INLINE PROCESS MEASUREMENT FAQS
General Information
What can we measure with your equipment?
Inline Color Measurement, Inline Chemical Concentration, and Inline Film Thickness.
All these measurements are performed in real-time without the need to prepare samples.
What sample types can Equitech measure?
Solids, Liquids, Pastes, Slurries, Molten Polymers, Gels, and Gases
Do Equitech probes work in corrosive environments?
Yes – besides the standard SS, probes may be constructed of Hastelloy, Ti, or PEEK.
Contact Equitech with your specific requirements.
What is the Equitech’s warranty?
Equitech offers a one year on the In-line systems and 30 days on the installed probes.
What are the Equispec’s dimensions?
The In-line systems come standard in a NEMA 4 enclosure 21-inch wide x 21-inch high x 10 inches deep. Mounting is recommended to be eye level with uni-struts.
Does Equitech produce NIR probes?
Most of Equitech’s probes may be made in NIR versions using NIR optics and optical fiber.
Can Equitech do closed loop color control?
Yes, we have used the L* measured value as a feedback loop to give customers closed-loop L to control their color feeder.
How often do I need to do maintenance on the system?
With no moving parts, the system typically needs no maintenance. The flashbulbs will eventually expire and will require replacement. The bulb replacement could happen as an annual event but typically will last two to four years (depending on measurement frequencies).
INLINE PROCESS MEASUREMENT FAQs
How fast can the Equispec measure?
The shortest possible measurement interval depends on the exposure time and the number of exposures that are averaged together for a measurement. For a very efficient probe, this can be as short as 1 second; for a less efficient probe type this can be 2 – 3 seconds.
What is the temperature range for the probes and system?
An Equitech analyzer is designed for use under ambient temperatures ranging from 15 – 45 C. Most probes are designed to operate from 0 – 260 C. Melt probes can function at temperatures up to 500 C.
What is the pressure range?
Melt probes operate at pressures up to 5000 psi. Most other probes have a pressure limit of 3000 psi.
Will the Equispec measurement match my laboratory measurements?
The goal of the process color measurement is to provide real-time indication of color values (L*, a, b) that can be used to control the process. Because process color measurements are performed at a different temperature and in most cases under a different optical geometry than the laboratory color measurement, then, in absolute values, the numbers cannot be the same. However, when laboratory color values are entered into EquiColor, the software uses the laboratory values to simulate process color values that are used to maintain the process under control.
What is the system’s accuracy?
Color accuracy is generally +/- 0.25 units L*, a* or b*.
What is the power requirement?
120 V AC [240 V AC version available]
How many recipes can the system have?
There is no limit imposed by the software to the number of recipes.
What is the life of the bulb?
Bulb life is 1 billion flashes. Lifetimes can vary from 6 months to several years depending upon measurement frequency.
How often does the system need to be calibrated?
Typical calibration interval is 1 week or longer.