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TMA Q Series Getting Started Guide

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Important:  TA Instruments Manual Supplement ........................................................................................................ 3

Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................. 4

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings .................................................................................................................................... 6

Regulatory Compliance .................................................................................................................................................. 7

Safety Standards ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
Electromagnetic Compatibility Standards ............................................................................................................ 7

Safety ................................................................................................................................................................................. 8

Instrument Symbols ................................................................................................................................................. 8
Electrical Safety ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
Sample Decomposition ............................................................................................................................................ 9
Lifting the Instrument .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Handling Liquid Nitrogen ...................................................................................................................................... 9
Thermal Safety ........................................................................................................................................................ 10
Cleaning the Instrument ........................................................................................................................................ 10

Chapter 1:  Introducing the TMA ............................................................................................................................... 11

Overview ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11

TMA System Components ............................................................................................................................................ 11

Standard Accessories ............................................................................................................................................ 12
Subambient Operation ........................................................................................................................................... 12

The QTMA Touch Screen with QNX/Platinum

TM

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QNX/Platinum Primary Function Keys ............................................................................................................. 13
QNX/Platinum Control Menu ............................................................................................................................. 14
QNX/Platinum Display Touch Screen Options ................................................................................................. 16
QNX/Platinum Calibration Options ................................................................................................................... 17

The TMA Touch Screen (Original) ............................................................................................................................... 18

Primary Function Keys .......................................................................................................................................... 18
TMA Control Menu Keys ....................................................................................................................................... 19
Display Menu Keys ................................................................................................................................................ 20

Options and Accessories .............................................................................................................................................. 21

Probes ...................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Mechanical Cooling Accessory ............................................................................................................................ 21

Instrument Specifications ............................................................................................................................................. 22

TMA Instrument Characteristics ................................................................................................................... 22

Chapter 2:  Installing the TMA ................................................................................................................................... 23

Unpacking/Repacking the TMA ................................................................................................................................ 23

Installing the Instrument .............................................................................................................................................. 23

Inspecting the System ............................................................................................................................................ 23
Choosing a Location .............................................................................................................................................. 24
Voltage Configuration Unit ................................................................................................................................... 25

Table of Contents

Summary of Contents for Q Series

Page 1: ...TMA Q Series Getting Started Guide 1 Q Series Getting Started Guide TMA Thermomechanical Analyzer Revision D IssuedNovember2006...

Page 2: ...plications trademarks copyrights or other intellectual property covering subject matter in this document Except as expressly provided in written license agreement from TA Instrument the furnishing of...

Page 3: ...ts Manual Supplement Please click on the links below to access important information supplemental to this Getting Started Guide TA Instruments Trademarks TA Instruments Patents Other Trademarks TA Ins...

Page 4: ...ndard Accessories 12 Subambient Operation 12 The QTMATouch Screen with QNX PlatinumTM 13 QNX Platinum Primary Function Keys 13 QNX Platinum Control Menu 14 QNX Platinum Display Touch Screen Options 16...

Page 5: ...ics 35 Using the TMA 35 Before You Begin 35 Calibrating the TMA 36 Force Calibration 36 Probe Calibration 36 Temperature Calibration 36 Cell Constant 37 Running a TMA Experiment 38 Selecting a Probe 3...

Page 6: ...rtant and critical instructions A NOTE highlights important information about equipment or procedures A CAUTION emphasizes a procedure that may damage equipment or cause loss of data if not followed c...

Page 7: ...al Requirements IEC 1010 2 010 1992 Particular requirements for laboratory equipment for the heating of materials Amend ments Electromagnetic Compatibility Standards For Australia and New Zealand AS N...

Page 8: ...t covers unless specifically instructed to do so in the manual Maintenance and repair of internal parts must be performed only by TA Instruments or other qualified servicepersonnel Please heed the war...

Page 9: ...temperature agent liquidnitrogen forcoolinginsubambientexperiments Because of its low temperature 195 C 319 F liquid nitrogen will burn the skin When you work with liquid nitrogen use the following p...

Page 10: ...ere liquid nitrogen is in use Thermal Safety During an experiment the furnace and sample can become very hot or very cold to the touch WARNING Do not use your hands to manually move the furnace and do...

Page 11: ...r information associated with the TMA and not found in this manual see the online help associated with the instrument control software TMA System Components Your instrument consists of the following c...

Page 12: ...ional accessories that can be used with the instrument Standard Accessories The accessory kit supplied with the TMA contains weights a sample holder stage a hex wrench tweezers samples for calibration...

Page 13: ...ys for the main functions of the instrument Key Name Description Start Begins the experiment This is the same function as Start on the instrument control software Start automatically loads the sample...

Page 14: ...con Then press Apply to initiate the action ControlCommand Description FURNACE Toggles between the furnace closed up and furnace open down functions depending on where the furnace is when you press th...

Page 15: ...d reverseitsdirection SHUTDOWN Shuts down and resets the instrument MEASURE Measures your sample s length automatically use this key before beginning the run The measured length is transferred to the...

Page 16: ...is experi ment INFORMATION Displays instrument information such as the software version options and the IP address STATUS Displays the three main signals indicating the current status of the experimen...

Page 17: ...e s compliance It corrects for any difference in the different probes used on the TMA and should be done every time you change a probeontheTMA FORCE Force calibration calibrates the force exerted by t...

Page 18: ...uch screen are used to perform the basic functions of the instru ment and to access the two main screens See the table below for details Key Name Description Begins the experiment This is the same fun...

Page 19: ...oftware and the value is recorded in the Sample Size field Used to advance to the Calibration touch screen which allows you to select from either Probe Calibration or Force Calibration Follow the inst...

Page 20: ...rently being used and highlights theactivesegment Displays the three main signals indicating the current status of the experiment Displays instrument information such as the software version options a...

Page 21: ...llel plate rheometer accessory can be used to obtain viscosity temperature or viscosity time data on substances at low shear rates over the range of 10 to 107 Pa sec 1 to 106 Poise Hemispherical Probe...

Page 22: ...Power 120 V 47 63 Hz 400 VA each used with TA accessories only Operating Environment Temperature 15 30 C Conditions Relative Humidity 5 80 non condensing InstallationCategoryII PollutionDegree2 Maximu...

Page 23: ...pecting the system for shipping damage and missing parts Installing a voltage configuration unit Connecting the TMA to the TA Instruments controller Connecting cables and gas lines It is recommended t...

Page 24: ...rces of compressed lab air and purge gas supplies with suitable regulators CAUTION Your air source must be clean dry and oil free to ensure proper operation of the TMA Away from anyflammablematerials...

Page 25: ...the voltage configuration safety isolation unit is required to protect against hazardous leakage current from the furnace assembly 1 Disconnect the A10J10 connector from A10P10 located inside the PCU...

Page 26: ...e cables across accessways WARNING DO NOT position the instrument so that it is difficult to turn off the power switch or to unplug the power cord Ports The TMA has nine ports that are located on the...

Page 27: ...the purge line Refer to the figure below to locate the purge lines CAUTION Do not use any liquid in the purge lines Use of corrosive gases will shorten the life of the instrument WARNING Use of an exp...

Page 28: ...to cool the TMA furnace to room temperature Follow the procedure below to install the cooling gas line for air cool 1 Locate the Cooling Gas fitting a 1 4 inch Legris fitting on the right side of the...

Page 29: ...stage opening aligning the key slots in the retainer ring with the posts 8 Press down and turn the retainer ring clockwise to lock the assembly in position 9 Replace the large stage nut turning it clo...

Page 30: ...probe locking lever which is the knurled post found behind the weight tray door by turning it counterclockwise Hold the probe locking lever in the up position and continue lowering the probe into the...

Page 31: ...ents 5 Check the Ethernet port on the rear of the instrument If communica tion between the instrument and the switch has been properly estab lished a solid green light and flashing yellow light will a...

Page 32: ...twork interface card into the computer 1 Locate the second Ethernet port on the back of the computer 2 Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the computer s Ethernet port 3 Plug the other end into th...

Page 33: ...A HAR marked harmonized power cable meeting the standards of the country of installation is required for the European Economic Area Install the power cable as follows 1 Make sure the TMA POWER switch...

Page 34: ...ysis system are designed to be powered on for long periods The electronics of the TMA and the controller perform more reliably if power fluctuations caused by turning units on and off are minimized Fo...

Page 35: ...le Adjusting the thermocouple position and closing the furnace Creating or choosing the test procedure and entering sample and instrument information through the TA instrument control software Setting...

Page 36: ...used to calibrate zero force the LVDT and the probe s compliance It corrects for any difference in the different probes used on the TMA and should be done every time you change a probe on the TMA Thi...

Page 37: ...a run conducted in the calibration mode in which a known standard e g aluminum or copper is heated through its transition temperature and data is gathered for analysis The cell constant is calculated...

Page 38: ...anual Selecting a Probe The type of probe that you use is dependent upon the kind of testing information desired The table below lists the probes available their specifications and the type of testing...

Page 39: ...52 0 375 0 14 kPa Viscosity temperature Viscosity time Wall shear rate Hemispherical 2 54 0 1 1 9 kPa Softening point NOTE Refer to online help for details regarding the probes Zeroing the Auto Measur...

Page 40: ...due remains NOTE It is recommended that you place a quartz wafer or a piece of thin aluminum foil between the stage and any thermoplastic samples to prevent damage to the stage See step 3 3 For sample...

Page 41: ...The TMA is very sensitive to motion and might pick up the vibration caused by touching a key on the instrument touch screen Stopping an Experiment If for some reason you need to discontinue the exper...

Page 42: ...MA touch screen as often as you like The touch screen should be cleaned with a house hold liquid glass cleaner and soft cloth Wet the cloth not the touch screen with the glass cleaner and then wipe of...

Page 43: ...he thermocouple off to the side of the stage 4 Turn the stage nut counterclockwise to remove it 5 Twist the stage retainer ring with key slots counter clockwise pull it up off the posts and slide it u...

Page 44: ...3 Remove the spring clip holding the thermocouple in place 4 Hold the thermocouple away from the probe assembly and clean it gently with a low flame using a hand held burner 5 Reposition the thermoco...

Page 45: ...f to the side 2 Remove the stage shield by lifting it straight up This is a friction fit 3 Remove the spring clip holding the thermocouple in place 4 Obtain the hex wrench from the accessory kit and r...

Page 46: ...Reposition the thermocouple so that the tip of the thermo couple bends at a 90 angle and lies flat against the sample platform It should be close to but not touching the sample 7 Replace the spring c...

Page 47: ...f are the fuses located in the power entry module located at the rear of the instrument To check or change these fuses 1 Turn the instrument off and remove the power cord 2 Insert a small screwdriver...

Page 48: ...Hex Wrench 269792 001 Wave Washers 944205 001 Thermocouple Retainer Optional Accessory Kits 944201 901 Film Fiber Accessory Kit consisting of 944121 901 Film Fiber Sample Stage 944128 901 Film Fiber P...

Page 49: ...5 000 Rheometer Alignment Cages 943126 000 Rheometer Parallel Plates 900902 901 Indium Sample Kit 943121 000 Pellet Press Base Screw 943122 000 Pellet Press Cylinder head 943123 000 Pellet Press Pisto...

Page 50: ...TMA Q Series Getting Started Guide 50...

Page 51: ...28 air source 28 Auto Measure System zeroing 39 B balance enclosure 11 installing 46 removing 45 C cable Ethernet 31 cables connecting 26 Calibrate key 14 calibration 37 cell constant 37 force 36 prob...

Page 52: ...g gas line 28 cooling gas port 27 D Dilatometer Accessory description 21 dimensions 22 Display key 13 Display Menu 20 E Electromagnetic Compatibility Standards 7 Ethernet cable connecting computer to...

Page 53: ...hazardous products 9 Hemispherical Probe 21 I installation 23 to 33 voltage configuration unit 25 instrument choosing a location 24 connecting to Ethernet hub 31 grounding 24 38 inspecting 23 installi...

Page 54: ...ing 21 Parallel Plate Rheometer AccessoryDescription sample preparation 21 parts 45 48 ports 26 Com 1 26 Com 2 26 cooling gas 27 Ethernet 26 Event 26 power cable installing 33 power entry module 33 po...

Page 55: ...screens 13 R Regulatory Compliance 7 remote key See also system key repacking 23 replacement parts 45 48 running experiments 38 S safety lifting 9 Safety Standards 7 sample loading 40 preparation 40 s...

Page 56: ...l safety 10 thermocouple calibration 37 cleaning 44 installing 45 removing 45 replacing 45 TMA description 11 lifting 9 probe types 38 replacement parts 45 replacing fuses 47 touch screen 18 touch scr...

Page 57: ...TMA Q Series Getting Started Guide 57 U unpacking 23 V voltage configuration unit installing 25 W weight tray function 12 Z Zero Length key 39...

Page 58: ...TMA Q Series Getting Started Guide 58...

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