FOM scalarSC Manual

FOM scalarSC
OPERATION & MAINTENANCE MANUAL
Revised January 2023

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Contents
1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................1
1.1. Equipment specifications ...................................................................................1
1.2. Safety: disclaimers & equipment hazards ..........................................................2
2. Description of equipment .........................................................................................5
2.1. Relevant standards............................................................................................8
2.1.1. Machine standards ......................................................................................8
2.1.2. Electrical panel standards............................................................................8
2.2. System requirements.........................................................................................9
3. Setup instructions...................................................................................................10
3.1. Safe startup......................................................................................................10
3.2. Installation........................................................................................................11
4. Software interface..................................................................................................17
4.1. Home screen & Quick Access Ribbon .............................................................17
4.2. Coating screen.................................................................................................20
4.3. Settings screen ................................................................................................22
4.4. Alarms screen..................................................................................................24
5. Slot-die, syringe, the substrate mounting...............................................................26
5.1. Slot-die assembly, syringe & tubing connection...............................................26
5.2. Slot-die mounting.............................................................................................28
5.3. Mounting syringe into the pump.......................................................................32
5.4. Substrate mounting..........................................................................................33
6. Getting started with coating....................................................................................34
7. Service & maintenance ..........................................................................................37

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7.1. Standard maintenance.....................................................................................37
8. Appendices ............................................................................................................39
8.1. Appendix 1: Background calculations for film thickness, pump rate, and coating
width 39

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1. Introduction
This document is the operation and maintenance manual for the FOM Technologies
scalarSC. The FOM scalarSC is a benchtop slot-die coating tool with rigid and flexible
substrates.
1.1. Equipment specifications
Several key specifications of the FOM scalarSC are outlined below:
Table 1 Key equipment specifications of the FOM scalarSC.
Specification
Value
Coating width
≤ 200 mm
Substrate compatibility
Rigid and flexible
Substrate throughput
≤ 5.0 m min-1
Syringe pump
External
Substrate heating
≤ 200 °C
Slot-die heating
≤ 80 °C (optional)
Slot-die height repeatability
± 12.5 μm
Protocol control
Yes
Dimensions
87 x 63 x 500 cm3
Weight
71 kg
Intended lifetime of equipment and safety components
20 years
Site workspace requirement
Suitable fumes extraction

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The FOM scalarSC has been designed and dimensioned for convenient glovebox
compatibility. In addition, the stated temperature rating and coating speed are ideally
suited to achieve stable coating of a wide range of materials with thicknesses of a few
nanometers to several tens of microns.
1.2. Safety: disclaimers & equipment hazards
IMPORTANT
To ensure the successful operation of the FOM scalarSC and the safety of all lab users,
operators, trainees, and maintenance personnel should read and understand this manual
before beginning any coating experiments or tool maintenance. Operators must be of
sound mind and body before operating this equipment. Operators under the age of 18
should not attempt to operate this equipment. The general public should not be permitted
to use this equipment.
It is recommended that new users are trained in the use of this equipment by experienced
operators, any deviation from the instructions provided in this manual may lead to
personal and material damage for which FOM Technologies A/S cannot be held
responsible.
The FOM scalarSC is equipped with an emergency stop button, which immediately halts
all ongoing operations in case of an emergency. Thisbutton must be tested once per year
to guarantee its function.
Further information on the risks and hazards associated with the operation of the FOM
scalarSC is provided below.

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Table 2 Risks and hazards associated with the use of the FOM scalarSC.
Risk
Comment
Burn risk
Operators should avoid touching the heating parts when they are hot, as
temperature can reach 200 °C. It should be noted that heated parts will
remain hot for some time even after the equipment has been shut down,
representing a burn risk for operators even when power is not supplied to
the tool. In the case of FOM scalarSC units fitted with an oven module,
operators should additionally avoid touching or opening the oven while it
is heating due to high temperatures and significant IR output. To prevent
the risk of burn, the FOM scalarSC is equipped with a warning LED red
light which will be activated when either the chuck or the slot die head
temperatures are higher than 50 °C. Burn risk areas are depicted in Figure
1.
Crushing/pinching
People can be struck and injured by moving parts of machinery. Parts of
the body can also be drawn in or trapped between, belts drivers and
other components of the tool. Operators should avoid placing their
fingers or any other body parts in the path of any moving part. Damage to
items and persons may occur if they become caught between the slot-die
and chuck, the chuck and the scalarSC housing case, or the shaft and
plates of the syringe pump as they are moving. In the case of FOM
scalarSC units fitted with an oven module, operators should additionally
avoid placing objects or body parts in the path of the oven lid while it is
opening or closing. Crushing/pinching parts are depicted in Figure 1.
Electric shock
Operators should avoid contact with cables and plugs at the rear of the
tool while the main power is being supplied. Operators should avoid
contact with wiring for the chuck energy chain and heated slot-die while
mains power is being supplied. Operators should avoid contact with
electrical cabinet wiring while main power is being supplied. Operators
should take care to only touch the physical power switch on the exterior
of the electrical cabinet when switching on the main power supply for the
tool.

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Chemical exposure
Open coating of heated, solution-processed chemical mixtures may lead
to the evaporation of solvents and other hazardous materials. Operators
should ensure that the tool is installed in a suitably ventilated location to
avoid unintended exposure to these chemical hazards. Operators should
be fully aware of the material risks associated with their work.
Misc.
To avoid damage to persons and equipment, repairs, and servicing of the
FOM scalarSC and its accompanying electrical components should only be
carried out by authorized, trained technicians. If on-site servicing is
required, please contact FOM Technologies directly.
Figure 1: Hot surface and crushing/pinching hazards are present on the FOM scalarSC. (1) Hazard due to
heated vacuum chuck surface, (2) crushing/pinching hazard between moving chuck and right-hand-side
tool structure, (3) crushing/pinching hazard between moving chuck and left-hand-side tool structure, (4)
crushing/pinching hazard between fixed slot-die head and moving chuck platform.
1
2
34
Stop button

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2. Description of equipment
The FOM scalarSC is a compact slot-die coating tool with a simple, user-friendly design.
The exterior of the tool consists of several simple components, as seen below:
Figure 2: FOM scalarSC tool render (left) and a closeup of the slot-die head and bridge elements
(right). (1) Gantry system for lateral adjustment, (2) integrated touch screen panel control, (3)
heating-enabled substrate holder (chuck), (4) emergency stop button, (5) Heat-hazard indicator (for
temperature >50 °C), (6) leveling and height mount feet 1/3, (7) slot-die head (L), (8) lateral
positioning dial (9) Vertical position positioning dial with digital display.
1. Coating bridge: supports the slot-die positioning gantry over the substrate.
2. Panel control: touch screen panel for process control.
3. Heating-enabled substrate holder: it is used to position the material to be
coated.
4. The emergency stop button immediately stops all ongoing processes. Twist to
release the button and return the tool to a normal functioning state.
5. Heat-hazard indicator: the light switches on when the temperature of the
substrate holder is above 50 °C.
6. Height-adjustable feet allow for tool leveling.
8
7
9
6
3
1
24
5

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7. Slot-die: receives coating fluid from external pump and syringe elements and
distributes it evenly across the desired coating width on the substrate.
8. Lateral positioning dial: for manual positioning of the slot-die head across the
coating area width.
9. Vertical positioning dial: for manual positioning of the slot-die to the desired
coating height.
The FOM scalarSC also features several ports on the rear panel of the tool for power
and control of tool functions, as seen below (Figure 3):
Figure 3: Rear and top view of ScalarSC tool showing connection hub, stop button, and warning light.
(1) stop button and warning light; (2) Power and control plugs.
1. Power and control plugs: supply power and control data for heating and motion
functions from the electrical cabinet.
2. Stop button and warning light.
2
1
2
1

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FOM scalarSC electrical cabinet:
Figure 4: Photograph of the electrical cabinet showing (1) Physical power switch and (2) mains power
socket.
1. Physical power switch: controls the primary power supply to the coating unit via
the electrical cabinet.
2. Mains power socket: to supply electrical power.
NOTE: the FOM scalarSC and its electrical cabinet are designed to be used and stored
indoors, out of direct sunlight, at room temperature. The tool is compatible with dry
environments such as glovebox environments but is not designed for extended exposure
to high humidity.

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2.1. Relevant standards
2.1.1. Machine standards
The machine is built according to machine directive EN 60204-1 and ISO 13849-1. Also
refer to Certificate of Quality Directive 2006 / 42 / EC Annex IIB, Declaration of conformity
of machinery.
2.1.2. Electrical panel standards
The panel additionally conforms to the following European Standards:
Table 3 Table of relevant European standards.
Parameter
Applicable standard
Symbols
EN 60617
Wire code
EN 60757
Reference Designations
ISO/IEC 81346, table 1 and table 2
Machine Safety
EN 60204-1
Electrical Safety
EN 61439-1 and EN 61439-2

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2.2. System requirements
Table 4 Power and cabling specs.
Parameter
Spec
Supply Voltage (Un)
1 ph + N + PE. 230 V
Supply Frequency (Hz)
60
Nominal Current (In)
16 Amps
Short Circuit Strength (Isc)
10 kA
Protection (maximum size)
C25A
Cable (minimum size)
12AWG / 2.5mm2
Earthing System
WYE/ TN-S
Cable Entry
Side

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3. Setup instructions
The following sections describe the recommended procedure for safe installation and
operation of the FOM scalarSC.
3.1. Safe startup
Before beginning any work with the FOM scalarSC, operators should ensure that they
have taken the following safety precautions:
•All operators of the tool must read and understand this user manual.
•Equipment should be used only for slot-die coating experiments, as recommended
by this user manual. Using this equipment for unintended applications and
conducting additional after-market modifications may result in damage to the
equipment and its operators.
•Users should apply the following personal protective equipment (PPE) when
operating the tool:
oSafety glasses
oLab coat
oSafety gloves (e.g. nitrile)
oAdditional precautions may apply depending on material use and
application (e.g. anti-static coat for hazardous nanomaterials or clean room
work)
•Do not operate the machine with loose clothing, wristbands, long loose hair or
anything that could get caught by the moving parts of the tool.
•The tool should be placed in a location with suitable ventilation to ensure that
operators are not exposed to volatile solvents and/or aerosolized materials (e.g.
fume hood, laminar flow housing or glove box)

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•The physical power switch must be in the “ON” position at all times, to turn the
machine on and off should only be done through the software and the "engage
software" button. An exception can be done when plugging the tool into the main
power, installation (see section Error! Reference source not found.) or p
erforming tool maintenance, in which case the physical power switch can be set to
the “OFF” position.
•The Emergency stop button should be tested at least annually to ensure its
function.
3.2. Installation
The FOM scalarSC has been designed to allow a quick, simple installation process. The
following steps ensure successful installation.
1. Placing the tool and electrical cabinet
Place the tool in a location with suitable ventilation to ensure that operators are not
exposed to volatile solvents (e.g., fume hood or glove box). The surface should be roughly
waist high and strong enough to support the tool’s weight (ca. 50 kg). Ensure that the
equipment and personnel assigned to lifting and moving the FOM scalarSC are suitably
dimensioned for the task. For safety, the FOM scalarSC should always be lifted/moved
by two or more personnel members at once. When placed, the tool should be accessible
from the operator side, with sufficient clearance behind the back panel to connect the
required plugs, cabling, and tubing.
The electrical cabinet should be placed no more than 10 m away from the FOM scalarSC
tool. Cables of a suitable length will be provided with the electrical cabinet based on
requirements identified during the site survey.
2. Connecting tool to the electrical cabinet, and mains electricity
Ensure that the main power switch on the electrical cabinet is set to the “off”position. For
safety, the tool should never be connected to the power supply during connection and
installation. Power should only be supplied to begin regular use once the tool has been
placed, installed, and connected to the unpowered electrical cabinet.

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Connect the labeled power and control cables from the electrical cabinet into their
respective labeled plugs on the back panel of the FOM scalarSC tool.
When the above connections have been established, connect the electrical cabinet to
mains power via the provided mains plug (typically a standard three-phase connection).
3. Adjusting tool height and levelness
The FOM scalarSC should be reasonably level before initiating any coating trials. The
tool is fitted with height-adjustable feet on the bottom, enabling easy leveling of the tool
along the down-web and across-web axes.
Figure 5: Schematic of a top-down view of the heated vacuum chuck with labels for the down-web
and across-web axes.
To ensure the tool is leveled, place a precision leveling tool in the center of the substrate
holder, parallel with either the down-web or across-web axis. Adjust the height of each
foot until the tool is level to at least 0.1 mm/m. Next, reposition the leveling tool and repeat

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this process for the other coating axis. It is recommended to level the across-web axis
first, followed by the down-web axis.

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4. Powering on the tool
To power, the tool, turn the main switch to the “On”position. The internal electronics of
the electrical cabinet should light up, indicating that power is being supplied. It may take
few minutes for the electrical cabinet to fully boot.
Figure 6: Side of the electrical cabinet with the physical power switch in the ON position.

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After the electrical cabinet main switch is in ON position, the start center screen will be
shown in the touch screen of the scalarSC. Press Start.
Figure 7: Start screen.

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After pressing Start in start screen you will be directed to the software interface Home
screen. To start using the tool it is necessary to engage the software by pressing the
“Engage” button on the home screen (see Figure 8). You are now ready to begin using
the FOM scalarSC.
Figure 8: The Home screen is displayed with the control software engaged.
NOTE: if the tool was previously fully powered down from mains electricity, Homing of the
chuck is required. More information on Homing can be found in the settings screen
section of this manual.

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4. Software interface
The following section describes the functionality of each interface screen from the FOM
scalarSC tool.
4.1. Home screen & Quick Access Ribbon
The Home screen is automatically displayed upon starting the software. The functionality
of the Home screen is outlined below:
Figure 9: The Home screen is displayed upon starting the software. (1) Engage software button, (2)
coating screen button, (3) quick access ribbon (4) software on/off button.
1. Engage software button powers the tool on and off.
2. Coating screen button transports the user to the Coating screen, where coating
parameters can be easily adjusted, and movement/heating can be manually
controlled.
3. The Quick Access Ribbon is always at the bottom of the control interface,
regardless of the current screen.
4. Software on/off button enables and disenables the software