How to avoid chatter or Venetian blinds?
• The specimen might be improperly frozen onto the specimen disc. Remove the specimen; ensure that the disc is clean and that the grooves are cleared of any build up of cryocompound. Remount the specimen on the disc using a minimum amount of cryocompound. • The specimen disc is not secured properly. Ensure that the disc is properly inserted into the specimen head. • The specimen is very hard, or not homogeneous. Reduce the specimen surface area if necessary; cut at the temperature necessary for the most difficult to freeze component of the tissue; if possible, trim the block into a V shape and orient the block so that the smallest surface will contact the blade first. • Rigorous trimming of the block has caused the specimen to detach from the disc. Re-mount the specimen onto the disc. • The blade is not clamped properly. Check the clamping. It may be overtightened. (Position the locking lever so it is in the same plane as the disposable blade front plate.) • The cutting edge is dull. U
