SLAC website problems

I almost always have trouble accessing the SLAC internal websites that require passwords. I don't have much trouble with purchasing, but I can't figure out how to log on to any site that starts www-internal.slac.stanford.edu (useful for some travel docs). I think Corrina said that, since they re-vamped the computer system a few months ago, users from Stanford campus need to connect to these sites through a special webpage. Does anyone know anything about this?

Pump time for glasswork 2

I almost always pump for at least 5 minutes between flushes when I'm doing glasswork.

Crucibles

This is a really basic qn. for Oxide crystal growers... How do we decide when to use Al crucibles sealed in Quartz or Pt crucibles? Si obviously attacks quartz - but how about the the other oxides we've grown, why do we use Pt?

Automating Windows tasks

K.Yun recommends this utility for automating repetitive tasks in Windows:
http://www.autohotkey.com/
He uses it to import his SSRL data into Origin.

Angstrom symbol in Origin

Here's how to make the angstrom symbol in Origin: \(197)

Pump time for glasswork

When doing glasswork, how long do you wait for each pump of the pump/flush cycle? I used to wait almost no time at all, but now I'm thinking I should wait at least 5 minutes. This is because when using the mini-antechamber of the glovebox in 291, a 5 minute wait is necessary for each cycle or else oxygen will be let in.

Furnace E calibration

Last week I put identical ErTe3 growths in Furnace C and Furnace E, two in each furnace; both were spun at 515 C. The growths in Furnace C spun clean, whereas half of the contents of each Furnace E growth was encased in a tellurium lump.

RTe3 growers: Have you observed this tellurium lump phenomenon and have you thought about how to avoid it? My thought is that this occurs when the spin temperature is too low, and too close to the tellurium melting point.

My hypothesis is that Furnace E is calibrated so that 515 C is lower than it is in Furnace C. For this week's ErTe3 growths, I will spin Furnace E at 520 C and Furnace C at 515 C.

Any comments?