About Instrument Maintenance (Datacolor)

About Instrument Maintenance

 Ø  The sections that follow provide detailed instructions for maintaining the instrument and

calibration tiles. These instructions and tips will help to insure that the instrument continues

to perform properly over its life.

If you discover loose materials in the sphere, they should be removed. An optional

accessory, the Minivac portable cleaning system is a useful tool for cleaning the sphere.

Operating the Minivac Portable Cleaning System :

1.Configure the instrument so that the specular port is closed

  (Specular Component Included).

2. Remove the aperture plate from the front of the unit.

3. Look inside the sphere.

4. Using the Minivac portable cleaning system, carefully

    vacuum away any loose materials in the sphere

5. When finished, replace the aperture plate.

Cleaning Tiles :

  1.      The calibration tiles should be cleaned before each use. Wiping it clean with a

  soft, lint-free cloth can do this.

  2.      A detergent, free of optical brighteners, fluorescent materials or photoactive dyes

  should be used as needed to clear any oils, fingerprints, or other deposits. Liquid

  dish detergent is a suitable detergent. The detergent/water solution should be

  prepared as follows: 1 part detergent : 250 parts water. Use a few drops of

  the detergent solution to moisten a soft, lint-free cloth, and gently wipe the tile

  surface. Rinse the detergent from the tile by wiping it with a cloth, moistened

  with clean water.

  3.      NEVER use abrasive cleansers, razor blades, or other metal objects to remove

  dirt or foreign substances from the calibration tiles. This will damage the tile

  surface.

  4.      NEVER immerse the tiles in water.

                              

  5.      Tiles that have scratches, chips, abrasions or cracks must be replaced. Signs of

 wear on the tile surface will affect the accuracy of the calibration.

Storage:

  1.      Large temperature variations will affect the accuracy of your calibration, requiring more frequent    calibration. The calibration tiles should be stored in an environment that simulates the temperature of   the samples to be measured.

  2.      Prolonged exposure to sunlight or other sources of ultra-violet radiation will cause the color of the       tiles to change. The tiles should always be stored in a protective case or container away from direct     sunlight and environmental contaminants.

Cleaning the Black Trap:

The black trap should be kept dust-free. Dust accumulating in the black trap should be

blown out with compressed air.