Optical Emission S/W ARL 3460

Start Up Check that: the power cable is connected to the 230 VAC supply; ensure that supply is functional, the argon pipe is connected to the argon supply or the argon battery – otherwise directly on an argon bottle; if there is a manual valve on the pipe, be sure it is open and there is enough argon to proceed to analyses, the computer (central unit and peripherals) are supplied by the external plugs (or by the same supply as the instrument is), the serial link cable is well connected on the connector of the instrument, and also at the rear of the computer central unit (on the serial link port).

Connecting In normal conditions, when the equipment is switched on (instrument and computer system), the WinOE software starts up automatically

UMT Software Unique Metal technologies

Soft Ware Login Introduce the name and password, the Shortcuts WinOE window is displayed after several seconds

Before Using Win OE Before you can use the WinOE software for analysis, it must be configured for the samples that are going to be analysed. The required Setting-up Samples, Control Samples and Type Standards are configured The required Analytical Programs are configured A Standardisation Initialisation has been performed An Instrument Calibration has been performed The required Analytical Tasks are configured An SPC Initialisation has been performed when your system is configured with this option. A Type Standardisation Initialisation has been performed when you use this feature. A Standardisation Update has been performed at least once

Configuration steps for the instrument Steps that need to be carried out to configure and set-up your WinOE system Software Installation System Configuration Instrument Configuration and Initialisation Defining Required Samples Defining Analytical Programs Defining Analytical Tasks Standardisation Initialisation Instrument Calibration Type Standard Initialisation All of these activities done by Thermo Engineers at factory.

Instrument Configuration & Initialisation Set-up Instrument Channels Set-up Programmable Attenuators Set up Channel status. Set-up Alarms

Defining Required Samples The samples that you will need to define are as follows: Calibration Standards, Setting-up Samples, Control Sample, Type Standard Samples. You need to define these samples before you can create the Analytical Programs that you will use for analysis.

Defining Analytical Conditions These analytical condition parameters are usually factory configured for the factory calibrated programs. Modifying or deleting existing defined analytical conditions may completely change the analysis result output and invalidate the calibration curves. Changes must be done only by qualified operator.

Defining Analytical Programs An analytical program is a specification of all parameters required: To measure a particular type of sample using a number of spectral lines. To calculate results from the measured intensities.

Defining Analytical Tasks Selecting a Task The access to the dialogue boxes for the preparation of an analytical task is made through the Tasks folder of the Preparation menu, as shown in the next figure.

Task Parameter The above dialogue box is an example for the 'concentration in unknown samples' task category. For other categories the dialogue box is slightly different, but some parameters are common to all or several tasks, while others apply to only one task category.

Standardisation Initialisation The purpose of the Standardisation Initialisation task is to measure the nominal (Day 0) intensities and sigma's of the setting-up samples for the channels specified in the analytical program(s). Clicking on the Standardisation / Drift correction initialization icon displays the Standardisation Initialisation dialogue box

Instrument Calibration Three types of standard samples that may have to be measured to perform a complete calibration: Samples for Background Corrections Samples for Overlap Corrections Standards for Base Curve and Inter-element Corrections All three types of samples above have to be defined as Calibration Standards.

Getting Start

Win OE Main Tasks

Initialization

Initialization Progress Read the instrument status. Vacuum 30.0 – 1.0 Sp “spectrometer “ temp 37.0 – 39.0 oC

Read Instrument Status It is also possible to check the instrument status on request by a click on the Read Instrument Status icon. The statuses to be read are selected in the ICS Status Reporter.

Reset Instrument The data in the ICS may be corrupted. To solve this problem reset the instrument and communication. You do this by clicking on the Reset Instrument icon. If this operation is successful, that is no error messages being displayed, you may retry to send the configuration to the ICS using the Send Instrument Configuration icon.

Analysis The analytical routine work can start after the following operations: Instrument's calibration execution (only in case of instrument supplied without calibration), Cleaning of the stand, Profile check, Instrument's standardization, Quantitative analyses (routine analyses).

Profile By moving the primary slit on the Rowland circle, the wavelength crossing a fixed secondary slit on the circle is modified. This is how the instrument is profiled, i.e. the position of the primary slit is adjusted so that a given wavelength passes through a given secondary slit.

Direct Profile This is the method of carrying out the Profile of an instrument using one channel at a time. There are three monitoring modes available for direct profile: Physical hardware galvanometer (on the instrument) Software galvanometer display Chart display

Run Profile the profile has to be checked before each standardisation and the value found should be noted in your instrument diary.

Integrated Profile This is a method of carrying out a Profile of the spectrometer using up to 10 channels simultaneously. The Profile Position is calculated automatically.

Standardization Procedure to periodically run Setting-up samples to correct for any instrument drift.

Analysing Conc. in Unknown Samples An unknown sample analysis can be separated in three main steps: Starting the analysis process. This is a preparation step, where you should enter sample identifiers and you may change the analytical task, as well as the associated analytical program, type standard or quality. Analysis runs. This is properly the step where the sample is burned, its emitted light analysed by the spectrometer and the results returned from the instrument control (ICS) to the computer software (WinOE). Ending the analysis process. After the average, the system may take several actions with the results, such as printing, storing, transmitting, modifying, etc.

Analysis Routine analysis consists of measuring an unknown sample in order to determine the concentrations of the elements that are composing it. You can thus analyse any random sample, as long as its composition is compatible to the program or the calibrated alloy that you are going to use in the software.

Changing Task A click on the Change Task button displays the following window enabling you to select the task from the list box. Click on the desired task to select it and press the OK button. You are returned to the analysis preparation window

Selecting Program WinOE automatically displays the Quality, Type Standard or Program that has been defined as the default program when the task was set-up. Quality and type standard are not available in our instrument.

Flush This period corresponds to an argon flush time, the argon flushes the stand to ensure that the spark will start in an argon environment. Any impurities or contamination may disturb the spark. This usually takes between 3 to 5 seconds. Pre-integration During this time the high energy spark takes place, also called pre-spark, used to clean and homogenise the analysed part of the sample. Integration During this time the spark takes place, together with the measurement (integration) of the intensities. At this stage, as long as a sample is already positioned on the instrument stand, you are in position to start the first run of the analysis sequence. The run will start as soon as you press on analyse . The analysis sequence (flush, pre-integration, integration,) will starts.

Results At the end of the analysis cycle of the first run, the results are sent to WinOE and the results window is refreshed. Rotate the sample on the stand on a position that is not already used and close the stand door. Press on the green START button on the instrument stand and click on the Analyse Again button in the above WinOE window.

You should perform at least two runs before terminating the analysis. After the sets of results have been selected, you can then press the Analysis Complete button.

Quit WinOE You can quit WinOE by clicking on the Exit menu icon. Once the Exit command is acknowledged, a confirmation window is displayed. Click on the OK button, the WinOE session is closed and the WINDOWS Desktop should relay. You can now quit Windows and then switch off the computer system's different units using their individual switches.