.0A/min.

 Wednesday, September 17, 2014, 13:03

Vented in air.

Opened up....looked 'deceivingly' ok.

then i took a layer of Ta off....grrrr  

the 1st layer of Ta was holding the boat together. as soon as that layer was taken off the target boat broke.

see attached photos.