Kendro SORVALL RC-6 User manual

PN 74810-0
SORVALL®
RC-6
OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS

PN 74810-0
Issued July 2004
OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS
SORVALL®RC-6
SUPERSPEED
CENTRIFUGE
Kendro Laboratory Products
Asheville, North Carolina
U.S.A.

SORVALL®Centrifuges
ii
This manual is a guide to the use of the
SORVALL
®
RC-6 Superspeed Centrifuge
Data herein has been verified and is believed adequate for the intended use of the centrifuge.
Because failure to follow the recommendations set forth in this manual could result in personal injury or
property damage, always follow the recommendations set forth herein. Kendro does not guarantee results
and assumes no obligation for the performance of products that are not used in accordance with the
instructions provided. This publication is not a license to operate under, nor a recommendation to infringe
upon, any process patents.
Publications prior to the Issue Date of this manual may contain data in apparent conflict with that
provided herein. Please consider all data in this manual to be the most current.
DANGER , WARNING , CAUTION , and NOTE within the text of this manual are used to
emphasize important and critical instructions.
DANGER informs the operator of an extreme hazard or an unsafe practice that will result in death or
serious injury.
WARNING informs the operator of a hazard or an unsafe practice that could result in serious injury,
affect the operator’s health, or contaminate the environment.
CAUTION informs the operator of an unsafe practice that could result in damage to equipment.
NOTE highlights essential information.
DANGER , WARNING , and CAUTION are accompanied by the hazard symbol and appear in
the left sidebar near the information to which they correspond.
© 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004 by Kendro Laboratory Products

RC-6 Important Safety Information
iii
Important Safety Information
Certain potentially dangerous conditions are inherent to the use of all centrifuges. To ensure safe
operation of this centrifuge, anyone using it should be aware of all safe practices and take all
precautions described below and throughout these operating instructions.
Mechanical Safety
WARNING
For operator safety, maintain a 30-cm "clearance envelope" around the instrument while the rotor is spinning. Do not
store dangerous substances capable of developing flammable or explosive vapors in the clearance envelope.
Do not attempt to unlock the door forcefully while the rotor is spinning.
Do not attempt to slow or stop the spinning rotor by hand.
Do not incline or move the instrument while the rotor is spinning. Do not lean on the instrument.
If abnormal sound or vibration occurs, stop the operation immediately and contact Kendro or your local representative
of SORVALL®products.
CAUTION
Before using a rotor, be sure to read through the rotor instruction manual.
Maximum rotor speed depends on the rotor, buckets, assemblies, tubes or adapters to be used. Follow the instructions
in the rotor instruction manual.
Do not use corroded, scratched or cracked rotors, buckets and assemblies. Check that the rotor, buckets and
assemblies are free of such abnormalities before operation.
When using a swinging bucket, check that the buckets are properly engaged with the rotor pins before operation. An
incorrect setting can cause severe damage to the instrument.
Be sure to mount the rotor cover if provided. Check that the rotor cover is completely secured with a screw if
provided.
Mount the rotor onto the drive shaft (drive spindle) gently and properly. Do not drop the rotor or apply excessive
force to the drive shaft (drive spindle).
Clean the inside of the drive hole (drive spindle hole) of the rotor and the surface of the drive (drive spindle) of the
centrifuge once a week.
If condensation is in the rotor chamber, wipe the chamber dry with a dry sponge or cloth.
CAUTION
Do not pour any solution such as water, detergent or disinfectant directly into the rotor chamber. Otherwise, the
bearings of the drive unit may corrode or deteriorate.
Before relocating the centrifuge, remove the rotor from the rotor chamber to avoid damage to the drive shaft.
Always keep the liquid crystal panel in a visible position while the POWER switch is turned on, so that you can check
the current operating state (running or stopping).

Important Safety Information SORVALL®Centrifuges
iv
Safety During Installation and/or Maintenance
DANGER
When servicing the centrifuge, be sure to turn off the POWER switch, turn off the distribution board of your
centrifuge room, and then wait for at least three minutes before removing covers or tables from the centrifuge to avoid
electrical shock hazards.
WARNING
Level the centrifuge by using the four level adjusters and secure them completely. Improper securing can cause
significant movement of the centrifuge in the event of a rotor disengagement.
An anchoring or anti-rotation system must be provided or must be available for this centrifuge, be sure to use it to
keep the instrument in place. These systems are designed to reduce the possibility of injury or damage that could
result from centrifuge movement in the event of a major rotor mishap.
Installation or relocation of your centrifuge must be done by Kendro or a Kendro representative. Contact Kendro or
your local representative of SORVALL®products.
CAUTION
Avoid places that are exposed to ultraviolet rays for operation or storage of the centrifuge. Otherwise, the covers can
be discolored and the coating can be peeled off easily. If installation in such a place is unavoidable, cover the
centrifuge with a cloth after operation to protect from ultraviolet rays.
Electrical Safety
WARNING
Your centrifuge must be grounded properly to avoid electrical shock hazards.
CAUTION
Do not place containers holding liquid on or near the instrument or in the rotor chamber. If they spill, liquid may get
into the instrument and damage electrical components.

RC-6 Important Safety Information
v
Safety Against Risk of Fire
WARNING
This instrument is not designed for use with materials capable of developing flammable or explosive vapors or
extreme exothermic reactions. Do not centrifuge such materials in this instrument nor handle or store them near the
instrument.
Chemical and Biological Safety
WARNING
When using radioactive, toxic, or pathogenic materials, be aware of all characteristics of the materials and the hazards
associated with them in the event leakage occurs during centrifugation. If leakage does occur, neither the centrifuge
nor the rotor can protect you from particles dispersed in the air. To protect yourself, we recommend additional
precautions be taken to prevent exposure to these materials, for example, use of controlled ventilation or isolation
areas.
Always be aware of the possibility of contamination when using radioactive, toxic, or pathogenic materials. Take all
necessary precautions and use appropriate decontamination procedures if exposure occurs.
The use of sealed rotors, buckets and/or sample containers will provide increased protection from contamination
during routine operation. However, these items will not guarantee contamination protection from accidents resulting
in damage to the rotor or buckets. Do not run hazardous materials in the centrifuge unless placed in a biohazard
enclosure and operated using all appropriate safety precautions.
Notice for an Earthquake
An abnormality may be found on the centrifuge depending on the magnitude of an earthquake.
If any abnormality is found, stop using the centrifuge immediately and ask for inspection by Kendro or your local
representative of SORVALL®products.

Table of Contents SORVALL®Centrifuges
vi
Table of Contents
Page
Important Safety Information ................................................................ iii
Chapter1. INTRODUCTION & DESCTRIPTION
Centrifuge Description......................................................................... 1-1
Centrifuge Specifications..................................................................... 1-4
Centrifuge Accessories ........................................................................ 1-5
Chapter 2. INSTALLATION
Inspection............................................................................................. 2-1
Identify the Installation Site................................................................. 2-1
Securing the Centrifuge to the Floor.................................................... 2-2
Leveling the Centrifuge .......................................................................2-4
Electrical Requirements ....................................................................... 2-5
Relocation ............................................................................................ 2-6
Chapter 3. CONTROLS, DISPLAYS & INDICATORS
Controls, Displays & Indicators........................................................... 3-1
Operation Panel.................................................................................... 3-1
Power Switch ....................................................................................... 3-5
Diagnostic Indicators Safety Device.................................................... 3-5
Chapter 4. OPERATION
Reducing Speed for Loads in Excess of Design Mass......................... 4-1
Basic Operation.................................................................................... 4-2
Normal Operating Procedure ............................................................... 4-8
Saving and Changing Run Conditions............................................... 4-11
RTC (Real Time Control) Operation ................................................. 4-14
Displaying and Setting RCF ..............................................................4-18

RC-6 Table of Contents
vii
Page
Displaying and Setting ω2T ............................................................... 4-19
Emergency Recovery from Power Failure......................................... 4-21
Features on Menu Screen................................................................... 4-23
Chapter 5. CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Rotor Chamber..................................................................................... 5-2
Tapered Drive Shaft (Drive Spindle)...................................................5-3
Cabinet ................................................................................................. 5-3
Rotor .................................................................................................... 5-3
Condenser Fins .................................................................................... 5-3
Replacement Parts................................................................................ 5-3
Service Decontamination Policy.......................................................... 5-4
Chapter 6. TROUBLESHOOTING
Alarm Messages................................................................................... 6-1
APPENDIX
Rotor Information Table
Warranty
Index
Decontamination Information Certificates
List of Illustrations
Figure Page
1-1. Centrifuge Parts Location and Identification ............................... 1-3
2-1. Clearances for the Centrifuge....................................................... 2-2
2-2. Anchor Plates................................................................................ 2-3
2-3. Anchor Bolt .................................................................................. 2-3
2-4. Leveling the Centrifuge................................................................ 2-4

Table of Contents SORVALL®Centrifuges
viii
Table of Contents (continued)
3-1. Display Panel................................................................................ 3-2
3-2. Zoom Screen................................................................................. 3-2
3-3. Function Keys............................................................................... 3-4
3-4. POWER Switch ............................................................................ 3-5
4-1. RUN Screen.................................................................................. 4-2
4-2. Entry Line State............................................................................ 4-3
4-3. RUN Mode Indicator.................................................................... 4-8
4-4. Acceleration and Deceleration Rates............................................ 4-9
4-5. Example of RTC Operation........................................................ 4-14
4-6. Operating Mode (RTC) ..............................................................4-17
4-7. Opening the door ........................................................................ 4-22