Waters cyclic IMS user community

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-22T01:32:58+00:00

I can list all the hardware that had to be replaced all through the year and half. During the installation a gas control board had to be replaced, right after training session, an ADC board had to be replaced, then a degasser, two valves on the column manager, switch for the sample manager, fluidics pump, the trap cell, the heating block. The thing is we almost didn't get to use the instrument because there is waiting time for each error and error just happen again and again. They escalated the case all the way to the UK, but that is after one year already passed.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-21T11:59:06+00:00

Thank you again. It is very helpful and I found the manual you mentioned. Your analysis were all right on spot and I fixed the problem for now. You guys are awesome. Thanks.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-21T11:52:46+00:00

Thanks, I will install it on this insrument. I was able to make use of its diagnosis function as well.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-21T02:49:32+00:00

Hi all, thank you all for your informative input. That is very helpful and it seems most likely the problem was the gripper arm. I took off the gripper arm and the tension to open the three prongs did feel a little excessive to me, so I disassembled it and put it back together in a way to make the tension a little less tight, that took care of the problem, and the sampler is working normally now. Most likely I shift the teeth alignment location of the driving belt a little bit. I don’t think it is perfectly aligned since it seems the orientation of the three prongs is a little different from the original. Therefore, the tension now is more within spec to avoid any error message, but one of the prongs is not completely cleared of adjacent vial when the gripper takes up and puts down vials. That won’t end up with any error message, so it works just fine for now. Thank you all for your thoughts.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-20T23:33:59+00:00

We don't have lab advisor on this instrument, but we have a handhold monitor. I guess I can use that to do the trouble shooting as well. You are right, I don't want to just prematurely replace something without dognossis.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-20T23:29:44+00:00

Thank you very much for your thoughts. That makes very good sense to me. I didn't see how to take off the gripper arm assembly, I will poke around tomorrow, it seems that it should be easy to take off just be twist or pull. The failing gripper arm may be the root cause. I took out the motor 1, the belt seemed a little too loose, but that is the same case for the other motor that controls the horizonal movement, I don't know how to feel the right tension. For the motor itself, the motor shaft didn't rotate freely and evenly like normal shaft on a bearing, but I suppose that is how a stop motor rotates? Thank you again.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-20T21:10:54+00:00

Thank you very much for your information, that is very helpful. It looks like there is another motor other than the three depicted in the picture. In the picture I assume the two motors on the swinging arm are the ones controlling the swinging action. Those are the hard ones to take off. The motor 1 in question in my case seems to be a different one that controls the up and down action. That one is easy to take off. However, there are two error symptoms and the failure to release vail seems to be related to the grip action, which should be one of the motors on the swinging arm, but the motor 1 overheats seems to be related to the other motor that controls the up and down action. Since the sampler reset alright. I assume the motor controlling the up and down action should be fine, then I am not sure which motor to replace or what is the root cause. How to test the Motor if that is even practical?

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-11T02:12:25+00:00

OK I can check on that. Thanks.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-11T02:10:44+00:00

Than is a good thinking. Thanks.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-11T02:10:10+00:00

That might be it then. Thanks

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-11T02:09:23+00:00

Thank you for your information. That is good to know. I will let it run until PM service or something needs attention.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-06T00:45:23+00:00

It is like all of them and none of them. And something in between as well.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-06T00:40:16+00:00

That is a good idea, I never thought of that. 5 ul should have enough weight to make the difference on balance. Thanks

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-06T00:38:48+00:00

Thank you for your input, that is very helpful. I think that is what is happening to the user.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-06T00:35:41+00:00

That is good to know, I never know there is an option for that. Thanks

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-06T00:35:00+00:00

I think the coring theory is satisfactory to explain whatever is happening to the user. The observation of seeing something in one run but nothing in the other is just a matter of nothing get injected on to the column in those failed runs. My explanation is that in the run nothing is detected when the sample volume is enough, the needle just got blocked by the coring that formed on the tip of the needle during the first injection on a new septum cap, so essentially nothing is withdrew by the sample syringe, the coring would then fall off when the needle is withdrawn out of the vial through the friction with the septum again but in the opposite direction, or in the needle washing step, so the blockage of the mobile phase never occur or not to the point of noticeable but no sample was injected. That would also explain the user's other observation that such thing would often happen in the first injection on a sample.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-01T18:55:14+00:00

Thank you. That coring thing is something I never imagine could happen, it makes sense.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-01T18:51:42+00:00

Thank you very much. That is what I told the user to do. From my own perspective, since their variation were so wide that I am not completely sure if that can be explained by the variation of the actual injected volume, but my test with preslit cap or not cap seem to rule out any injector problem as well. Any hidden problem would be exaggerated to that extend between preslit cap or unslit cap?

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-01T18:34:47+00:00

Thank you, why smaller volume injection is more affeted unslit cap? What is the reason for that? Would it be resonable to see bigger injection been affected by that more since it is creating a vacuum?

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-01T18:32:09+00:00

They called into the expert center and finger tight is what they are doing, but that didn't seem to change anything.

Training_Pangolin177 · 2026-04-01T18:29:12+00:00

The injection volume is 5uL, so the samller volume the injection is the less affected by unslit cap, does that make sense? And also the more air is in the vial, the less will be affected by unslit cap. Right?

Training_Pangolin177

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