Operating Instructions for the Janis Top-Loading CCR (TLCCR) 

ESTIMATED TIMES TO REACH EQUILIBRIUM TEMPERATURES: 

Cooling a cold CCR from 300-3.3K: ~1.5 hrs 

RECOMMENDED CONTROL SETUP IN LOW TEMPERATURE MODE 

Sample Stick Sample Channel Control Channel Temperature Range 

Low Temperature A B 4-325 K 

High Temperature B D 70-325 K 

High Temperature B B* 4-325 K* 

* This mode relies on the sample well temperature to indicate the sample temperature. 

NOTE: A thermal protection circuit will shut off the heater power if the coldhead (NOT the sample 

well) reaches 270 K (26o

 F). There is no visual display of this temperature sensor on the controller. 

SAMPLE STICK:

1) Select the sample stick that fits your experiment’s temperature range. 

2) Switch to “Low Temp (Exchange Gas)” on the heater selector box. 

3) Use the table above to set up the Instrument Control Program (ICP) temperature control. 

4) Enter the zone PID values for your sample stick into the Lakeshore controller. Use the table 

provided on top of the controller; refer to “Loading a PID Zone Table” for more instructions. 

LOADING AND CHANGING SAMPLES:

1) Adjust the vertical position of the sample by loosening the collar on the sample stick, 

moving the stick, and retightening the collar. For long tailed and short tailed TLCCRs, the 

distance from bottom of sample stick flange to center of beam is 1400mm (55.12 in) and 

943mm (37.14in) respectively. 

2) Make sure that the 3-way valve is properly closed. It is closed when it points perpendicular 

to the gas and vacuum line. Also ensure that all cables to the sample stick are disconnected. 

3) Put 3-5 psi of helium gas on the gas inlet. Connect a rough vacuum pump to the vacuum 

port and establish a vacuum. 

4) Connect the sample well to the vacuum by turning the 3-way valve towards the vacuum port. 

Evacuate the sample well and close the 3-way valve. 

5) Unclamp the sample stick or sample well cover from the flange of the top loading CCR. 

6) Turn the 3-way valve towards the gas inlet. It is necessary to have constant flow of 

helium through the sample well to prevent air from entering during the sample change.

7) Remove the sample stick or well cover from the CCR once the well’s pressure gauge reads 

above zero and insert the sample stick. 

8) Clamp the sample stick back to the sample well’s flange. Pump the helium from the sample 

well by turning the 3-way valve towards the vacuum port. 

9) Pump and purge the sample well three times by filling the well with helium to -5 psi and 

then pumping it out. Leave -10 psi (<1 atm) of helium exchange gas in the sample well. 

10) Close all valves and disconnect the vacuum pump and helium gas. 

11) Attach the cables onto the new sample stick. 

12) The heater may turn off if the cables to the sample stick are unplugged. Verify that the 

heater is on at the controller; turn it on with the “Heater Range” button if necessary. 

SHUT DOWN: 

1) Turn off the heater power on the temperature controller. 

2) Turn off the compressor on the floor with the black drive switch on its front panel. 
 

 

 Operating Instructions for the Janis Top-Loading CCR (TLCCR) 

ESTIMATED TIMES TO REACH EQUILIBRIUM TEMPERATURES: 

Warming from 300K-600K: ~30 min 

Normal cooling down from 600-300K: ~4 hrs 

RECOMMENDED CONTROL SETUP IN HIGH TEMPERATURE MODE

Sample Stick Sample Channel Control Channel Temperature Range 

Low Temperature A A 4-500K 

High Temperature D D 70-800K 

SAMPLE STICK: 

1) Select the sample stick that fits your criteria and switch to the “High Temp (Vacuum)” on 

the heater selector box.

2) Use the table above to set up the Instrument Control Program (ICP) temperature control for 

your sample stick choice. 

3) Enter the zone PID values for your sample stick into the Lakeshore controller. Use the table 

provided on top of the controller; refer to “Loading a PID Zone Table” for more instructions. 

LOADING AND CHANGING SAMPLES

1) Adjust the vertical position of the sample by loosening the collar on the sample stick, 

moving the stick, and retightening the collar. For long tailed and short tailed TLCCRs, the 

distance from bottom of sample stick flange to center of beam is 1400mm (55.12 in) and 

943mm (37.14in) respectively. 

2) Make sure that the 3-way valve is properly closed. It is closed when it points perpendicular 

to the gas and vacuum line. Also ensure that all cables to the sample stick are disconnected. 

3) Put 3-5 psi of helium gas on the gas inlet. Connect a rough vacuum pump to the vacuum 

port and establish a vacuum. 

4) Connect the sample well to the vacuum by turning the 3-way valve towards the vacuum port. 

Evacuate the sample well and close the 3-way valve. 

5) Unclamp the sample stick or sample well cover from the flange of the top loading CCR. 

6) Connect the sample well to the helium gas line by turning the 3-way valve towards the gas 

inlet. It is necessary to have constant flow of helium through the sample well to prevent 

air from entering during the sample change.

7) Remove the sample stick or well cover from the CCR once the well’s pressure gauge reads 

above zero and insert the sample stick. 

8) Clamp the sample stick back to the sample well’s flange. Pump the helium from the sample 

well by turning the 3-way valve towards the vacuum port. 

9) Pump and purge the sample well three times by filling the well with helium to -5 psi and 

then pumping it out. When finished, be sure to leave on a turbo pump and continuously 

pump on the sample well to maintain an adequate vacuum. 

10) Attach the cables onto the new sample stick. 

11) Disconnect the helium gas. 

12) The heater may turn off if the cables to the sample stick are unplugged. Verify that the 

heater is on at the controller; turn it on with the “Heater Range” button if necessary. 

SHUT DOWN

1) Turn off the heater power on the temperature controller. 

2) Once the temperature at channel D is 300 K or lower, turn off the compressor on the floor 

with the black drive switch on its front panel. 
3-Way Valve 

Outer Vacuum 

Valve 

Gas Inlet

Vacuum Port

Compressor 

On/Off Switch
Sample Control Sample Control

BAA

D, or B* B D D

Preferred modes of operation

Extended range modes of operation

Exchange Gas Vacuum

 Sensor Setup Chart

A

Low 

Temp 

Sample 

Stick

High 

Temp 

Sample 

Stick

* At temperatures below 70 K, there is very little temperature gradient between the 

sample well and the sample stick. Thus, sensor A provides an accurate 

determination of the sample temperature in a range that the sample stick sensor D 

is not able to read.

4-325K 4-450K

70-325K, 4-325K* 70-800K