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Replace the needle annually during prescribed preventive maintenance (PM) or any time the needle appears damaged or bent.
Recommendation: Waters Technical Service recommends that you replace the needle seal each time you replace the needle. See
Replacing the needle seal and seal port tubing after you complete this procedure.
Warning: To avoid personal contamination with biologically hazardous or toxic compounds, wear clean, chemical-resistant, powder-free gloves when performing this procedure.
Warning: To avoid eye injury, use eye protection when performing this procedure.
Required tools and materials
Needle assembly, also known as sample needle cartridge (700013880)
Chemical-resistant, powder-free gloves
Protective eyewear
T20 TORX driver
To replace the sample needle:
Caution: Ensure that you install the needle cartridge as described in the following procedure. The needle comes assembled in the needle cartridge and can be broken easily if it is mishandled.
Ensure that the system is powered-on.
Remove any sample plates from the sample compartment.
Move the sample needle into service position:
Tap MAINTAIN > Service > Prepare to Replace the Needle.
Open the sample compartment door and the fluidics compartment door.
Using the T20 TORX driver, loosen the captive screw that secures the access panel, and then remove the panel.
Figure 1: Captive screw on access panel
Captive screw
Locate the needle cartridge in the sample compartment. The needle cartridge houses the needle and helps to secure it in place.
Figure 2: Needle cartridge location in the sample compartment
Needle cartridge
Sample compartment area
From the fluidics compartment, unscrew the tool-free fitting that connects the sample loop to the end of the needle. Once it is unscrewed, remove the needle tubing from the top clip where the needle crosses the fluidics compartment to the sample compartment.
Figure 3: Tool-free fitting and clip
Top clip
Tool-free fitting
Turn the rotating latch on the needle carriage counterclockwise to release the needle cartridge.
Figure 4: Rotating latch on the needle carriage (red arrow indicates counterclockwise direction to open)
Needle cartridge
Rotating latch
Locate the block with a small notch that secures the sample needle on the right-hand side of the sample compartment wall. Open the rotating latch clockwise, and then remove the step-shape portion of the sample needle from the notch.
Figure 5: Second rotating latch and notch on the sample compartment wall
Block on sample compartment wall
Step-shape portion of the sample needle in the small notch
Second rotating latch on compartment wall
Push the sample needle forward and then lift it out of the puncture needle assembly at the bottom of the needle carriage area. Then remove the needle cartridge from the sample compartment.
Warning: To avoid puncture injuries, handle sample needles, syringes, fused silica lines, and borosilicate tips with extreme care.
Note: To avoid damage to the end of the needle, do not touch or press the end of the sample needle.
Note: The puncture needle assembly consists of the puncture needle, vespel, and PEEK housing.
Figure 6: Removing sample needle from the puncture needle assembly
Sample needle
Puncture needle assembly
Obtain the replacement sample needle. Remove the protective sleeve from the needle tip.
Locate the magnet in the recessed section of the needle carriage arm. Mount the needle cartridge onto the magnet.
Warning: To avoid puncture injuries, handle sample needles, syringes, fused silica lines, and borosilicate tips with extreme care.
Note: To avoid damage to the end of the needle, do not touch or press the end of the sample needle.
Figure 7: Magnet location in needle carriage arm
Needle carriage arm
Magnet in the recessed section
To install the sample needle into the needle carriage assembly:
Slide the sample needle into the vespel guide at the bottom of the puncture needle assembly as shown in the following figure.
Insert the ferrule at the top of the needle into the needle retainer at the top.
After placing the ferrule into the needle retainer, place the tubing into the notch located above the latch.
Close the rotating latch by turning clockwise.
Figure 8: Install the sample needle into the needle carriage assembly
Rotating latch (ferrule is behind the rotating latch)
Vespel guide
Route the needle tubing through the notch in the small block on the sample compartment wall. Then turn the rotating latch counterclockwise to secure the needle tubing in the notch.
Figure 9: Secure the needle tubing in the notch (second rotating latch on compartment wall)
Small block on sample compartment wall
Needle tubing in notch
Rotating latch on sample compartment wall
Bend the needle tubing (arrow) to the right around the bezel with the T20 TORX driver.
Figure 10: Bending the needle tubing around the compartment bezel
Bend the needle tubing (arrow) down as shown with the T20 TORX driver.
Figure 11: Bending the needle tubing down
Connect the sample needle to the extension loop using the tool-free fitting. Then secure the needle tubing in the top clip.
Figure 12: Reconnecting the sample needle to the extension loop
Extension loop
Needle tubing in top clip
Tool-free fitting
Reinstall the access panel and align the tabs at the top of the access panel with the slots in the bezel. Then install the access panel and use the T20 TORX driver to tighten the one captive screw that secures the panel to the front of the system.
Requirement: Ensure that the needle tubing is routed in the top clip as indicated in the previous step.
Figure 13: Captive screw on access panel
Captive screw
Close the sample compartment door and the fluidics compartment door.
Recommendation: Waters recommends that you replace the needle seal each time you replace the needle.
Calibrate the needle:
Tap MAINTAIN > Calibrate Axes > Calibrate Z-Axis and follow the on-screen prompts until Z-Axis Calibration Passed appears on the screen. Tap DONE.
Tap MAINTAIN > Calibrate Axes > Calibrate Zp-Axis and follow the on-screen prompts until Zp-Axis Calibration Passed appears on the screen. Tap DONE.
Tap MAINTAIN > Calibrate Axes > Calibrate BΘ-Axis and follow the on-screen prompts until BΘ-Axis Calibration Passed appears on the screen. Tap NEXT > HOME > DONE.
To avoid risk of personal injury and to prevent damage to laboratory equipment, always operate your Waters products in accordance with the applicable operational and safety information, your organization’s standard operating procedures, and local regulations.
Refer to the English version of this page for the latest information.
Sample manager maintenance procedures
