Malvern Mastersizer 2000, User Manual

Page: 41 / 154

Making measurements - a tutorial Chapter 4
Mastersizer 2000 Page 4-5
The Status area at the bottom left of the dialogue reports what is going on and
what to do next. The information in the dialogue changes depending on the stage
of the measurement. The SOP measurement runs as automatically as possible. In a
typical SOP measurement there are only three things the user has to do:
1.
Part way through a measurement the dialogue asks the user to add sample to
the dispersion unit’s tank. Depending on the SOP design, the user is either
asked to add a specific quantity to the tank or add sample to the tank until the
obscuration bar

is in the green section.
2.
Once the correct amount of sample has been added, press the Start button

to start the actual measurement.
3.
Depending on the SOP design, a dialogue may appear asking the user to docu-
ment the measurement (add comments and observations).
If specified, an SOP measurement will automatically clean and fill the dispersion
unit, measure the background, align the optics, calculate the size distribution, and
save the record to a measurement file. All the user has to do is wait for a prompt
from the SOP to perform the actions detailed above.
Try making an SOP measurement using single dairy cream. Make sure that the sys-
tem is connected and powered up, then:
1.
Select Measure-Start SOP and browse for the SOP file.
2.
Select Dairy cream using Hydro 2000G.SOP (or Dairy cream using
Hydro 2000S.SOP if using the Hydro 2000S) from the directory
C:\Program files\Malvern Instruments\Mastersizer 2000\SOP
.
3.
Select OK . The SOP measurement will start by cleaning the tank.
4.
The SOP automatically measures an electrical background, aligns the optical
system and measures the optical background.
5.
The Add Sample tab appears and the SOP asks the user to add the cream to
the tank. Add enough sample (one drop at a time) to make the Laser
Obscuration bar show green (try and achieve a mid value).
6.
Once satisfied that enough sample has been added, press the Start button. The
sample is measured and the result (size distribution) calculated. The measure-
ment record is automatically saved to a measurement file.
The measurement is complete. Now select the record in the Measurement window
and view the results by selecting one of the report tabs.
MAN0384-1.0 Mastersizer 2000.book Page 5 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 8:56 AM