A vacuum system has been designed and assembled on a Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Reflectron-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer. The spectrometer must be held at a constant high vacuum of ~10-7 Torr to increase the mean-free-path, decrease collisions and increase accuracy in the readings. The vacuum system is comprised of five rotary vane pumps which consists of an Edwards E2M8, a Precision Scientific P100, an Alcatel 2012A, and an Edwards RV8, with an Edwards E2M2 vacuuming the sample chamber, reducing atmospheric pressure to 2.5 x 10 -2 Torr before the two M4 Varian diffusion pumps are powered on, reducing pressure to 5.0 x 10-7 Torr. A safety circuit has been designed to protect the diffusion pumps, monitoring foreline pressure, chamber pressure, water flow, power and pump temperature. The safety relay was designed and simulated on NI MultiSims 11 before components were purchased for assembly. The vacuum manifold and safety circuit allows our instrument to maintain ~10-7 Torr.

Assembly and integration of a high vacuum manifold and safety circuit on a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization reflectron-time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-RTOF-MS)

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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