Laura Lambert wrote:

Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 15:00 A new target boat [new design with no end caps] was sprayed with TaC coating and let dry. The target boat is wrapped with 3-layers of Ta-heat shield. The boat was installed in EVAP2, chamber is currently being pumped down.

 Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 18:31

Chamber was pumped down to 2.5e-6 Torr. 

HS water valve open; no leaks detected.

Stepping up TGHT to 40A - pressure is increasing...

 Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 19:05

Auto-ramping TGHT to 580A at 0.5A/min.  Temperature will be measured and TGHt will be adjusted accordingly.

 Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 11:57

Pressure is stable at 2.2-6 Torr as TGHT is ramping up.  Increase ramping rate to 2.0A/min.  Currently TGHT at 540A.

 Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 15:36

TGHT at 580A for 2 hrs.  Inner tube temp (left side wall, viewing from the window port) ~1800C (measured with Mikron = 1550C +250C em. correction); Vac @ 1.67e-6 Torr.

Temperature measurement distance from the window to Mikron = 45cm.

Increase TGHT to reach 2000C (Mikron @ 1750C)

 Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 18:14

TGHT has gone up to 725A/13.2V.  Temp measured at 1740C (+250C = ~2000C).  Pressure gone up to 5.5e-6 Torr and it's coming down slowly.

Will continue heating at this temperature for a few hours; then cool down afterward.

 Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 18:56

Temperature is pretty stable at 1740C on Mikron, and pressure is still coming down, currently at 2.9e-6 Torr.

Slow ramping down TGHT at 1.0A/min.  The chamber should be ready for venting tomorrow. 

Target boat will be inspected.

 Thursday, September 25, 2014, 17:25.

The boat was inspected and it turned out great!  The coating was fully sintered and there is no sign of damage on the boat. 

See the link for photos.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/m7ycqhkj4avfull/AABHVTweTsP4ajeWZ6uoY010a?dl=0