Early Maintenance Feedback (EMF)

Maintenance requires the exchange of components that are subject to wear or stress. Ideally, the frequency at which components are exchanged should be based on the intensity of use of the module and the analytical conditions, and not on a predefined time interval. The early maintenance feedback (EMF) feature monitors the use of specific components in the instrument, and provides feedback when the user-selectable limits have been exceeded. The visual feedback in the user interface provides an indication that maintenance procedures should be scheduled.

EMF Counters

EMF counters increment with use and can be assigned a maximum limit which provides visual feedback in the user interface when the limit is exceeded. Some counters can be reset to zero after the required maintenance procedure.

Using the EMF Counters

The user-settable EMF limits for the EMF Counters enable the early maintenance feedback to be adapted to specific user requirements. The useful maintenance cycle is dependent on the requirements for use. Therefore, the definition of the maximum limits needs to be determined based on the specific operating conditions of the instrument.

Setting the EMF Limits

The setting of the EMF limits must be optimized over one or two maintenance cycles. Initially the default EMF limits should be set. When instrument performance indicates maintenance is necessary, take note of the values displayed by the EMF counters. Enter these values (or values slightly less than the displayed values) as EMF limits, and then reset the EMF counters to zero. The next time the EMF counters exceed the new EMF limits, the EMF flag will be displayed, providing a reminder that maintenance needs to be scheduled.