Instructions for using the Cressington 108A Carbon Coater

Preliminary:
*ALL WORK should be done while wearing gloves. Cleanliness is critical!

*Make sure your sample is dry, clean and mounted on to a suitable stub with a pin. Loose
samples will move in a vacuum!

Instructions:
1. Lift the lid carefully.
2. Place your samples on the stage. Make sure the sample is completely within the perimeter
of the stage or it won’t get coated.
3. Close the lid gently but firmly and turn on the front power switch.
4. You can check the vacuum by pushing down the switch for “Vacuum Check.” The unit is
ready when the vacuum is at 0.01 mbar or lower.
5. On the front of the coater, push the set switch so “Pu” shows in the readout. This is for
pulsed operation. Next, press the “Voltage” button and adjust to 2.5 volts.
6. Press and hold “START.” The machine should run for about 20 seconds and then
automatically turn the current off. During this time the rod will heat up and glow brightly. It
should NOT spark. The current should be at about 90-100 amps at peak output.
7. Allow the rod to cool for about 30 seconds, then repeat step 6 as many times as necessary
to achieve the desired coating thickness. Three or four times is usually enough for polished
samples.
8. After the last pulse, let the unit cool for about 5-7 minutes before switching power off.
9. Turn off the power. The chamber will vent by itself. Lift the lid and retrieve your sample.
10. Close the lid and you are done!

NOTE:
If you have samples that have a lot of relief, are porous, or have very fine detail (micrometer-
scale), there will need to be adjustments. See the “Specialty” sheets.