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Temperature Controller (Model 336)

Cryogenic Temperature Controller

The LakeSore Model 336 replaces the model 340. Similarly, this new model also provides only 50 W of heating power (we use 50 Ω heater resistances) and can only store 40 calibration curves. We therefore connect it to the same Kepco ATE 100-2.5 power amplifier (250 W) but with a new LKC-336 electronics because LakeShore has modified the heater ranges.

LakeShore Model 336 Cryogenic Temperature Controller

We provide below the recommended settings for our standard cryostats and cryofurnaces. Some of these settings depend on the type of cryostat, i.e. single or multi-heat-exchanger, cryofurnace. Please make sure that the heater range is appropriate to avoid the melting of the indiulm seal of a cryostat. 

We also invite you to check that the right calibration curves are selected. To determine which calibration curve should be used, please visit the Equipment section and look for your equipment.

ATTENTION: You cannot enter the settings of different cryostats in different zones (e.g. zones 1 and 2 for Ø49 Orange Cryostat and zones 3 and 4 for Ø100 Orange Cryostats). The LakeShore determines the zone to apply from the measured temperature, starting from zone 1.

LKC-336 Converter

The LKC-336 electronics links the LakeShore Model 336 temperature controller to the Kepco ATE 100-2.5 power amplifier. With this electronics, the power amplifier is protected against abnormal LakeShore output voltages and delivers up to 2.5 times the power provided by a LakeShore. For a max current of 0.1 A set into the LakeShore, the Kepco delivers a maximum output voltage of 53.5 V when the Low Heater Range is selected on the LakeShore, and 99 V for the Medium Heater Range.

LakeShore 336 Manual

LakeShore 336 Manual (pdf - 10.52 Mi)

Kepco ATE Specifications

Kepco ATE Specifications (pdf - 802 Ki)

When installing a cryostat, cryofurnace or cryomagnet, the settings of the LakeShore 336 temperature controller must be verified and changed following the procedures detailed below. When complete, check that the input control channel displays an appropriate temperature and do not forget to switch the heater on by pressing the Heater Range key.

Input Setup

Thermometers are installed on the heat exchanger of the variable temperature inserts and at the bottom of the sample sticks. Sometimes, there are also a few other thermometers for specific purposes. Generally, we use Cernox CX1050 sensors in cryostats and RhFe sensors in cryofurnaces. The thermometers are referenced with a serial number which is determined by visiting the Low Temperature section and clicking on the cryostat code name. For each cyrostat, magnets, sample sticks, etc, a web page provides the serial number of the thermometers. You can download the calibration curves from the webpage and upload it to the LakeShore 336 if needed.

By convention, the Cernox or Rhodium Iron sensor of the heat exchanger (regulation) is plugged to the Channel A of the LakeShore. The thermometer of the sample is plugged to the Channel C. In most cases, there are also Pt100 sensors attached to our equipments. They can be read with the Channels B and D respectively but they are used as spare thermometers; typically for checking that the temperature deduced by reading the Cernox or Rhodium Iron resistors looks correct.

  1. On the LakeShore, press the Input Setup key to display the Input Setup screen.
  2. Use the Up or Down key to select the Channel A and press Enter to confirm your choice.
  3. Then press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select the sensor you wish, e.g. NTC RTD Cernox, PTC RTD Platinium or PTC RTD RhFe. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  4. Press the Down key to highlight the Autorange field. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select On. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  5. Press the Down key to highlight the Current Reversal field. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select On for a Cernox and Off for a Pt100 or a RhFe. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  6. Press the Down key to highlight the Curve field. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select the calibration curve of the regulation sensor. Press Enter to confirm your choice. If the curve is not available contact the SANE team.
  7. Press the Down key to highlight the Filter field. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select Off. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  8. Press the Down key to highlight the Temperature Limit field. If the input A is selected, press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 325 K for a cryostat and 555 K for a cryofurnace if the input A is selected. Enter 0 for other inputs. Enter to confirm your choice.
  9. Use the Up key to return to the Input Setup field, select another input B, C or D and repeat from #3.

Output Setup

These settings normally need to be entered only once. They do not depend on the equipment unless for very particular reasons.

  1. On the LakeShore, press the Output Setup key to display the Output Setup screen.
  2. Use the Up or Down key to select the Output 1 and press Enter to confirm your choice.
  3. Then press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select Zone. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  4. Press the Down key to highlight the Control Input field. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select the Input A. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  5. Press the Down key to highlight the Heater Resistance field. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select 50 Ω. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  6. Press the Down key to highlight the Max Current field. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select the User option. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  7. Press the Down key to highlight the User Max Current field. Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 0.100 A (0.130 A for Joule Thomson cryostats). Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  8. Press the Down key to highlight the Power Up field. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select On. Enter to confirm your choice.
  9. Press the Down key to highlight the Heater Out Display field. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select Power. Enter to confirm your choice.

Zone Settings

The LakeShore 336 allows the user to establish up to 10 custom temperature zones where the controller automatically uses pre-programmed PID settings and heater ranges. These values have been determined at the cryogeny lab. for families of cryostats and must be checked each time a cryostat or cryomagnet is installed on the instrument.

The maximum heating power depends on the type of equipment you are using. For Orange cryostats and cryomagnets with single-heat-exchanger, all zones must be set to the Low heater range. For multi-heat-exchanger cryostats and cryomagnets, the second and third zones can use the Medium heater range.

Zone #1: Parameters are identical for all cryostats and cryofurnaces

  1. On the LakeShore, press the Zone Settings key to display the Zone Settings screen.
  2. Press the Down key to select the Output 1 and press Enter to confirm your choice.
  3. Press the Down key to highlight the Zone to Edit field. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select Zone 1. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  4. Press the Down key to highlight the Upper Boundary field. Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 11 K. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  5. Press the Down key to highlight the P field (Proportional). Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 30.0. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  6. Press the Down key to highlight the I field (Integral). Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 10.0. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  7. Press the Down key to highlight the D field (Derivative). Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 0.0. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  8. Press the Down key to highlight the Manual Output field. Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 0.0. Enter to confirm your choice.
  9. Press the Down key to highlight the Range field. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select Low. Enter to confirm your choice.

Zone #2: Depends on the type of cryostat

Case of a single-heat-exchanger cryostat

Case of a cryofurnace or a multi-heat-exchanger cryostat

  1. On the LakeShore, press the Zone Settings key to display the Zone Settings screen.
  2. Output 1 is preselected. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  3. Then press the Down key once to select Zone 2. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  4. Press the Down key to highlight the Upper Boundary field. Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 50 K. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  5. Press the Down key to highlight the P field (Proportional). Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 50.0. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  6. Press the Down key to highlight the I field (Integral). Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 20.0. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  7. Press the Down key to highlight the D field (Derivative). Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 0.0. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  8. Press the Down key to highlight the Manual Output field. Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 0.0. Enter to confirm your choice.
  9. Press the Down key to highlight the Range field. Visit the webpage of the quipment to check the exchanger type. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select Low for single-heat-exchanger cryostats and Med for cryofurnaces and multi-heat-exchanger cryostats. Enter to confirm your choice.

Zone #3: Depends on the type of cryostat

Case of a single-heat-exchanger cryostat

Case of a multi-heat-exchanger cryostat

Case of a cryofurnace

  1. On the LakeShore, press the Zone Settings key to display the Zone Settings screen.
  2. Output 1 is preselected. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  3. Then press the Down key to select Zone 3. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  4. Press the Down key to highlight the Upper Boundary field. Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 325 K for a cryostat and 555 K for a cryofurnace. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  5. Press the Down key to highlight the P field (Proportional). Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 100.0. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  6. Press the Down key to highlight the I field (Integral). Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 50.0. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  7. Press the Down key to highlight the D field (Derivative). Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 0.0. Press Enter to confirm your choice.
  8. Press the Down key to highlight the Manual Output field. Press Enter and use the keyboard to enter 0.0. Enter to confirm your choice.
  9. Press the Down key to highlight the Range field. Press Enter and use the Up or Down key to select Low for single-heat-exchanger cryostats and Med for cryofurnaces and multi-heat-exchanger cryostats. Enter to confirm your choice.