Across International 10L Short Path Tips

Hash and Stuff Distillation
1

Just purchased a used AI 10L double head short path system. Currently running only one side and having trouble getting below 4 Tor. Vacuum Pump and controller are good, so its just small leaks I assume. What are the best candidates for leaks? KF25s or Ground Glass? I’ve got some helium, but haven’t found a major leak yet.

Also looking for some tips on how best to operate the two sides. Do I run both sides at once or switch back and forth? I’m assuming you switch back and forth so you can change receiving vessels without breaking vacuum.

2

Is it too late to get your money back?

Heads up, there was a year they sold those models where the mantle liked to spontaneously catch fire.

1 Like
3

Definitely too late… Which year?!

4

No one has one of these units? No one?!

5

Where are you located?

On our 10l dual china rig I always just ran one head the dual head is stupid imo and not worth the double chance of leaks.

Your leaks are most likely coming from your thermoprobes not your ground glass joints. Post a pic up of your system that’ll help.

If you’re close enough I’m happy to hold your hand through a shift and see what can be improved :call_me_hand:

1 Like
6

Are you greasing your ground glass joints at the top of the male end? Are your KF25s nice and tight? Pull vacuum and spray each joint with ethanol from a sprayer and see where it leaks into your system. After my joints are greased and tightened I wrap them tightly in PTFE tape. Our short path easily pulls sub-torr using this method.

Do you have a vacuum gauge at the pump and at the system? Do the gauges match?

4 Likes
7

Update: Made a lot of progress today. Had a big leak at the vapor temp Thermocouple. Getting 0.25 Tor now. That should be enough vacuum right?

2 Likes
8

That should work

9

Figured that was it :call_me_hand: those things are a bitchhh.

What brand are u using for the glass? I’ve had really good results with the LS offering and really bad results with the elcheapo amazon special

2 Likes
10

I have a mentor who could help you with any problem you have in your laboratory, find him on instagram as @allentic ,

11

“LS Offering” ?

I’m using all AI glass for now. It’s not cheap, but it’s really thick.

12

CBG_NECTAR-2
CBG_NECTAR-2750×1000 172 KB

Golden CBG Nectar

2 Likes
13

It’s more about how well the thermoprobe fits into it I guess. these ones have rarely failed me. (I.e. I never needed PTFE tape or any ghetto rigging to get it to seal right)

14

Those look super nice. Thanks for the tip.

1 Like
15

Pair it with one of These and you’ll never leak from that joint again :call_me_hand: PFA coated is whatchya want. U have a ktype monitor?

1 Like
16

A bit late to the party; but the spot I’m in now had one of these mantles. AI sent them a new wiring harness after it burned out. I only learned of this when I went to use the mantle and the internal thermocouple wouldn’t register at all.

I couldn’t get a straight answer out of AI as to what the thermocouple installed inside the mantle is.

There is limited information about the mantle online from what I can find. Nothing available for the controller itself either based on a quick Google search for the ABT-XMT-B13 found on the board.

Does anyone know what type of thermocouple these mantles use?

I’m pretty certain it isn’t a K-type as I have those handy for testing and they do not register.

I’m going to try re-welding the remaining wire on the TC to try to repair it.

Edit: Found this Looking for 4-pin plug to enable internal thermocouple in Chinese heating mantle - #4 by Bearschoice710 and based on my communication with AI I believe that that sensor is a PT100 (Platinum Thermistor - 100ohms). Going to try to find one local.