Filament replacement for GCMS

Symptoms that you are having a problem with your filament:

During GCMS operation, the sequence run suddenly stopped. Upon checking the ChemStation logbook, this is what I found:

ACQ5975 'Unrecovable mass spec fault: 8’
ACQ5975 There is no emission current at runtime 16.93.
6890 Not ready: F Inlet pressure 9kPa at runtime 0.20
6890 Not ready: Host system at runtime 1.16
Manual Mode Run Method Error – Consult Logbook
Manual Mode Instrument Error, refer to logbook

Also, to investigate more, I run the autotune which eventually tune action stopped with a message: “There is no emission current”

Chemstation Help is very helpful. It provided tips on how to resolve the problem.

I grabbed the chance that I could to shut down the computer and clean everything so as to eliminate other possible sources of the error and other issues that may arise during analysis.

The inlet was cleaned, while the column was detached from the injector and detector, and a new liner and septa was installed. Also, the FID was cleaned of char that has accumulated in the assembly.

Again, I started the GCMS using the usual protocol and performed the autotune. The tune action has stopped and the same error appeared in the display panel of the software. There is no emission current.

Solution:

1. Go to View, click Vacuum and Control View.
2. Go to Parameters, click Manual Tune. On filament, change entry 1 to 2 (depends on which filament you are currently using)
3. Click OK.
4. Click File, save tune parameters as atune.u (filename for autotune).

Perform autotune and tune evaluation. If results are not yet acceptable, continue baking out the system until autotune and tune evaluation results are within acceptable limits.

Make sure that the busted filament will be replaced soon. At least you have a spare filament when emergencies like this comes up. 