BlueSkyBio PlasmaLoc Handheld Device

Safety

This device is built according to corresponding international standards. Like with every technical product incorrect or not intended use can be dangerous.
Follow the instructions in this operating manual in addition to the general safety regulations.

Caution – Danger!
When working with the device, please note and observe the safety instructions and requirements in these operating instructions because non-compliance may result in serious or fatal injury.

Residual risks

This device has been manufactured in accordance with the current state of the art. However, it is impossible to eliminate residual risks.
Always adhere to the following safety instructions:

Caution – Electrical voltage!
Only use the external power plug provided.

Danger from mains voltage. If the external power plug is visibly damaged:

• Do not use the damaged part.
• Have the damaged parts repaired by a qualified person or replace them.

Danger from sparks on the piezo element and the substrate to be treated:

• Do not reach into the area of the plasma discharge.
• Electrically conductive substrates must be grounded or protected against touching.

Attention – Emissions!

Dangerous amounts of the reaction gas ozone (O3) may be produced during device operation.

• Volumes of ozone in excess of 0.2 mg/m³ may be produced.
• Note that national health and safety measures must be observed when operating the device.
• Only use the device in well ventilated areas or in conjunction with a suitable extraction device.
• Do not leave the device running unattended.
• Do not point the device at people when in operation.

Attention – Damage to device!
Under no circumstances may the fan cover on the rear side of the device be closed. This would interrupt the supply of cooling medium required in operation.
Never touch the piezo element at the front of the device with sharp-edged objects. This component may be damaged by improper handling.
Protect the device from falls or other hard impacts which may damage the electronics or piezo element.

Attention – Device for use in industrial environment!
Due to the presence of both conducted and radiated interference, this device may have difficulty in ensuring electromagnetic compatibility in other environments.

Caution – Hot surface!
The exchange modules can become hot during operation. Do not touch them until they have cooled down and take care not to damage thermally sensitive surfaces when working with the exchange modules. The workpiece to be treated can also heat up during the plasma process, depending on the process parameters. If necessary, allow the workpiece to cool down before touching it.

Information and obligations for the operator

• The system may emit interference.
  • The system has been tested in accordance with EMC legislation.
  • The operator must verify and assure electromagnetic compatibility with other electrical and electronic equipment in the immediate vicinity of the system.
• Ensure that:
  • Operating personnel have read and understood these operating instructions.
  • Anyone working near the device is made aware of the dangers and is provided with the necessary protective equipment.
  • Repairs are only carried out by qualified persons.
• In particular, make operating personnel aware of the safety instructions in this document.
• Always keep the system in fully functional condition.
• Any modifications made to the device will invalidate the operating license and the warranty. Exception: Such modifications are expressly authorized by the manufacturer.

Impermissible operating conditions

The device must not be operated under the following conditions:

• In explosive (Ex) zones
• In areas with severe build-up of dust
• In environments where the humidity is too high (see chapter 3 Technical data )
• At altitudes of more than 2.000 m above sea level
• Where there are strong vibrations

Emissions

The connected device produces the following emissions:

• Ozone (O3)

Note: As a precautionary measure, we recommend an extraction system with about 100 m³/h in the direct vicinity of the plasma outlet.

Description of device

Intended use
The PlasmaLoc is a handheld device for generating technical plasma. It is used to pre-treat a wide range of material surfaces before processes such as gluing or printing. It is also possible to use the cleaning effect of the plasma.
Only use the device for the intended purposes. Failure to do so may restrict product liability.

Scope of delivery
The scope of delivery includes the following components:

• Handheld device
• Module “Standard“
• Module “Nearfield“
• Plug-in power supply (cable length 1.5 m; with adaptors EU, US, UK, AUS)
• Operating instructions

Description of device

The individual parts of the device are shown and named in the diagram below. These terms are used throughout the operating instructions.

Attention!
The piezo element is an oscillating component that vibrates mechanically at high frequency. Due to its design, this component cannot be fixed rigidly. For this reason, the component can lie off-center in the interchangeable modules within certain limits. This is not an error or quality defect.
Due to the vibration, audible frequencies may also occur under certain circumstances. This is also normal and not a fault or quality defect.

Technical data

Electrical data

Supply voltage| 24 V DC (device) / 110 – 230 V AC (power supply)
Power consumption| max. 18 W
Model| Handheld device with plug-in power supply
Dimensions
Weight| 110 g (not including plug-in power supply)
Length| 215 mm
Diameter max.| 38 mm
Diameter min.| 27 mm
Cable length| 1500 mm
Typical application parameters (exemplary for module „Standard“)
Plasma temperature| < 50 °C
Treatment distance| 2 – 10 mm
Width of treatment| 5 – 29 mm depending on process parameters (see chapter 6)
Treatment speed| 0 – 20 mm/s
Operating conditions
Air humidity| < 80 % rel. (non-condensing)
Temperature| 10 – 40 °C; 50 – 104 °F
Storage conditions
Air humidity| < 80% rel. (non-condensing)
Temperature| 0 – 60 °C; 32 – 140 °F

Transport / storage

• Store the device in a dry place. This will prevent corrosion of the electrical contacts. It is best to use the provided case for storage and transport.
• Protect the device from dirt and foreign objects.
• Protect the device from falls or other hard impacts.

Installation

• Remove the device from the packaging.
• Use the external power plug to establish the power supply.
• Ensure that the workplace is well ventilated.

Attention – Damage to device!
In order to prevent damage to the device, please ensure that you follow the advice in chapter 7.

Special note on the operation of the plasma process

General description

Treating surfaces with atmospheric plasma has several advantages. These are e.g. the increase of surface energy to improve the wettability of the surface. An optimal surface wetting is the first and often decisive step to achieve excellent print quality, homogeneous coating, uniform varnishing or an integrally bonded application of adhesives. The bond at this interface often determines the durability and adhesive strength of this material pairing.

Atmospheric pressure plasma increases throughput in many industrial processes, while at the same time saving costs for solvents or chemical primers. We have successfully integrated our plasma products into the following fields of application:

• Ultra-fine cleaning of metal, glass and plastics
• Surface activation and surface functionalization for optimized wettability
• Plasma-assisted laminating process
• Plasma-assisted adhesive bonded joints
• Plugging and sealing
• Plasma induced reduction of metal surfaces
• Chemical-free bleaching of textiles
• Handling of food products for quality and shelf life
• Multi-component injection molding

Practically all technical material classes can be efficiently processed under atmospheric pressure:

• Metals and metal alloys
• Plastics and composite materials
• Glass, ceramics, inorganic composites and natural stone
• Real leather and imitation leather
• Natural fibers, wood and paper

Since the plasma treatment is always just one part of the entire process, it is important to know the overall influences on the surface properties in order to achieve an optimal result.

Typical influencing factors are:

• Plasma process: Distance to the substrate, speed, module design
• Substrate / workpiece: Material composition, contamination, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, moisture content
• Workpiece treatment: Contamination before or after the plasma process, the time between the plasma process and the follow-up process

Carrying out surface treatment
Depending on the type and condition of your substrate, pre-cleaning before the plasma process can improve the overall outcome.
The effect of the treatment depends on the working distance, treatment time, speed and consistency of movement as well as the material to be treated.

Measures to take after the surface treatment
To achieve an optimal result, it is important that as little time as possible elapses after the plasma treatment and that the treated surface is not touched or contaminated.
Cleaning the surface AFTER the plasma treatment is not recommended.
Since the workpiece can heat up depending on the type and duration of the plasma process, it may be necessary to allow the workpiece to cool down first before the next process step is executed in order to not negatively affect the follow-up process through the introduction of heat (e.g. certain bonding processes).

Caution – Hot surface!
The workpiece to be treated can become heated up by the plasma process depending on the process parameters. If necessary, allow the workpiece to cool down before handling it.

Operation

Inserting / removing the module

The modules are provided with labels in different colors for easy identification. Please do not remove these labels.

To insert a module, take it out of the packaging and hold it in the area of the nozzle outlet without touching the piezo element (picture 1).
Please note that the contact board of the module must be on the same side as the display of the device to allow insertion.

Carefully insert the module into the device as shown in the picture without using force until the module locks into place.

When the device is switched on, the type of module detected is now shown in the display.

To remove a module, wait until it has cooled down. Depending on the type of module, operation can lead to a significant increase in temperature.

Hold the device in one hand, press both release buttons simultaneously and keep them pressed. With the other hand, hold the module in the area of the nozzle outlet without touching the piezo element and carefully pull the module out of the device (picture 2).

Caution – hot surface!
The exchange modules can become hot during operation. Do not touch them until they have cooled down and take care not to damage thermally sensitive surfaces when  working with the exchange modules.

Attention – Damage to device!
Do not reach into the interior of the unit if no module is inserted and do not insert any objects into the opening of the unit other than the modules provided for this purpose.
Hold the modules only in the front area as described above and avoid touching the contact board and the piezo element.
Insert and remove the modules carefully.

Installation

• Make sure that a module is inserted in the device.
• Make sure that the air inlet and nozzle outlet are not covered so that a sufficient flow of ambient air can be drawn in by the unit.
• Hold the unit only in the area of the button (picture 4), not in the area in front of it (picture 3).
• If the unit is to be mounted stationary, please observe the instructions below regarding electrically conductive objects (picture 5 to 8).
• Ensure that the ventilation / extraction of the working area is sufficient.
• Press the Start/Stop button to generate plasma

The device stops plasma activation after 5 minutes at the latest and goes into standby mode (in the case of special modules, plasma activation can stop after a shorter period of time).
You can return to the active mode by simply pressing the Start/Stop button and restart the activation by pressing the Start/Stop button again.

Do not reach into the work area during plasma generation. This can disturb the plasma discharge and can also cause skin irritation or be perceived as slightly painful.

Attention – Damage to device!
The device can be damaged if it is operated without air supply.
This would interrupt the supply of the cooling medium required during operation.
Never cover the air inlet and/or the nozzle outlet during operation.

The device can be damaged if electrically conductive objects are closer than 60 mm to the front third of the device during operation.

Exception: Substrates in front of the module when using modules designed for this purpose, e.g. the Module „Nearfield“. Note
Under certain circumstances, the electric fields generated by the device can damage sensitive electronic components. Make sure that the components of your application are not affected by the plasma process.

User menu

The device starts in the menu item “Home”.

Home menu provides you with an overview of various pieces of information while you work with the device.

To navigate through the menu items, use the “<” (left) and “>” (right) buttons on the keypad. To change the settings in the menu items, use the buttons “” (up) and “∨” (down). In the menu items 3 to 8 you can return to the menu item “Home” by pressing the Start/Stop button.
Please note that the direction of the arrow keys also changes accordingly when the display orientation is changed.

Error
9| Arrow keys left / right| Navigation through menu items
10| Arrow keys up / down| Setting within the menu items
11| Start/Stop button| Starts and stops plasma treatment; return to “Home”; confirm errors

| Menu item/description| Settings| Display

---|---|---|---
1| Start:
Device is booting and switches to the menu item “Home” when ready| –|
2| Home:
Overview: pressing the Start/Stop button starts or stops the plasma activation| –|
3| Process: Selection of the various process tools|

• Stopwatch
• Countdown
• Metronome

|
4| Timing: Setting the duration for the selected process tool| 1 to 5min in increments of 1|
5| Power: Setting the plasma power| 30% to 100% in increments of 5%|
6| Plasma Error:
Set the behavior of the device when a plasma error is detected. “failure”: device stops / red error “warning”: device does not stop / yellow warning|

• failure
• warning

|
7| Buzzer Volume:
Setting the volume of the acoustic feedback| 0 to 5 in

increments of 1

|
8| Display:
Setting the display orientation| 3 different orientations selectable|
9| Module Info:
Information about the currently inserted module| –|
10| Info:
Information about the hardware and software version of the device| –|
11| Reset:
By holding the Start/Stop button for 5 seconds, all device settings are reset to the factory settings| –|

Attention – Damage to device!
The setting in menu “Plasma Error” is per default “failure”. This stops the device to protect the module of situations that might damage the piezo element. It is also an indicator, that the plasma discharge might be not suitable for this material causing a not satisfying surface activation.
Some materials (e.g. compound materials or liquids) might be difficult to treat with the “failure” setting. By switching to “warning” mode, be aware that the module might be damaged, depending on your material and or process parameters.

Process tools

As described in section 7.3, the device provides various functions as tools to support the plasma treatment process.

• Stopwatch
  The device measures the duration of plasma generation in one second steps from start to stop triggered by pressing of the Start/Stop button. The value measured last remains in the home menu until the next plasma generation is started.
  This function can be used, for example, as an aid in process development to record the different treatment times of different samples.
  The adjustability in the menu item “Timing” is deactivated in this mode (display
  “not applicable”).

• Countdown
  In countdown mode, a duration of plasma generation can be pre-set via the menu item “Timing”. The unit is started using the Start/Stop button but stops activation automatically after the set duration has elapsed. The plasma generation can be stopped by pressing the Start/Stop button.
  This function can be used, for example, if many samples are to be treated with plasma for the same amount of time.

• Metronome
  In this mode the plasma generation is not deactivated after the time has elapsed, as it is in the “Countdown” mode, but rather a regular acoustic signal is emitted. This function can be used, for example, when large substrates are treated in lines and each line should have approximately the same duration.

Working with module „Standard“
This module is used for various applications on non-electrically conductive substrates / materials such as plastics, ceramics, glass, natural fibers, leather, textiles etc. The range of the permissible working distance is approx. 2 to 10 mm.
Electrically conductive substrates such as metals or conductive polymers cannot be reliably treated with this nozzle.
When treating electrically conductive substrates / materials, arcing can occur if the distance is too small. In this case the unit will stop plasma generation after approx. 0.5 seconds.

Working with module „Nearfield“
The module “Nearfield” was especially designed for the treatment of electrically conductive substrates / materials such as metals or conductive polymers. Even partially conductive materials such as carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) should be treated with this module.

Caution – hot surface!
The module can become hot during operation. Do not touch the module immediately after operation. Do not touch the substrate with the module during operation.

Working with other modules

It is planned to develop further modules for this device. Please refer to the corresponding operating instructions enclosed with these modules.

Taking out of service

• Press the Start/Stop button again to stop plasma generation.
• Disconnect the power supply once work is completed.

Maintenance

Cleaning

• Clean the device only on the outside.
• Make sure that the device is disconnected from the power supply.
• Clean the device only with a cloth moistened with water. Do not use solvents to clean the device!
• Do not clean the piezo element.

Replacing a module

The modules can be subject to wear depending on the application and should be exchanged for consistent treatment results. Proceed as described in section 7.1.

You can obtain replacement modules directly from Blue Sky Bio, LLC. To optimize our modules, we evaluate returned modules. Please contact us and send us back your defective or replaced modules for analysis.

Attention – Damage to device!
Never touch the piezo element at the front end of the device with sharp objects. This component can be damaged by improper handling.

Troubleshooting

correctly.
Mains plug is defective.| Replace mains plug.
There is an internal error.| De-energize device. Switch on again.
Piezo element broken, the device is defective.| Contact customer service.
Shutdown due to overheating.| Allow the device to cool down. Ensure that the air inlet is not covered so that enough ambient air can be drawn in.
Plasma extinguishes during operation and device emits several short acoustic signals

Indication on the display:

„Plasma-failure“

| Device does not find a permissible operating frequency.| Piezo element broken. Remove the defective module and insert a new one.
Arcing on conductive substrate with e.g. module “Standard”.| Use a module suitable for the substrate, e.g. module “Nearfield”.
No conductive substrate in sufficient proximity to e.g. module “Nearfield”.| Reduce the distance to the substrate or use a module suitable for the substrate, e.g. module “Standard”.
As explained above, indication on the display: “Fan-failure”| Fan is defective.| Contact customer service.
As explained above, indication on the display: “overheated”| The device reached an impermissible inner temperature.| Allow the device to cool down. Check whether the air inlet and the nozzle outlet are not covered.
Error message in display:
„No module inserted“| Module was not detected.| Check whether the module is inserted deep enough in the device.

If necessary, remove the module and reinsert it.

If necessary, insert a new module.

Error message in display:

„invalid module inserted“

| The module used is not compatible with the device.| Please contact customer service.
Display turns off during operation.| When using e.g. the module “Nearfield” it might occur under some process parameters that the display turns off. The plasma process is not affected.| Disconnect the power supply and reconnect after about 10 seconds.

Should these actions not remedy the problem, please contact Blue Sky Bio, LLC.

Environment

Disposal

Consider the environment.
Used electrical and electronic equipment must not be disposed of as household waste.

• The device contains valuable materials that can be recycled. Take the device to a suitable collection point.
• Please return defective or replaced modules to Blue Sky Bio, LLC for analysis. Please contact us in advance.

Conformity / standards

CE

This product conforms to CE standards.
The product name can be found on the device’s nameplate.

FCC

This product conforms to FCC standards.
This device complies with Part 15 and Part 18 of the FCC rules.

Product standards

The device satisfies the following requirements and standards:

Licenses

HMI font:
Droid Sans, Ascender Corp., Apache License

Replacement Parts

BS 1363; AUS: AS 3112)

Manufactured for Blue Sky Bio, LLC
Blue Sky Bio, LLC
800 Liberty Drive
Libertyville, IL 60048
Phone: 718-376-0422
Email: info@blueskybio.com
Web: www.blueskybio.com

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