Lubricate Gatan Dry Pumping Stations

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Adixen Molecular Drag Pump model MDP 5011 for Gatan Dry Pumping Station

Before removing or before replacing the Pump, make sure that the pump fan is protected with aluminum foil or a plastic cap.

Pump about 5 minutes at atmosphere for every 12 hours the pump has been shut off. For long periods of shutoff (more than a week or so), pump at atmosphere for about an hour before pumping at vacuum.

Monitor hours on the station, at about every 10,000 hours of use the bearings need to be re-greased (see gatan dry pumping station manual, there is very little maintenance help in the adixen molecular drag pump manual). At about 30,000 hours of use, the bearings may need to be replaced. The dry pumping station should operate virtually noiselessly, so any whining noise from the pump usually signifies that the bearings need to be changed. Similarly, if the pump overheats, the bearings may also need to be changed.