The Ch A cathode developed a catastrophic leak yesterday. The chamber was at atmosphere since Monday and heat exchanger fluid was running through the cathode base since last Wednesday, as we waited for the turbo to be returned from vendor (where it had been sent to be cleaned up.)
It appears that there was a breach between the chiller/heat exchanger channel inside the cathode and the helium feedthrough channel adjacent. Chiller fluid pooled in the chamber, down into the turbo, and leaked into the main chassis.
The turbo pump has been removed and sent out to be cleaned up. It is due back Monday. We are trying to locate another cathode base from Applied and other suppliers. We suspect the pump foreline will need to be flushed as well.
Another victim of this failure may very well be the hard drive/drive controller. In short, the near term prognosis is not good -- but, there will be more news tomorrow.
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