Wednesday, May 06, 2015, 13:54

Two different samples of ZrC are wrapped in graphite sheet and loaded into the target boat.

Sample #1 = ZrC

Sample #2 = ZrC+C

Both samples are hand punched with a 18mm die.

The target boat is wrapped with 3x Ta heat shield.

Pumped down this morning.

HS water valves opened, no leaks detected.

IGP1 = 1.5e-6 Torr.

Tapping up manually to 35A...

 Waited ~50min for vacuum to stabilize.

IGP1 = 5.3e-6 Torr.

Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min for the TGHT with a max setpoint of 275A/ 10V

Good vacuum = 3.00e-5 Torr. Bad vacuum = 4.00e-5 Torr.

Wednesday, May 06, 2015, 15:37  

Increasing ramping rate to 0.2A/min

 Thursday, May 07, 2015, 11:15

Stopping auto ramp.

TGHT = 273A.

Tapping up manually and recording data...

IGP1 = 6.6e-7 Torr.

 Thursday, May 07, 2015, 14:21

Increased max voltage to 14V

 Friday, May 08, 2015, 09:33

EVAP2 reached 2000C yesterday evening and remained at max setpoint overnight.

IGP1 = 3.8e-7 Torr

Initiated auto-cool this morning at 2.0A/min.

 Friday, May 08, 2015, 11:32

IGP1 = 2.1e-7 Torr

TGHT = 221A, 3.21V

OMEGA = 1100C

Increasing auto-cool to 5.0A/min.

 Friday, May 08, 2015, 15:53

Vented in air and opened up this afternoon.

See attachment for data results.

Laura Lambert wrote:

Friday, May 01, 2015, 10:27 Four different samples of ZrC are loaded into a target boat. Sample A: ZrC + NO graphite / hand cut Sample B: ZrC + NO graphite / laser cut Sample C: ZrC + graphite / hand cut Sample D: ZrC + graphite / laser cut A picture showing the different samples is attached [one face-up/ one face-down sample of each side-by-side] Each sample consists of ~20-25 discs, stacked together and wrapped in graphite sheet [see attachment for photo] The target boat is wrapped with 3 x Ta heat shield. EVAP1 pumped down overnight. HS water valves were opened this morning, no leaks detected. IGP1 = 5.5e-7 Torr. Tapping up TGHT manually to 30A...  Friday, May 01, 2015, 10:54 Tapped up manually to 30A. Over the course of 20min the vacuum climbed to IGP1 = 1.0 e-5 Torr. Backed off TGHT to 20A to allow vacuum to stabilize. Waited ~10min. Vacuum dropped to IGP1 = 6.5e-6 Torr. Tapped back-up manually to 30A. Waited ~45min. Vacuum stable, IGP1 = 1.2e-5 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min for the TGHT with a max setpoint of 300A / 5.00V. Good Vacuum = 3.00e-5 Torr. Bad vacuum = 4.00e-5 Torr.  Monday, May 04, 2015, 11:17 IGP1 = 2e-7 Torr. TGHT = 274A, 4.75V Ramp-up limited to 275A due to max voltage being set at 5.0V Increased max voltage to 10V Tapping up manually to 1800C and recording data.

 Monday, May 04, 2015, 17:24

Samples have been heated at 1800C for >2 hours. 

Vaccum at 4.3e-7 Torr, TGHT 475A/9.1V. (Direct Vol = 5.3V).

Initiated cooling down process.  Chamber will be vented tomorrow.

 Tuesday, May 05, 2015, 10:22

TGHT reached to 0A. Chamber has already vented. 

Samples will be taken out for examination.

 Friday, May 01, 2015, 10:27

Four different samples of ZrC are loaded into a target boat.

Sample A: ZrC + NO graphite / hand cut

Sample B: ZrC + NO graphite / laser cut

Sample C: ZrC + graphite / hand cut

Sample D: ZrC + graphite / laser cut

A picture showing the different samples is attached [one face-up/ one face-down sample of each side-by-side]

Each sample consists of ~20-25 discs, stacked together and wrapped in graphite sheet [see attachment for photo]

The target boat is wrapped with 3 x Ta heat shield.

EVAP1 pumped down overnight.

HS water valves were opened this morning, no leaks detected.

IGP1 = 5.5e-7 Torr.

Tapping up TGHT manually to 30A...

 Friday, May 01, 2015, 10:54

Tapped up manually to 30A.

Over the course of 20min the vacuum climbed to IGP1 = 1.0 e-5 Torr.

Backed off TGHT to 20A to allow vacuum to stabilize.

Waited ~10min.

Vacuum dropped to IGP1 = 6.5e-6 Torr.

Tapped back-up manually to 30A.

Waited ~45min.

Vacuum stable, IGP1 = 1.2e-5 Torr.

Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min for the TGHT with a max setpoint of 300A / 5.00V.

Good Vacuum = 3.00e-5 Torr. Bad vacuum = 4.00e-5 Torr.

 Monday, May 04, 2015, 11:17

IGP1 = 2e-7 Torr.

TGHT = 274A, 4.75V

Ramp-up limited to 275A due to max voltage being set at 5.0V

Increased max voltage to 10V

Tapping up manually to 1800C and recording data.

Laura Lambert wrote:

Friday, April 17, 2015, 16:01 Total number of foils: 520 discs Total mass of materials [incl graphite foils]: 60.2441g Total length packed: 17.0cm Container is wrapped with 3x Ta-heat shields. No endcaps inserted to allow outgasing. Currently being pumped down.  Monday, April 20, 2015, 11:08 Target container is coated with TaC and wrapped with 3-Ta heat shields, not incl center block. TGHT and TBHT will be ramped up to 820A and 230A, respectively. Chamber pumped down over the weekend. IGP1 = 2.1e-7 Torr. HS cooling water valves opened; no leaks detected. TGHT max voltage = 18V, TBHT max voltage = 5V .... attempted to start stepping up manually. power supply not responding to epics controls for TBHT only...looking into problems now...  Monday, April 20, 2015, 16:06 Epics is working. Power supply connections unplugged/plugged back in. Everything working again. Tapped up manually to 40A. Waited ~1hr30 for vacuum to stabilize. IGP1 = 1.8e-6 Torr. Good vac = 3e-5 Torr. Bad vac = 4e-5 Torr. TGHT and TBHT will be ramped up to 820A and 230A, respectively. Initiating auto-ramp at 0.2A/min and 0.1A/min for the TGHT and TBHT respectively.  Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 15:23 TGHT = 200A, 2.26V; TBHT = 117A, 1.58V IGP1 = 9.8e-6 Torr. Increasing auto-ramp to 0.4A/min and 0.2A/min for the TGHT and TBHT respectively.

 Thursday, April 23, 2015, 10:15

Vac at 2.e-6 Torr.  Increased TGHT ramping rate to 1.0A/min.  Current temperature at 1443C, TGHT at 641A, TBHT at 230A.

 Thursday, April 23, 2015, 15:02

Evap#2 window for the temp reader is now coated, so temp reading is not available.  (see attachment). 

TGHT has been at 820A/13.45V for almost 2 hours, will continue to heat at this current for a few more hours.  Will initiate the cooling process from home…  

 Thursday, April 23, 2015, 22:31

Target has been heated at 820A for about 9.5hrs.  Current vacuum at 4.7e-7 Torr.

Initiating cooling process at -2A/min for TGHT and -1A/min for TBHT.

Friday, April 24, 2015, 10:13  

Target has been cooled at 0A for about 5 hours.  Chamber is currently being vented and the target will be taken out for inspection.

Friday, April 24, 2015, 12:37  

The target was inspected.  

Some yellow crystals were form around the ends but they were easily removed this time.  

With both ends open during the sintering process and shorten the target length with 1cm space of both side, the target is looking a lot better.  

 No visible damage on the target surface.  

Inside, the channel has a clear pathway, and the discs are nicely aligned.  

End caps and Rh foils are inserted - It's ready for assembly.

See link for pics after the sintering process.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/w5k4l3fezfat2cm/AAAyX67zyUPUVvN_WzEHFXM2a?dl=0

 Friday, April 17, 2015, 16:01

Total number of foils: 520 discs

Total mass of materials [incl graphite foils]: 60.2441g

Total length packed: 17.0cm

Container is wrapped with 3x Ta-heat shields.

No endcaps inserted to allow outgasing.

Currently being pumped down.

 Monday, April 20, 2015, 11:08

Target container is coated with TaC and wrapped with 3-Ta heat shields, not incl center block.

TGHT and TBHT will be ramped up to 820A and 230A, respectively.

Chamber pumped down over the weekend.

IGP1 = 2.1e-7 Torr.

HS cooling water valves opened; no leaks detected.

TGHT max voltage = 18V, TBHT max voltage = 5V

....

attempted to start stepping up manually.

power supply not responding to epics controls for TBHT only...looking into problems now...

 Monday, April 20, 2015, 16:06

Epics is working.

Power supply connections unplugged/plugged back in.

Everything working again.

Tapped up manually to 40A.

Waited ~1hr30 for vacuum to stabilize.

IGP1 = 1.8e-6 Torr.

Good vac = 3e-5 Torr. Bad vac = 4e-5 Torr.

TGHT and TBHT will be ramped up to 820A and 230A, respectively.

Initiating auto-ramp at 0.2A/min and 0.1A/min for the TGHT and TBHT respectively.

 Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 15:23

TGHT = 200A, 2.26V; TBHT = 117A, 1.58V

IGP1 = 9.8e-6 Torr.

Increasing auto-ramp to 0.4A/min and 0.2A/min for the TGHT and TBHT respectively.

 Thursday, April 09, 2015, 09:33

Target container is coated with TaC and wrapped with 3-Ta heat shields, not incl center block.

TGHT and TBHT will be ramped up to 820A and 230A, respectively.

Chamber pumped down overnight.

IGP1 = 5.2e-7 Torr.

HS cooling water valves opened; no leaks detected.

TGHT max voltage = 18V, TBHT max voltage = 5V

Stepping TGHT and TBHT up to 35A...

 Thursday, April 09, 2015, 10:07

Waited ~20min, vacuum stable.

IGP1 = 5.3e-7 Torr.

Good vac = 3e-5 Torr. Bad vac = 4e-5 Torr.

Auto-ramp initiated at 0.2A/min.

 Monday, April 13, 2015, 09:06

Reached max setpoints sunday morning [see attached photo for striptool].

Internal temperature measured with OMEGA  = 1965C

IGP1 = 4.4e-7 Torr,

Initiating auto cool for TGHT and TBHT at 2.0A/min and 1.0A/min respectively.

 Tuesday, April 14, 2015, 14:12

Vented in air and opened up this morning.

Fully sintered.

Laura Lambert wrote:

Monday, March 09, 2015, 16:47 Target consists of 400 discs. Total packed length 3.4cm Total mass 45.8181g Re foil inserted. Chamber is currently being pumped down. No Ta-heat shield wrapped. One end-cap inserted on left (wrt ionizer into the page) TGHT and TBHT will be ramped up to 820A/230A respectively at 2.0A/min.  Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 10:28 HS water valves opened, no leaks detected. IGP1 = 4.5e-7 Torr. Power supply not responding to epics...AGAIN. grrrr  Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 13:17   IOC was rebooted - back up and running again! yay!  IGP1 = 4.0e-7 Torr. Tapped up manually to 35A, waited ~30min, vaccuum stable. Initiating auto-ramp. Vacuum limit stop at 5.0e-5 Torr, backing off at 6.0e-5 Torr.  Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 09:11 Target has been at max setpoints for ~14hrs. OMEGA = 1472C TGHT = 820A, 12.85V TBHT = 230A, 3.696V IGP1 = 5.5ee-7 Torr Manually tapping up to obtain hotter internal temperature...  Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 11:33 Current conditions: OMEGA = 1565C TGHT = 900A, 14.3V TBHT = 230A, 3.7V IGP1 = 6.3e-7 Torr Digital pyrometer readings: Hottest point on left leg, WRT ionizer tube into page = 2400C Internal temp of container = 1580C Sat at this temperature ~45min. Initiating auto-cool at TGHT 2.0A/min, TBHT 1.0A/min [See attached photo for collected data]  Thursday, March 12, 2015, 13:12 vented and opened up this morning. only reached a max internal temp of 1580C. therefore added 3xTa heat shield and will re-condition at a higher temp. currently pumping back down.  Thursday, March 12, 2015, 14:34 IGP1 = 7.0e-7 Torr stepped up to 35A, waited ~30min, vacuum stable. IGP1 = 6.1e-7 Torr Initating ramp-up...  Friday, March 13, 2015, 07:47 IGP1 = 2.9e-7 Torr reached max set points for TGHT = 600A, TBHT = 230A Initiating manual tap-up.  Friday, March 13, 2015, 10:31 Reached 720A, 1800C at 0850 Will continue to heat for ~3hrs [see attachment for collected data]  Friday, March 13, 2015, 12:00 Sat at max temperature, 1800C, for 3 hours. Initiating auto-cool at 2.0A/min for TGHT and 1.0A/min for TBHT.

 Monday, March 16, 2015, 17:30

Target was removed from Evap#2.  It was successfully conditioned. 

The other end cap was inserted and expended. 

Standard salts were added.   And Re foil is inserted. 

Target is ready for assembly.

 Monday, March 09, 2015, 16:47

Target consists of 400 discs.

Total packed length 3.4cm

Total mass 45.8181g

Re foil inserted.

Chamber is currently being pumped down.

No Ta-heat shield wrapped.

One end-cap inserted on left (wrt ionizer into the page)

TGHT and TBHT will be ramped up to 820A/230A respectively at 2.0A/min.

 Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 10:28

HS water valves opened, no leaks detected.

IGP1 = 4.5e-7 Torr.

Power supply not responding to epics...AGAIN. grrrr 

Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 13:17  

IOC was rebooted - back up and running again! yay! 

IGP1 = 4.0e-7 Torr.

Tapped up manually to 35A, waited ~30min, vaccuum stable.

Initiating auto-ramp.

Vacuum limit stop at 5.0e-5 Torr, backing off at 6.0e-5 Torr.

 Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 09:11

Target has been at max setpoints for ~14hrs.

OMEGA = 1472C

TGHT = 820A, 12.85V

TBHT = 230A, 3.696V

IGP1 = 5.5ee-7 Torr

Manually tapping up to obtain hotter internal temperature...

 Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 11:33

Current conditions:

OMEGA = 1565C

TGHT = 900A, 14.3V

TBHT = 230A, 3.7V

IGP1 = 6.3e-7 Torr

Digital pyrometer readings:

Hottest point on left leg, WRT ionizer tube into page = 2400C

Internal temp of container = 1580C

Sat at this temperature ~45min.

Initiating auto-cool at TGHT 2.0A/min, TBHT 1.0A/min

[See attached photo for collected data]

 Thursday, March 12, 2015, 13:12

vented and opened up this morning.

only reached a max internal temp of 1580C.

therefore added 3xTa heat shield and will re-condition at a higher temp.

currently pumping back down.

 Thursday, March 12, 2015, 14:34

IGP1 = 7.0e-7 Torr

stepped up to 35A, waited ~30min, vacuum stable.

IGP1 = 6.1e-7 Torr

Initating ramp-up...

 Friday, March 13, 2015, 07:47

IGP1 = 2.9e-7 Torr

reached max set points for TGHT = 600A, TBHT = 230A

Initiating manual tap-up.

 Friday, March 13, 2015, 10:31

Reached 720A, 1800C at 0850

Will continue to heat for ~3hrs

[see attachment for collected data]

 Friday, March 13, 2015, 12:00

Sat at max temperature, 1800C, for 3 hours.

Initiating auto-cool at 2.0A/min for TGHT and 1.0A/min for TBHT.

 Thursday, February 19, 2015, 15:19

Target container coated with TaC, loaded in EVAP2.

No Ta heat shields.

Will pump down over the weekend.

 Monday, February 23, 2015, 10:22

IGP1  = 1.75e-7 Torr

TGHT will be ramped up to 580A at 0.2A/min

TBHT will be ramped up to 230A at 0.2A/min

evap2 power supply not responding to epics controls...waiting on fix

 Wednesday, February 25, 2015, 16:05

controls now fixed.

danceioc1 involving evap ioc will be updated tomorrow by controls.

once ioc update complete will ramp up.

 Friday, February 27, 2015, 09:34

ioc update complete yesterday afternoon.

IGP1 = 1.1e-7

initiating ramp up...

Parameter setup: 5.0e-5 good vac, 6.0e-5 bad vac.

 Monday, March 02, 2015, 09:01

IGP1 = 2.5e-7 Torr

TGHT = 578A

TBHT = 232A

OMEGA = 1750C

Increasing to 1800C

 Monday, March 02, 2015, 10:42

Reached 1800C at 10:30

TGHT = 603A

TBHT = 232A

IGP1 = 2.8e-7 Torr

 Monday, March 02, 2015, 14:26

Sat at max set point for 4hrs.

IGP1 = 2.7e-7 Torr.

Initiating auto-cool, TGHT @ 2A/min, TBHT @ 1A/min.

 Tuesday, March 03, 2015, 09:17

vented and opened this a.m.

target container looks good, TaC coating fully sintered.

 Wednesday, February 11, 2015, 16:10

Container loaded into EVAP2.

3xTa heat shields.

Chamber currently being pumped down.

TGHT/ TBHT will be ramped up to 580A/ 230A or 1800C tapped up manually.

 Thursday, February 12, 2015, 09:39

HS water valves opened, no leaks detected.
Tapping up manually.

 Thursday, February 12, 2015, 12:07

OMEGA reached 1805C; TGHT = 415A, TBHT = 205A

Will continue to tap up manually to 2000C

 Thursday, February 12, 2015, 15:19

Reached TGHT = 500A, TBHT = 230A, OMEGA = 2035C.

Sat for ~2hrs.

Tapping up a further 25A on the TGHT.

 Thursday, February 12, 2015, 16:05

Tapped up manually to:

OMEGA = 2250C

DV = 5.65V

TGHT = 580A

TBHT = 230A

Friday, February 13, 2015, 10:05

Reached max setpoint last night.

Voltage starting to increase at contant TGHT @ 580A.  Lower TGHT to 525A, temp at 2150C (time 6:30pm) 

Initiating manual cool down.

Friday, February 13, 2015, 15:31

vented and opened up this afternoon.

everything looked good, container not broken! graphite insert looked good! the container was slightly bent, but nothing of significance.

however, the graphite insert bonded to the container so it was not taken out in one piece...

 Tuesday, February 10, 2015, 14:00

Container loaded into EVAP2 at noon.

no heat shields.

Chamber currently being pumped down.

TGHT/ TBHT will be ramped up to 580A/ 230A, tapped up manually.

 Tuesday, February 10, 2015, 14:39

HS water valves opened, no leaks detected.

Tapping up manually / recording data in excel

 Wednesday, February 11, 2015, 11:24

Reached max set points yesterday early evening.

Tapped down manually this a.m.

Will vent and open this afternoon.

 Wednesday, February 11, 2015, 15:54

Took out this afternoon.

container looks good.

graphite insert removed/ inspected - not much change, slightly lighter in colour.

[see attachments for graphs/ table]

John Wong wrote:

Laura Lambert wrote: John Wong wrote: Monday, February 02, 2015, 16:28 Container is coated with TaC.  No Ta foil wrapped around.  Chamber is being pumped down. TGHT/TBHT will be ramped up to 580A/230A at 0.2A/min.      Tuesday, February 03, 2015, 10:28 HS water valves opened; no leaks detected. IGP1 = 5.9e-7 Torr  Wednesday, February 04, 2015, 11:10 attempted to initiate manual ramp up of TGHT and TBHT yesterday, but not responding to EPICS currently sitting under vacuum, waiting on fix...  Wednesday, February 04, 2015, 14:16 controls fixed. initiated auto-ramp.  Thursday, February 05, 2015, 08:56 IGP1 = 4.1e-7 Torr TGHT = 290A TBHT = 225A Increasing auto-ramp to 1.0A/min  Thursday, February 05, 2015, 13:49 IGP1 = 1.4e-6 Torr TGHT = 569A TBHT = 232A Increasing auto-ramp to 2.0A/min    Thursday, February 05, 2015, 18:02 Auto-cooling TGHT to 400A at 1A/min.  Need to take voltage reading tomorrow.

 Tuesday, February 10, 2015, 09:35

Vented and opened this morning.

Container fully sintered.

Laura Lambert wrote:

John Wong wrote: Monday, February 02, 2015, 16:28 Container is coated with TaC.  No Ta foil wrapped around.  Chamber is being pumped down. TGHT/TBHT will be ramped up to 580A/230A at 0.2A/min.      Tuesday, February 03, 2015, 10:28 HS water valves opened; no leaks detected. IGP1 = 5.9e-7 Torr  Wednesday, February 04, 2015, 11:10 attempted to initiate manual ramp up of TGHT and TBHT yesterday, but not responding to EPICS currently sitting under vacuum, waiting on fix...  Wednesday, February 04, 2015, 14:16 controls fixed. initiated auto-ramp.  Thursday, February 05, 2015, 08:56 IGP1 = 4.1e-7 Torr TGHT = 290A TBHT = 225A Increasing auto-ramp to 1.0A/min  Thursday, February 05, 2015, 13:49 IGP1 = 1.4e-6 Torr TGHT = 569A TBHT = 232A Increasing auto-ramp to 2.0A/min

 Thursday, February 05, 2015, 18:02

Auto-cooling TGHT to 400A at 1A/min.  Need to take voltage reading tomorrow. 

John Wong wrote:

Monday, February 02, 2015, 16:28 Container is coated with TaC.  No Ta foil wrapped around.  Chamber is being pumped down. TGHT/TBHT will be ramped up to 580A/230A at 0.2A/min.

 Tuesday, February 03, 2015, 10:28

HS water valves opened; no leaks detected.

IGP1 = 5.9e-7 Torr

 Wednesday, February 04, 2015, 11:10

attempted to initiate manual ramp up of TGHT and TBHT yesterday, but not responding to EPICS

currently sitting under vacuum, waiting on fix...

 Wednesday, February 04, 2015, 14:16

controls fixed.

initiated auto-ramp.

 Thursday, February 05, 2015, 08:56

IGP1 = 4.1e-7 Torr

TGHT = 290A

TBHT = 225A

Increasing auto-ramp to 1.0A/min

 Thursday, February 05, 2015, 13:49

IGP1 = 1.4e-6 Torr

TGHT = 569A

TBHT = 232A

Increasing auto-ramp to 2.0A/min

Monday, February 02, 2015, 16:28

Container is coated with TaC.  No Ta foil wrapped around. 

Chamber is being pumped down.

TGHT/TBHT will be ramped up to 580A/230A at 0.2A/min.

 See previous e-log entry for details

 Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 13:46: Roughing

Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 14:57: Starting turbo

Monday, January 19, 2015, 13

Water opened up to one circuit at at time. No response on the vacuum could be seen.

IGP1 at 1.7E-7 T

IGP2 at 3E-8 T

Tuesday, January 20, 2015, 13:11: Stopped turbo and roughing pump.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 15:46: Venting

Rick and Anders found CG1A to be reading too high a value. A borrowed gauge from the vacuum group confirmed this. A new gauge will be installed

Thursday, January 22, 2015, 14:06: Roughing

Thursday, January 22, 2015, 14:18: Venting

The reading is consistent between CG1A and CG1B, which simplifies pump down.

 Thursday, December 11, 2014, 10:17

water supply and return valves closed for lab closure over the holidays.

all taps leading into evap2 have been closed.

evap2 was fully flushed leaving no water left inside the system.

 Wednesday, November 26, 2014, 13:47

OMEGA-IR laser had a dark patch on it [see picture]

Cleaned window, still dark patch

When tested by itself, through air, not through window, patch still visible - cleaned lens of OMEGA-IR, still no change.

Conclusion: assuming laser used to be able to focus the OMEGA-IR to a specific area - so visual only, but the measurements itself will not be affected.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014, 13:53 

Backing pump trips off every time roughing valve turned on through epics.

Requested further investigation...

Friday, November 28, 2014, 12:09

Backing Pump has been replaced, waiting on a reply from OMEGA re: dark patch on laser

Pancake monitor was also acting funny. Background was reading 100cpm and jumping up to as high as 400cpm by simply moving the probe piece.

The wire connecting the probe to the monitor was replaced and works fine now.

 Tuesday, December 09, 2014, 15:55

Finally got a reply from the OMEGA people:

"That [ dark patch] would happen because of sharp bends in the fiber, or simply defective fiber cable.

As manufacturer we allow 2% of broken fibers, out of 870 in the bundle.

As far as measurements is concerned, if IR2 is used in dual colour mode, 

the field of view can be obstructed as much as 50%, 

without changing the readings accuracy. This laser issure should not affect readings."

-Quote from Brian Newport from OMEGA

 Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 15:10

currently pumping down

 Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 15:28

container is wrapped with 3 x Ta-heat shield

leak check done

Starting voltage = -0.017mV

TGHT = 0A, 0V

TBHT = 0A, 0V

IGP1 = 1.7e-6 Torr

 Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 16:33

Tapped TGHT up manually to 100A

DV [direct voltage] = 0.33V

TGHT = 109A

TBHT = 0A

IGP1 = 1.3e-6 Torr

Initiating auto-ramp of TGHT to 400A at 2A/min

 Thursday, November 20, 2014, 09:49

DV = 3.47V

OMEGA = 1645C

TGHT = 401A, 6.49V

TBHT = 0

IGP1 = 4.5e-7Torr

TGHT finished auto-ramping ~19:00 last night

initiating manual tap up to 2000 celsius or 580A [whichever is higher] and recording activity

 Friday, November 21, 2014, 12:50

TGHT was ramped up to 580A yesterday and left overnight.

In the picture attached one can see the TGHT current has remained constant at 578A [red = TGHT current, green = TGHT voltage]

The vacuum has slowly gone down as expected.

However, the DV, TGHT voltage and temperature have deviated. They have dipped up and down several times throughout the night. The first deviation was observed ~3.5hours after it reached its target of 580A.

DV reached 6.02V [when TGHT initially hit 580A] and increased to 6.27V after 3.5hrs and is currently sitting at 5.94V

OMEGA reached 2111C [when TGHT initially hit 580A] and increased to 2154C after 3.5 hrs and is currently sitting at 2094C

TGHT voltage reached 10.4V [when TGHT initially hit 580A] and increased to 10.6V after 3.5hrs and is currently sitting at 10.3V

 Friday, November 21, 2014, 17:59

EVAP2 sat at max setting: TGHT = 580A and TBHT = 230A for ~4hours

Initiating auto-cool TGHT 2A/min, TBHT 1A/min

 Monday, November 24, 2014, 14:28

Vented and opened this morning.

No notable changes on target container.

[See attachments for more detailed information of results]