Ossila Spin Coater User manual

USER MANUAL
Manual Version: 3.0.E
Product Code: L2001A3
Product Version: 3.0
Software Version: 3.0
SPIN COATER

Contents
1. Overview .........................................................................................................................................4
2. EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC).......................................................................................5
3. Safety................................................................................................................................................8
3.1 Warning................................................................................................................................................ 8
3.2 Use of Equipment.............................................................................................................................8
3.3 Hazard Icons.......................................................................................................................................8
3.4 General Hazards ...............................................................................................................................9
3.5 Servicing...............................................................................................................................................9
3.6 Health and Safety – Installation..................................................................................................10
3.7 Health and Safety – Operation...................................................................................................10
3.8 Health and Safety – Servicing......................................................................................................10
4. Unpacking.....................................................................................................................................10
4.1 Packing List........................................................................................................................................10
4.2 Damage Inspection........................................................................................................................11
5. Specications......................................................................................................................................11
6. System Components.................................................................................................................12
7. Installation ....................................................................................................................................13
8. Operation......................................................................................................................................14
8.1 Overview............................................................................................................................................14
8.2 User Interface...................................................................................................................................15
8.3 Programming and Usage.............................................................................................................16
9. Maintenance................................................................................................................................20
9.1 Cleaning .............................................................................................................................................20
9.2 Repair and Service..........................................................................................................................20
9.3 Storage Conditions.........................................................................................................................21
10. Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................................21
11. Related products......................................................................................................................22
11.1 Compatible Substrates...............................................................................................................22
11.2 Related Equipment......................................................................................................................22

4
1. Overview
The vacuum-free Ossila Spin Coater is part of the Institute of Physics award-winning Solar Cell Prototyping
Platform*. Unlike most other models in the market, it does not need a vacuum pump or nitrogen line –
therefore requiring less servicing and enabling you to produce high-quality coatings without the problems
of substrate warping. Compact & portable, the Spin Coater will help you optimise space in the glovebox or
on the workbench without compromising on functionality – making it the ideal solution for busy labs with
limited space.
Substrates are held rmly on the chuck without the need for a vacuum. This produces a better uniform thin-
lm coating across the substrate. The Ossila Spin Coater is operated via a built-in interactive user interface.
During a cycle, the product recipe number, spinning speed, and remaining time are displayed on the full-
colour display screen – so you do not need an external PC connection.
*The Ossila Solar Cell Prototyping Platform is a complementary collection of substrates, materials, & equipment as part of a
high-performance standard photovoltaic reference architecture. This platform enables researchers to produce high-quality,
fully-functional solar cells which can be used as a reliable baseline.
For more information: ossila.com/pages/solar-cell-prototyping-platform

5
2. EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
We
Company Name: Ossila Limited
Postal Address: Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street.
Postcode: S4 7WB
City: Sheeld
Telephone number: [phone]
Email Address: [email protected]
declare that the DoC is issued under our sole responsibility
and belongs to the following product:
Product: L2001A3 / Spin Coater
Serial number: L2001A-3000-3000-3001- xxxx
Object of declaration:
L2001A3 / Spin Coater
The object of declaration described above is in conformity
with the relevant Union harmonisation legislation:
Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
EMC Directive 2014/30/EU
RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU
The following harmonised standards and technical specications
have been applied:
BS EN ISO 12100:2010 Safety of machinery - General principles for
design - Risk assessment and risk reduction.
Signed:
Name: Dr James Kingsley
Place: Sheeld
Date: 17/10/2018

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[Декларация] за съответствие на ЕС
Производител: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, Великобритания
Декларира с цялата си отговорност, че посоченото оборудване съответства на приложимото законодателство на ЕС за
хармонизиране, посочено на предходната(-ите) страница(-и) на настоящия документ.
[Čeština] Prohlášení o shodě EU
Výrobce: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, Spojené Království
Prohlašujeme na vlastní odpovědnost, že uvedené zařízeni je v souladu s příslušnými harmonizačními předpisy EU uvedenými na
předchozích stranách tohoto dokumentu.
[Dansk] EU-overensstemme lseserklærin g
Producent: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, UK
Erklærer herved, at vi alene er ansvarlige for, at det nævnte udstyr er i overensstemmelse med den relevante EU-
harmoniseringslovgivning, der er anført på den/de foregående side(r) i dette dokument.
[Deutsch] EU-Konformitätserklärung
Hersteller: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, Vereinigtes Königreich
Wir erklären in alleiniger Verantwortung, dass das aufgeführte Gerät konform mit der relevanten EU-Harmonisierungsgesetzgebung
auf den vorangegangenen Seiten dieses Dokuments ist.
[Eesti keel] ELi vastavusavaldus
Tootja: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, UK
Kinnitame oma ainuvastutusel, et loetletud seadmed on kooskõlas antud dokumendi eelmisel lehelküljel / eelmistel lehekülgedel ära
toodud asjaomaste ELi ühtlustamise õigusaktidega.
[Ελληνικά] Δήλωση πιστότητας ΕΕ
Κατασκευαστής: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο
Δηλώνουμε υπεύθυνα όn ο αναφερόμενος εξοπλισμός συμμορφώνεται με τη σχεnκή νομοθεσία εναρμόνισης της ΕΕ που υπάρχει
σnς προηγούμενες σελίδες του παρόντος εγγράφου.
[Español] Declaración de conformidad UE
Fabricante: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, Reino Unido
Declaramos bajo nuestra única responsabilidad que el siguiente producto se ajusta a la pertinente legislación de armonización de la
UE enumerada en las páginas anteriores de este documento.
[Français] Déclaration de conformité UE
Fabricant: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, Royaume-Uni
Déclarons sous notre seule responsabilité que le matériel mentionné est conforme à la législation en vigueur de l’UE présentée sur la/
les page(s) précédente(s) de ce document.
[Hrvatski] E.U izjava o sukladnosti
Proizvođač: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, Velika Britanija
Izjavljujemo na vlastitu odgovornost da je navedena oprema sukladna s mjerodavnim zakonodavstvom EU-a o usklađivanju koje je
navedeno na prethodnoj(nim) stranici(ama) ovoga dokumenta.
[Italiano] Dichiarazione di conformità UE
Produttore: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, UK
Si dichiara sotto la propria personale responsabilità che l’apparecchiatura in elenco è conforme alla normativa di armonizzazione UE
rilevante indicata nelle pagine precedenti del presente documento.
[Latviešu] ES atbils tības deklarācija
Ražotājs: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, UK
Ar pilnu atbilclību paziņojam, ka uzskaitītais aprīkojums atbilst attiecīgajiem ES saskaņošanas tiesību aktiem, kas minēti iepriekšējās šī
dokumenta lapās.

7
[Lietuvių k.] ES atitikties deklaracija
Gamintojas: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, UK
atsakingai pareiškia, kad išvardinta įranga atitinka aktualius ES harmonizavimo teisės aktus, nurodytus ankstesniuose šio dokumento
[Magyar] EU-s megfelelőségi nyilatkozat
Gyártó: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, UK
Kizárólagos felelösségünk mellett kijelentjük, hogy a felsorolt eszköz megfelel az ezen dokumentum előző oldalán/oldalain található
EU-s összehangolt jogszabályok vonatkozó rendelkezéseinek.
[Nederlands] EU-Conformiteitsverklaring
Fabrikant: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, UK
Verklaart onder onze uitsluitende verantwoordelijkheid dat de vermelde apparatuur in overeenstemming is met de relevante
harmonisatiewetgeving van de EU op de vorige pagina(‘s) van dit document.
[Norsk] EU-samsvarserklæ ring
Produsent: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, UK
Erklærer under vårt eneansvar at utstyret oppført er i overholdelse med relevant EU-harmoniseringslavverk som står på de(n) forrige
siden(e) i dette dokumentet.
[Polski] Deklaracja zgodności Unii Europejskiej
Producent: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, UK
Oświadczamy na własną odpowiedzialność, że podane urządzenie jest zgodne ze stosownymi przepisami harmonizacyjnymi Unii
Europejskiej, które przedstawiono na poprzednich stronach niniejszego dokumentu.
[Por tuguês] Declaração de Conformidade UE
Fabricante: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, Reino Unido
Declara sob sua exclusiva responsabilidade que o equipamento indicado está em conformidade com a legislação de harmonização
relevante da UE mencionada na(s) página(s) anterior(es) deste documento.
[Română] Declaraţie de conformitate UE
Producător: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, Regatul Unit
Declară pe proprie răspundere că echipamentul prezentat este în conformitate cu prevederile legislaţiei UE de armonizare aplicabile
prezentate la pagina/paginile anterioare a/ale acestui document.
[Slovensky] Vyhlásenie o zhode pre EÚ
Výrobca: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, Spojené kráľovstvo
Na vlastnú zodpovednosť prehlasuje, že uvedené zariadenie je v súlade s príslušnými právnymi predpismi EÚ o harmonizácii
uvedenými na predchádzajúcich stranách tohto dokumentu.
[Slovenščina] Izjava EU o skladnosti
Proizvajalec: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, UK
s polno odgovornostjo izjavlja, da je navedena oprema skladna z veljavno uskladitveno zakonodajo EU, navedeno na prejšnji strani/
prejšnjih straneh tega dokumenta.
[Suomi] EU-vaatimustenm ukaisuusvakuutus
Valmistaja: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, UK
Vakuutamme täten olevamme yksin vastuussa siitä, että tässä asiakirjassa luetellut laitteet ovat tämän asiakirjan sivuilla edellisillä
sivuilla kuvattujen olennaisten yhdenmukaistamista koskevien EU-säädösten vaatimusten mukaisia.
[Svenska] EU-försäkran om överensstämmelse
Tillverkare: Ossila Ltd., Solpro Business Park, Windsor Street, S4 7WD, Storbritannien
Vi intygar härmed att den utrustning som förtecknas överensstämmer med relevanta förordningar gällande EU-harmonisering som
fmns på föregående sidor i detta dokument.

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3. Safety
3.1 Warning
• Devices with applied bias or current should NOT be left unattended, as a power failure may
result in board damage or device damage (and potentially hazardous situations).
• Only use the unit with the supplied 24 VDC power adapter.
• Opening the lid will cause the rotating chuck to stop. However, due to inertia, it can take a few
seconds for the chuck to come to a complete stop.
• Ensure the substrate is placed in an adequately-sized chuck recess, as it holds it in place and
stops it ying out.
• The unit should be operated under a working exhaust hood when used with ammable or
toxic substances.
3.2 Use of Equipment
This Spin Coater is designed to be used as instructed, and in the following environmental conditions:
• Indoors in a laboratory environment (pollution degree 2)
• Altitudes up to 2000 m
• Temperatures of 5°C to 40°C; maximum relative humidity of 80% up to 31°C.
The Spin Coater is supplied with a power adapter and a power cord for the country of purchase (in
accordance with European Commission regulations and British Standards). Use of any other electrical
power cables or adaptors is not recommended.
3.3 Hazard Icons
Please note the following symbols that can be found at points throughout the rest of the manual.
Table 1.1. Hazard warning labels used in this manual.
Symbol Associated Hazard
General warning or caution, which accompanying text will explain
Electrical shock
Explosion
Inhalation

9
If servicing is required, please return the unit to Ossila Ltd. The warranty will be invalidated if:
• Modication or service has taken place by anyone other than an Ossila engineer.
• The Unit has been subjected to chemical damage through improper use.
• The Unit has been operated outside the usage parameters stated in the user documentation
associated with the Unit.
• The Unit has been rendered inoperable through accident, misuse, contamination, improper
maintenance, modication or other external causes.
3.4 General Hazards
3.5 Servicing
Before installing or operating the Spin Coater, there are several health and safety precautions which must be
followed and executed to ensure safe installation and operation.
WARNING: Improper handling when operating or servicing this equipment can result in serious
injury. Read this manual before operating or servicing this equipment.
I. DANGER: DO NOT use the Spin Coater in the presence of an explosive atmosphere.
II. WARNING: Emergency Power Disconnect options: Use the power cord as a
disconnect method. Ensure that the power outlet for this cord is easily accessible by
the user.
III. CAUTION: Opening the lid will cause the rotating chuck to stop. However, due to
inertia it will take a few seconds for the rotating chuck to come to a complete stop at
the highest speeds.
IV. CAUTION: Ensure the substrate is placed into a chuck with an adequate-sized recess
as it holds it in place and stops it ying around the bowl or even out of the bowl if the
lid was opened at the highest speed (see caution III).
V. CAUTION: Use under an exhaust hood when used with ammable or harmful
solvents.

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3.6 Health and Safety – Installation
3.7 Health and Safety – Operation
3.8 Health and Safety – Servicing
I. Place the machine on a solid, level surface, free from vibration and temperature
extremes. For optimum performance, make sure that the chuck is also level.
II. Refer to the specications section or to the label on the power adapter for electrical
requirements.
III. The machine is not to be used in a hazardous atmosphere.
I. CAUTION: The unit should be operated under an exhaust hood when ammable or
harmful solvents are being used.
II. CAUTION: Opening the lid will cause the rotating chuck to stop. However, due to
inertia, it will take a few seconds for the rotating chuck to come to a complete stop at
the highest speeds. There is a risk of substances ying out of the bowl.
Servicing should only be performed by an Ossila engineer. Any modication or alteration
may damage the equipment, cause injury, or death. It will also void your equipment’s
warranty.
4. Unpacking
4.1 Packing List
The standard items included with the Spin Coater are:
• The Spin Coater unit
• Power adapter with a power cord (specic for country of operation)
• Chuck (as specied by the customer)
• User manual

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4.2 Damage Inspection
Examine the components for evidence of shipping damage. If damage has occurred, please contact Ossila
directly for further action.
The Spin Coater specications are shown in Table 5.1.
Table 5.1. Spin Coater specications.
5. Specications
Spin Coater Specications
Programs 10 programs with up to 50 steps each
Speed stability < 2%
Speed 120 RPM to 6000 RPM
Spin time 1 sec- 1000 sec
Power supply DC 24V 2A
Interlock Software/hardware interlock
Case dimensions Width: 170 mm
Height: 140 mm
Depth: 225 mm
Materials Central polypropylene unit, steel frame,
sides and base, PET display and keypad,
and tempered glass lid
Fuses 1 A slow blow
Weight 3 kg

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6. System Components
The Spin Coater L2001A comprises three items: the Ossila spin coater (Figure 6.1), power adapter (Figure
6.2) and the Ossila spin coater chuck (Figure 6.3).
The Spin Coater is powered from a 24V mains power adapter. The power supply adapter is supplied with a
power plug that is suitable for the country of purchase.
The Spin Coater chuck recess size is specied by the customer. The chucks are designed with close
tolerances and provide a at, rigid surface for mounting substrates of dierent sizes, weights and shapes.
Proper chuck selection should be based on substrate size. The chuck has a push-t connection to the motor
coupling in the bowl of the Spin Coater, and is easily removable for cleaning or intechanging with other
chucks. The chuck is made from a high-density copolymer of polypropylene, which has a high degree of
chemical resistance. For cleaning, see Section 9.1.
Figure 6.1. The Ossila Spin Coater.
Figure 6.2. The 24 VDC power adapter.

13
7. Installation
1. Place the unit on a solid, level surface. Ensure the area is free from vibrations, temperature extremes
and highly ammable or explosive materials. Make sure the chuck is also level.
2. Before plugging in the spin coater, ensure the power switch on the unit is switched to the ‘0’
position (o).
3. Connect the power adapter to the power jack on the back panel of the Spin Coater unit (see Figure 7.1).
4. Refer to the label on the power adapter for electrical requirements.
5. Switch the Spin Coater power switch to the ‘I’ position to turn the unit on.
Figure 6.3. The Ossila Spin Coater chuck.
Figure 7.1. Connecting the power adapter to the power jack on the back panel of the unit.

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Glass lid for solvent resistance
Compact steel casing
Solvent-safe polypropylene bowl
and surround
Customisable chuck
Spirit level to ensure use on at surface
for even substrate coverage
Clear display shows settings and current
readings
Easy-to-use keypad for programming
options is covered in solvent-resistant
FEP lm
8. Operation
8.1 Overview
A top-down view of the Spin Coater is shown in Figure 8.1, with all the relevant components highlighted.
Figure 8.1 Spin Coater top-down image.

15
8.2 User Interface
Figure 8.2 shows the front panel of the spin coater, with a description of the functionality of each button.
The button is used to initiate a programmed sequence. While a program is running,
the display will show the message “RUNNING” with the current speed and elapsed time. The
“RUNNING” message will disappear once the program is nished.
The button is used to terminate the running program. It will reset to the rst step of a
given program when pressed.
These buttons are used to navigate between dierent user proles.
These buttons are used to navigate between the changeable parameters within a
program. While navigating, the cursor icon will indicate which parameter is selected. These
buttons are used to navigate between the changeable parameters within a program. While
navigating, the cursor icon will indicate which parameter is selected.
These buttons are used to change the values where the cursor is located. The buttons are
divided into three columns; small increase/decrease (by 1 or 10) , medium increase/
decrease (by 10 or 100) , and large increase/decrease (by 100 or 1000) shows the
increase and decrease values for each button, with respect to the prole.
Figure 8.2 Spin Coater screen and keypad.
Start
Stop
User
Select
Value

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8.3 Programming and Usage
The Ossila Spin Coater has two pre-set experimental programs to get you started.
(I) Selecting a User Prole (“User”)
1. To select the user prole of your choice, press either the left or right “User” buttons. The maximum
number of user proles is 10.
User no. Program No. Step No. RPM TIME (sec)
User 01 Program 01 12000 30
Program 02 1
2
2000
5000
30
5
Table 8.1. Pre-set programs

17
(II) Selecting a Program
2. Each user prole can store up to 10 programs. To choose between program numbers, navigate to
the “Program” line and press the up or down buttons.
3. To edit the program, you can alter the number of steps in a program by using the following buttons
. The maximum number of steps is 50 steps.

18
4. Navigate to the “Step” line by using the “Select” keys to choose which step number is to be edited.
The step number can be selected by using the following keys: or .
5. Navigate to the “Speed” line to change the speed of the current step. Use the “Value”
buttons to increase or decrease the value. The maximum value is 6000 rpm.
6. Navigate to the “Time” line to specify the time duration for the current step. Use the “Value” buttons
to increase or decrease the value. The maximum time duration is 1000 seconds.

19
7. Navigate back to the “Step” line using the cursor. Then, increase the number of steps to set the Speed
and Time.
(III) Start Program
8. Once everything is set and ready, press “Start” to run the program. At the bottom of the display, the
current elapsed time and current speed will be shown.
9. To abort the operation, press the “STOP” button.

20
9. Maintenance
10. Once the operation is completed, a “STOPPING” warning message will appear to notify the user.
When this warning is displayed, the motor cannot re-run until it has completely stopped.
11. If the lid is opened, a warning appears on the screen to notify the user. If the lid is opened while the
motor is running, the system will force the motor to stop.
• To clean the lid, bowl, and chuck, use a solvent that is appropriate to dissolve the materials that have
been spin coated.
• Use a soft cloth or towel in order to avoid damage to the polypropylene.
• Take care when cleaning around the keypad and display area, because organic solvents may
damage/remove the label.
The only user-serviceable part in this unit is the fuse (accessible externally). If the unit is faulty, please return
it to Ossila. We will promptly quote to repair any faults that occur outside the 2-year warranty period. Parts
subject to normal wear and tear (Spin Coater chucks) are not covered by the warranty.
9.1 Cleaning
9.2 Repair and Service

21
10. Troubleshooting
The Spin Coater should be kept in dry conditions; away from direct sources of heat or sunlight, and in such
a manner as to preserve the working life of the instrument.
9.3 Storage Conditions
Problem Possible cause Action
Spin Coater will not
power up
The power supply may not be
connected properly, or the
switch is in the OFF position
Check the connection and make
sure the power is turned ON
Cycle will not start No recipe programmed
Lid open/close not detected, or
lid still open
Select/program a recipe
Open and close the lid properly
Cycle starts, but
immediately stops
Recipe problem Review, edit and re-enter recipe
as needed
Display time or RPM
appears incorrect
Issue with the program Turn OFF the Spin Coater for 5
seconds, and then restart
Coating issues a. If the chuck is removed (for
cleaning etc), it may not have
been re-inserted properly
causing an imbalance
b. The Spin Coater is not level
c. If the above does not solve
the issue
a. Ensure the chuck is pushed in
thoroughly so that the two
metallic headers are inserted all
the way and ush with the top
of the chuck
b. Place the Spin Coater on a at and
sturdy surface and use the in-built
spirit level
c. Contact Ossila
Table 10.1. Troubleshooting guidelines for the Ossila Spin Coater