Instrument Specific

• If you use the pneumatic grips in your experiment, please watch the following video for details on the importance of setting instrument limits and pneumatic grip safety: Instron Safe Testing Videos

Coming soon!

Additional information on MTS Bionix Coming Soon!

Please join the channel #arg2-rheometer-jubel-231 in the WUSTL-MEMS Slack Workspace and use the following protocol:

1. Post a message in the arg2-rheometer-jubel-231 channel to let us know you have started your session
2. If you have any concerns about the status of the instrument or the workspace, please let us know (or, feel free to message, email, or call me directly).
3. Remember: take the black bearing cap off BEFORE turning on the instrument using the power strip. The black bearing cap should only be attached when the instrument is turned OFF.

1. If you have any issues with the hardware or software, please post a message here! We want to keep track of concerns. If multiple people are experiencing an issue, there could be an underlying problem that needs to be addressed. Don’t be shy!
2. If we are running low on any supplies (IPA, kimwipes, gap-trimming tools, weigh boats, disposable pipettes), let us know.

1. Thoroughly clean and dry the geometry and Peltier plate, and place the geometry back in storage
2. Make sure to clean the work area, and remove or put away all sample prep tools that you used during your session
3. Remember to replace the black bearing cap only AFTER you have turned off the instrument using the power strip! The black bearing cap should only be attached when the instrument is turned OFF.
4. Post a message here on the slack channel to confirm that you have finished your session and followed the protocol above before leaving the room.

INSTRUMENT STARTUP – Confocal Microscope

• Flip switches labeled 1, 2, and 3 in numerical order (1-2-3). Wait 6 seconds between each switch. Do not turn on or adjust any other switches.
• Start up computer and launch Zen software.

INSTRUMENT SHUTDOWN – Confocal Microscope (No User Scheduled After You)

Check the instrument calendar. If no session is scheduled within 1 hour of the end of your session, proceed with shutdown procedure.

1. Clean the objective that you worked with
2. Put the 10x objective in the working position, in the lowest z position
3. Turn off Argon laser in software, and wait for fan to turn off before shutting down the instrument.
4. Gather your data and shut down computer.
5. Turn off instrument by flipping the switches used for start up in reverse numerical order (3-2-1). Do not turn off or adjust any other switches.
6. Cover the microscope with the dust cover.
7. Post a message on the slack channel to confirm that you have followed the protocol above before leaving the room.
8. Special note to incubator users: please confirm that you have shut off the CO2. Let us know the CO2 level, and water level in the bottle.

INSTRUMENT STANDBY – Confocal Microscope (If User is Scheduled After You)

Check the instrument calendar. If a session is scheduled within 1 hour of the end of your session, proceed with the following procedure.

1. Send a message in the Slack channel publically tagging the next user to see if they are still planning to come in at their scheduled time.
2. Clean the objective that you worked with
3. Put the 10x objective in the working position, in the lowest z position
4. If the next user has confirmed that they will arrive within one hour, put the argon laser on standby and leave the system on for the next user.
   1. If you haven’t heard back from the next user, shut the system down following the INSTRUMENT SHUTDOWN protocol above.
5. Post a message here on the slack channel to confirm that you have followed the protocol above before leaving the room.
6. Special note to incubator users: please confirm that you have shut off the CO2. Let us know the CO2 level, and water level in the bottle.