How to Guide 203

Flow Cell Replacement and Alignment

How to Guide 203 • HG203R2
02 Nov 2020 • © 2012 Sapidyne Instruments Inc.

The KinExA© Flow Cell is a capillary tube with a 20 Micron screen. For information on choosing the right Flow Cell or to find out when to replace the Flow Cell see How to Guide 214 (HG214 Flow Cell Selection and Information). Proper Flow Cell alignment provides for optimal performance.

Flow Cell Replacement 3X00

  • Route the clear Entry Line upwards through the O-ring (located on top of the Optics House Frame) and attach it to the bottom of the 4-way Connector using a White Ferrule (347016) with a 1/4-28 Black Nut (346001) (Figure 1).
Note: Refer to the end of the instructions if uncertain about how to correctly install a White Ferrule or a Tan Ferrule.
  • Slide the colored Exit Line through the O-ring (located on the left side of the Optics Housing Frame) and connect it into the bottom of the Union using a 10-32 Tan Nut (346201) and a Tan Ferrule (347116) (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Installing a new Flow Cell into the Instrument.

Flow Cell Replacement 4000

  • Open the Reflector Mount, and slide back the Retaining Clip. The old Flow Cell may be dislodged from the Flow Cell Groove.
  • Gently pull the clear Entry Line down from the hole in the top of the Optics Housing Frame until the Union is exposed. Unscrew the Flow Cell from the Union (Figure 2A). Discard the Ferrule but keep the white Extra Short Nut (346205).
  • Open the Plumbing Panel. Unscrew the colored Exit Line from the right side of the 4-way Connector (Figure 2B). Discard the Ferrule but keep the M6 Black Nut (346101). The Flow Cell is now completely detached from the Instrument and may be removed and discarded.
  • Thoroughly clean the Groove Lens and the Reflector Mount with Denatured Alcohol and Kimwipes.
  • Attach the clear Entry Line to the base of the Union using the Extra Short Nut and the 1/16″ Tan Ferrule included with the new Flow Cell. Torque the Extra Short Nut to 15 in-oz using the 1/4″ Deep Socket (015902) and 15 in-oz Torque Wrench (024140). Route the clear Entry Line upwards through the hole in the top of the Optics Housing Frame until it is hidden from view (Figure 2A).
  • Route the colored Exit Line through the O-ring in the left side of the Optics Housing Frame; look for it to come out on the far right side of the Plumbing Panel.
  • Attach the colored Exit Line to the 4-way Connector using an M6 Black Nut and 1/16″ White Ferrule (Figure 2B).
  • Apply a thin layer of Dielectric Grease (231362) or Index Matching Fluid (231363) onto the Grooved Lens and the Reflector Mount before securing the Flow Cell with the Retainer Clip and closing the Reflector Mount.
Note: The White Ferrule slides onto the Tubing with the tapered end toward the Nut and the flared end toward the Valve Port. The Tan Ferrule slides onto the Tubing with the tapered end toward the Valve Port and the flared end toward the Nut. When Installing and tightening these fittings, be sure to push the Tubing all of the way into the Valve Ports (Figures 5 & 6).

Figure 2: A) Routing the Flow Cell through the Optics Housing Frame. B) Routing the Flow Cell into the 4-way Connector.

Flow Cell Alignment

  • Align the top of the filter, represented in green below, with the notch in the Optics Housing as shown in Figure 3.
  • Look at the camera image and fine tune the alignment so that the top of the filter is in line with the corner of the KinExA Technology Logo (Figure 4).
  • If the camera image appears blurry or cloudy, wipe off the Flow Cell with a Kimwipe to remove excess Dielectric Grease or Index Matching Fluid on the camera side of the Flow Cell. (Red circled area in Figure 3).

Figure 3: Proper alignment of the filter with the notch in the Optics Housing. Grease left on the camera side of the Flow Cell (red circle) can cause the image to be blurry or cloudy. (Note: The filter is not green, the color helps to see the alignment in the illustration.)

Figure 4: Camera image of properly aligned Flow Cell.

Figure 5. White Ferrule with the tapered end facing the Nut. 

KinExA® is a registered trademark of Sapidyne Instruments Inc.