Pine Research MSR 636A, User Manual, Page: 164 / 176

Document #: DRK10057 (REV002 | MAR 2016
)
Copyright © 2008-2016 Pine Research Instrumentation Page 1
MSR Rotator Control by Pine Potentiostats
A Brief Discussion on Compatibilities and Cable Options
The Pine MSR Rotator is a standalone instrument. It does not require a connection to a potentiostat to
operate, but many users enjoy the integrated nature of controlling the rotation rate of the rotator
through the same software that operates their potentiostat. This document describes the connection
of a MSR Rotator to a compatible Pine WaveDriver and WaveNow Potentiostat.
1
Background
The MSR Rotator is a standalone instrument. It does not require any other instrument to operate, only an AC power
connection supplied through the control unit. There is an inherent advantage to controlling the rotator rotation
rate within the same software that controls the electrochemical experiment. Thus, Pine has integrated rotation rate
controls into AfterMath Data Organizer enabling automated control of an MSR Rotator. AfterMath is the control
program developed and maintained by Pine Research Instrumentation that controls the latest series of
potentiostats manufactured by Pine. With the appropriate license file, “Rotator methods” appears in AfterMath as
a submenu under the list of Experiments. The experiments in this submenu have input fields for rotation rates. A
special cable connects the Pine WaveNow or WaveDriver potentiostats to the MSR Control Unit to allow automated
control (software control) of the rotation rate.
2
Overview
The MSR Rotator consists of the motor assembly and the control unit. When the MSR Rotator is being used as a
standalone instrument, the rotation rate can be set by turning the black knob on the front panel of the control unit
under the LCD display (see: Figure 1). The rotation rate during standalone operation is displayed on the LCD in units
of Rotations per Minute (RPM). The control unit outputs a specific voltage to the motor to achieve this rotation rate.
For Pine MSR Rotators the rotation rate conversion factor is set at the factory to
1 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 / 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅
. This rotation rate
conversion factor may be different for rotators purchased from sources other than Pine.
Alternatively for software control of the rotation rate, an external analog voltage can be supplied to the control
unit INPUT using the banana plugs on its front panel (see: Figure 1). Compatible WaveDriver and WaveNow
potentiostats are configured to supply an analog voltage for controlling a rotator. Other potentiostats may support
this feature; contact your potentiostat vendor to check compatibility and for any special cables or software
requirements. Compatible Pine potentiostats under AfterMath control can be connected directly to the MSR
Control Unit using a rotation rate control cable (AKCABLE4) (see: Figure 2). NOTE: Not all Pine potentiostats have
an analog output feature (see: “Compatible Pine Potentiostats” section).
Figure 1. Front and Rear Views of the Pine MSR Control Unit