Comprehensive instrumentation development

Analytical instrument modification & development requires many disciplines to mesh: physics, engineering, chemistry, manufacturing, and product support to name a few.  In our rapid prototype fabrication shop we have a wide range of tooling to insure the requirements of all of these considerations are met on a timely basis.  We have extensive experience with organic separation systems, namely gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), and their perhaps their most powerful detection system, mass spectrometry (MS).  We are able to design and manufacture ground-up instrumentation solution packages based on these and other analytical tools.  Our objective is to achieve simplicity and ease of use for our custom platforms.

Automation

In many cases a custom sample introduction system must be developed to optimize analytical performance. These systems may involve two position or multiposition valves, or pressure control for gas samples, or any number of devices to accurately and reproducibly introduce samples.  These types of inlet systems can be considered "state" driven where device control is key and the system cycles state with time.  Our basic tool for automating these processes is through the use of programmable logic controllers (PLC's).  Rather than attempt to modify or interact with proprietary instrument software, the use of embedded PLC's and their associated digital and analog I/O provides for precise device and state control.

Cleaner Graphics

When using embedded PLC's for instrument control we provide a high resolution human:machine interface (HMI) which is touchscreen driven and where definition of each logic state is easy for the user.  Synchronizing to the analytical instrument computer is generally through handshaking with routinely available digital I/O.

Electronics

Where we can use off the shelf electronics we do.  However, in many cases the design requirements will necessitate the development of specialized circuit boards, especially for analog purposes. We both design and test our own custom electronic circuit boards.

Integration

The result of our multidiscipline efforts will be a product every bit as cosmetic and functional as any original equipment manufacturer.  Most of this work will be done in house which facilitates both timely and technically correct performance.  We use outside suppliers for powder coating, labeling, and electronic board fabrication.  After the building blocks come together as a functional measurement platform, it receives extensive testing in our laboratory and final assembly facility.  Here we have fully networked data acquisition systems to verify consistent performance and to run representative samples.  Once performance has been tested under both typical and stressed conditions of operation, we then fully document for user and maintenance purposes before the final customer review.

CNC with CAD/CAM produces high precision for fabrication of solid, sheet, and cabinet structures

Open frame PLC development system with extensive digital & analog I/O for external device automation

Inspection video microscope used for surface and fine structure evaluation

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Case Study: Process Analytical Chemistry

​MPSI was engaged to design and manufacture a limited quantity of transportable GC equipment suitable to be installed in a Class 1 Division 2 Group B,C, and D environment.  Traditional process GC instruments designed for the application have separation systems using six switching valves and nine analytical columns.  The total length of the separation train is nearly 50' of column length.

The traditional equipment designs were completely unrealistic to serve as the core for an easy to use portable instrument.  The traditional equipment also has a very high level of method maintenance.  MPSI designed a solution using a single 2' resistively heated temperature programmed GC column, a halogen selective detector, and a Core GC concept to reduce the overall size of the instrument to a footprint less than 2 cu ft.  

The photograph to the right is a comparison between the two separation trains.  The backplane on the left a simulated configuration of the separation train from a competitive system where the structure is heated inside an air-bath oven.  The structure on the right side of the bench is our Core GC stripped down to the heated backplane with our isolated resistively heated column mounted.  The result of the MPSI development was a small footprint platform which is easier to setup and use and which produces consistently robust, accurate, and precise data.