Spin Coater User Manual

Spin Coater

Vacuum-Free Design
Compact Size
No Substrate Warping

Available From £2100

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 and portable, the Spin Coater will help you optimise space in the glove box or on the workbench without compromising on functionality – making it the ideal solution for busy labs with limited space.

Substrates are held firmly on the chuck without the need for a vacuum. This produces a better uniform thin-film 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.

Click for more information about The Ossila Solar Cell Prototyping Platform and to see related products.

2. EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)

Company Name: Ossila BV

Postal Address: Biopartner 3 Building, Galileiweg 8

Postcode: 2333 BD Leiden

Country: The Netherlands

Telephone Number: +31 (0)718 081020

Email Address: info@ossila.com

declare that the DoC is issued under our sole responsibility and belongs to the following product:

Product: Spin Coater (L2001A3)

Serial Number: L2001A3 - xxxx

Object of Declaration

Spin Coater (L2001A3)

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 folowing harmonised standards and technical specifications 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: Leiden

Date: 16/11/2021

Декларация	за съответствие на ЕС
Производител	Ossila BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
Erklærer herved, at vi alene er ansvarlige for, at det nævnte udstyr er i overensstemmelse med den relevante EUharmoniseringslovgivning, der er anført på den/de foregående side(r) i dette dokument.

[Deutsch]	EU-Konformitätserklärung
Hersteller	Ossila BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
Wir erklären in alleiniger Verantwortung, dass das aufgeführte Gerät konform mit der relevanten EUHarmonisierungsgesetzgebung auf den vorangegangenen Seiten dieses Dokuments ist.

[Eesti keel]	ELi vastavusavaldus
Tootja	Ossila BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
Ar pilnu atbilclību paziņojam, ka uzskaitītais aprīkojums atbilst attiecīgajiem ES saskaņošanas tiesību aktiem, kas minēti iepriekšējās šī dokumenta lapās.

[Lietuvių k.]	ES atitikties deklaracija
Gamintojas	Ossila BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
atsakingai pareiškia, kad išvardinta įranga atitinka aktualius ES harmonizavimo teisės aktus, nurodytus ankstesniuose šio dokumento

[Magyar]	EU-s megfelelőségi nyilatkozat
Gyártó	Ossila BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
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 BV, Biopartner 3 building, Galileiweg 8, 2333 BD Leiden, NL.
Vi intygar härmed att den utrustning som förtecknas överensstämmer med relevanta förordningar gällande EUharmonisering som fmns på föregående

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 flying out.
The unit should be operated under a working exhaust hood when used with flammable 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

The following symbols can be found at various points throughout this manual. Note and read each warning before attempting any associated operations associated with it:

Table 3.1 Hazard warning labels used in this manual.

Symbol	Associated Hazard
	General warning or caution, which accompanying text will explain
	Electrical shock
	Explosion
	Inhalation

3.4 General Hazards

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 or death. Read this manual before operating or servicing this equipment.

	DANGER: DO NOT use the Spin Coater in the presence of an explosive atmosphere.
	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.
	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.
	CAUTION: Ensure the substrate is placed into a chuck with an adequatesized recess as it holds it in place and stops it flying around the bowl or even out of the bowl if the lid was opened at the highest speed (see caution III).
	CAUTION: Use under an exhaust hood when used with flammable or harmful solvents.

3.5 Servicing

If servicing is required, please return the unit to Ossila Ltd. The warranty will be invalidated if:

Modification 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, modification, or other external causes.

3.6 Health and Safety - Installation

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.
Refer to the specifications section or to the label on the power adapter for electrical requirements.
The machine is not to be used in a hazardous atmosphere.

3.7 Health and Safety - Operation

CAUTION: The unit should be operated under an exhaust hood when flammable or harmful solvents are being used.

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 flying out of the bowl.

3.8 Health and Safety - Servicing

Servicing should only be performed by an Ossila engineer. Any modification or alteration may damage the equipment, cause injury, or death. It will also avoid your equipment’s warranty.

4. Unpacking

4.1 Packing List

The items included with the Spin Coater are:

The Spin Coater unit.
Power adapter with a power cord (specific for country of operating).
Chuck (as specified by the customer).

4.2 Damage Inspection

Examine the components for any evidence of shipping damage. If damage has occurred, please contact Ossila directly for further action.

5. Specifications

The Spin Coater specifications are shown in Table 5.1

Table 5.1. Spin Coater specifications.

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	24 VDC/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	1A slow blow
Weight	3 kg

6. System Components

The Ossila Spin Coater L2001A comprises three items: the spin coater unit (Figure 6.1), power adapter (Figure 6.2) and spin coater chuck (Figure 6.3).

The Spin Coater is powered from a 24VDC 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 specified by the customer. The chucks are designed with close tolerances and provide a flat, rigid surface for mounting substrates of different sizes, weights and shapes. Proper chuck selection should be based on substrate size. The chuck has a push-fit connection to the motor coupling in the bowl of the Spin Coater and is easily removable for cleaning or interchanging with other chucks. The chuck is made from a highdensity copolymer of polypropylene, which has a high degree of chemical resistance. For cleaning, see Section 9.1.

Ossila Spin Coater Schematic — Figure 6.1 The Ossila Spin Coater

Ossila 24 VDC Power Adapter — Figure 6.2 The 24 VDC power adapter

Ossila Spin Coater Chuck — Figure 6.3 The Ossila Spin Coater chuck

7. Installation

The process for installing the Spin Coater is as follows:

Place the unit on a solid, level surface. Ensure the area is free from vibrations, temperature extremes
Before plugging in the spin coater, ensure the power switch on the unit is switched to the ‘0’ position (off).
Connect the power adapter to the power jack on the back panel of the Spin Coater unit (see Figure 7.1).
Refer to the label on the power adapter for electrical requirements.
Switch the Spin Coater power switch to the ‘I’ position to turn the unit on.

Connecting power adapter to power jack — Figure 7.1 Connecting the power adapter to the power jack on the back panel of the unit

8. Operation

Device Overview

A top-down view of the Spin Coater is shown in Figure 8.1, with all the relevant components highlighted.

User Interface

Figure 8.2 shows the front panel of the spin coater, with a description of the functionality of each button.

Figure 8.2 Spin Coater screen and keypad

	The start 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 finished.
	The stop button is used to terminate the running program. It will reset to the first step of a given program when pressed.
	These buttons are used to navigate between different user profiles.
	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 profile values where the cursor is located and are divided into three columns:

	Small increase (by 1 or 10)
	Small decrease (by 1 or 10)
	Medium increase (by 10 or 100)
	Medium decrease (by 10 or 100)
	Large increase (by 100 or 1000)
	Large decrease (by 100 or 1000)

Programming and Usage

The Ossila Spin Coater has two pre-set experimental programs to get you started.

Table 8.1. Pre-set programs

User No.	Program No.	Step No.	RPM	Time (sec)
User 01	Program 01	1	2000	30
	Program 02	1 2	2000 5000	30 5

User No.

Program No.

Step No.

RPM

Time (sec)

User 01

Program 01

2000

Program 02

2000

5000

(I) Selecting a User Profile ("User")

To select the user profile of your choice, press either the left or right “User” buttons. The maximum number of user profiles is 10.

(II) Selecting a Program

Each user profile can store up to 10 programs. To choose between program numbers, navigate to the “Program” line and press the “Up” or “Down” buttons.

To edit the program, you can alter the number of steps in a program by using the “Up” or “Down” buttons. The maximum number of steps is 50 steps.

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 “Up” or “Down” buttons.

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.

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.

Navigate back to the “Step” line using the cursor. Then, increase the number of steps to set the Speed and Time.

Increase the number of steps to set speed and times

(III) Start Program

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.

To abort the operation, press the 'STOP' button.

Program stopping due to stop button pressed

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.

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.

9. Maintenance

9.1 Cleaning

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.

9.2 Repair and Service

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.

9.3 Storage Conditions

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.

10. Troubleshooting

Table 10.1. Troubleshooting guidelines for the Ossila Spin Coater

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	Select/program a recipe
	Lid open/close not detected, or lid still open	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	If the chuck is removed (for cleaning etc), it may not have been re-inserted properly causing an imbalance	Ensure the chuck is pushed in thoroughly so that the two metallic headers are inserted all the way and flush with the top of the chuck
	The Spin Coater is not level	Place the Spin Coater on a flat and sturdy surface and use the in-built spirit level
	If the above does not solve the issue	Contact Ossila