Manual RFM 300+
Manual RFM 300+
Manual RFM 300+
Refractometer
User Guide
RFM300+ User Guide (Eng)
Code 22-160
Issue 03
Revision B
Date October 2011
This user guide is applicable to RFM300+ refractometers fitted with the following application
software:-
22-662-02 22-664-02 22-665-02
Bellingham and Stanley Ltd. has been manufacturing high quality optical instruments in the
UK since 1914 and is a leading manufacturer of refractometers and polarimeters. The current
range of products includes optical and digital hand refractometers as well as a full range of
laboratory refractometers and polarimeters available through a network of trained distributors
throughout the world. Process refractometers are also available through specialist outlets.
Our main website gives full details about Bellingham and Stanley Ltd. and our products.
Foreign language brochures in PDF format may be downloaded from this section of the site
by clicking the flag. We apologise if the foreign language brochure of your choice is not
available.
Contact Sales at Bellingham and Stanley Ltd. to discuss a particular application or to receive
details of your local distributor.
Website: www.bellinghamandstanley.com
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of the manual. However,
Bellingham + Stanley Ltd. can assume no responsibility for errors contained in the manual or their
consequences.
Printed in UK
Safety BS EN 60950-1:2002
EMC Emissions
• BS EN 55022:2006 Radiated Emissions Class A
• BS EN 55022:2006 Conducted Emissions Class A
Immunity
• BS EN 61000-3-2:2006 Harmonics
• BS EN 61000-3-11:2001 Flicker
• BS EN 61000-4-2:1995 ESD 8kV contact
• BS EN 61000-4-3:2006 EMS 3V/m
• BS EN 61000-4-5:2006 Surges 0.5kV (line to line)
1.0kV (line to earth)
• BS EN 61000-4-11:2004 Power outages 1 cycle/100%
Check that all parts listed below are present and that no transit damage has
occurred. If any are damaged or missing, contact the supplier immediately.
Contents list
1 RFM300+ Refractometer module,
see table below for part number
1 Power supply, 55-105
1 Mains lead, see below for part number
1 Operating Instructions, 22-160
1 Instruction manual CD-ROM, 55-300
1 Interconnecting lead (PC serial), 54-07
4 Spare Air Vent filter
Part numbers
RFM300+ refractometer part numbers
Installation
Mains lead part numbers (for use with Power supply 55-105)
Mains connection
The power supply adapter is supplied with a moulded mains cord and plug,
to suit one of several socket types. For UK lead, replace fuse only with the
type indicated on the plug.
Power requirements
Voltage 110 to 230 V~ ±10%
Frequency 50 to 60 Hz
Installation
Maximum current 2A
WARNING:
• Do not cover, designed to operate with free air convection
• No cleaning required
Note: A waterproof power supply adaptor, code no. 55-250, which can be
used in damp environments, is available as an optional extra
The refractometer
Presser:
Minimises heat loss/gain.
Excludes strong ambient light from prism.
Minimises sample evaporation.
An alternative presser insert is available depending on
application (page 5-2 and 5-4).
Measuring prism:
Artificial sapphire.
Drip dish:
PEEK plastic —
excellent
chemical
resistance and
provides
thermal
isolation.
Disposal symbol:
See ‘Declaration of
Conformity’ page in
this manual
CE mark:
Specifies the Serial number:
instrument conforms Always specify this
Power connector:
to relevant EU number in any
24V dc from
safety and EMI communication with
power supply.
regulations. B&S Ltd.
Temperature
Control
Operation status bar status
Shows the details of the indicators:
current operation.
Current time
Power indicator
STANDBY — Red.
ON — Green.
Switching on
Plug in the power supply and switch on the mains supply. The instrument
will display configuration data and then switch to standby mode with the
power indicator showing red.
To switch on, press the Power Key – the Power Indicator will show green, and
the following will be displayed.
Basic operation
Switching off
To switch to standby, press the Power Key and hold down until a
confirmation screen shows (approximately 2 seconds). Press Yes to switch
to standby – the Power Indicator will show red, or press No to continue
operating.
Step 2 Set the clock. Adjust the instrument clock to local time.
The Setup Wizard can be run at any time by selecting the Tools menu.
Press OK and the instrument will request that the supervisor PIN is entered.
By default the supervisor PIN is 135, see page 3-15 for more information
about PINs. Logging in is only necessary if PINs are active.
A Zero point calibration must then be carried out. The Zero sample value
must be entered. This will initially be 0.00º Brix (distilled water). Press Enter.
Place a small amount of distilled water onto the Measuring Prism. The
complete prism surface must be covered by the water; generally 1ml is
sufficient to achieve this.
Lower the presser.
Press OK.
There will then be a delay while the temperature is stabilising.
When the calibration has been set, the Measurement Display will be
shown.
If the menu item contains a list of options to choose from then either:
select the menu item and then choose the option from the displayed list
or
press the Forward/Back arrow keys to step through the options
Menu items that can be modified by using the arrow keys are identified by
arrows being displayed next to the menu items value (highlighted below).
Once a key is pressed, the available characters that can be selected using
that key are shown at the top right of the screen (see the table below).
If a key is not re-pressed within one second, the displayed character will be
accepted. Pressing and holding a number key will produce that keys
number.
One of the softkeys (second from left) gives access to the minus (-), decimal
point (.) and exponent (E) symbols that will be required to enter both
numerical formats. As the user enters the number, the instrument responds
to the key strokes by changing the soft-key function.
Basic operation
If an error is made while entering the number, press the CLEAR softkey to
erase the entry.
The ENTER soft-key is available throughout the process and may be pressed
at any time to accept the entry.
Note that if the number being entered is negative, then press the minus
soft-key before entering the number. Otherwise, if the number is less than
1, press 0 first to show the decimal point soft-key.
Screen title
Basic operation
The screen title will describe what is being displayed on the screen.
Current time
The time is displayed in the 24 hour clock. To adjust the time / date see
page 3-18.
Softkey functions
The softkey functions change depending upon what inputs are required at
that time. If a softkey appears grey then that button is disabled.
Basic operation
Thermometer symbol —
indicates temperature
Aim temperature as
control system is
defined in the
enabled
measurement settings
Clean the prism thoroughly using a suitable solvent, e.g. water or methyl
alcohol depending on the sample type being measured.
Basic operation
Place a small amount of water or sample on the prism (the circular glass-like
area in the middle of the prism plate). The complete prism surface must be
covered by the sample; generally 1ml is sufficient to achieve this.
Lower the presser, the message to lower the presser will clear.
Press the Read softkey. The instrument will display a progress bar whilst
data is collected and the measurement calculated.
The reading will be displayed using the scale and temperature compensation
set in the ‘Mode’ menu as described on page 2-15.
The following page describes what each parameter on the measurement display
is.
Reading quality
Quality is an arbitrary figure used to describe the worth of a reading. The
quality value is derived from the optical pattern caused by placing a sample
on the prism. A high quality value indicates a well defined optical pattern
which in turn makes the signal easier to resolve; a low value indicates a less
well defined pattern and hence a less reliable reading.
The quality value for the sample used to set ZERO (normally distilled water)
is automatically set to 100, which can then be used as a reference with which
to compare other measured samples.
Printer options
Optionally the reading can be sent to the RS232 serial port for connection to
either a printer or computer terminal program.
If the fourth (right hand) softkey is set to ‘Save’ or ‘Prt+Save’ then pressing it
will save the last displayed reading into the Reading log. Up to 655 readings
can be stored in the log. When the log is full no further results will be able
to be stored, a warning message will be displayed on the screen. The
current status of the Reading log can be viewed by selecting the ‘Saved
results’ menu option within the Tools Menu.
Mode menu
The Mode menu will be familiar to users of other Bellingham + Stanley
instruments.
The measurement settings are changed from the Mode menu, which is
accessed from the Measurement Display.
Advanced configuration
Stability (can be set so that a measurement will only be
taken if the sample has stabilised)
Limits (tests to check if the reading parameters are within
set limits)
Resolution (specifies the resolution that the measurement will
be displayed to)
Secondary Reading (when activated will display a second reading in a
different scale, temperature compensation and
resolution)
Scale
The instrument has a number of scales that measurement can be displayed
in. By default the available scales are…
Scale Name Scale ID
Refractive Index ri
Brix bx
The temperature of the stainless steel prism plate will be similar to the
temperature control setpoint and so could become extremely hot. Direct
contact with skin should be avoided when applying sample or cleaning the
prism plate at temperatures above 50°C.
Stability
The instrument can automatically detect if the sample has stabilised. There
are number of stability modes from a simple time delay (wait 10 seconds
before taking the measurement) to more sophisticated modes.
Limits
The instrument is able to have limits set on a number of parameters. If the
measured sample fails to meet these limits a line will be drawn through the
result.
Secondary Reading
The instrument has the option of calculating the measurement using different
scale, temperature compensation and resolution settings. Both the
secondary and the original measurement are displayed on the screen
together. There are two display layouts available, secondary and equal.
When the action has been completed and the data sent, the instrument will
revert to the normal reading display.
Cleaning
Always clean both the prism surface (and the presser if it contacts the
sample) immediately after taking readings. Sample that has remained on the
prism for long periods can be difficult to remove and small particles of dried
matter can subsequently dissolve into later samples.
Use clean tissue with water to remove old sample then dry with fresh clean
tissue. Some samples, particularly oils and other chemicals, will require the
use of a solvent, such as methyl alcohol, for removal and cleaning. NEVER
use acetone, white spirit, 'Genklene', 'Arklone' or any abrasive cleansers on
any painted surface or, particularly, the membrane keypad panel.
Sample application
Always take sample from the centre of a container not from the surface
where higher concentration skin layers will be present. Keep the time taken
to transport the sample from the container to the prism to an absolute
minimum to limit evaporation. With low viscosity liquids, use a disposable
pipette once only. With high viscosity samples, scoop out sufficient with a
clean, dry spatula. Never pour a sample directly from a container onto the
prism.
The temperature of the stainless steel prism plate could become extremely
hot. Direct contact with skin should be avoided when applying sample or
cleaning the prism plate at temperatures above 50°C.
Sample presser
The sample presser will improve measurement accuracy and repeatability
by:-
1. Providing an 'enclosed' environment for the sample so minimising
contact with the air and limiting evaporation.
2. Minimising the effect of ambient air temperature on the controlled
sample.
3. Preventing strong ambient light from affecting the reading quality.
Temperature stability
The refractive index of liquids changes significantly with temperature. It is
important that the temperature of a sample is constant throughout its mass
before an accurate reading can be taken.
The instrument must not be operated without the filters in place. Doing so
could damage the instrument and invalidate the instrument’s warranty.
The replacement interval could be weekly for environments with high levels
of atmospheric contaminants or up to three monthly for clean room
applications.
Initially, check the filters often to determine how quickly they become
choked.
To replace an enhanced
protection filter, unscrew the filter
holder from the instrument body
by turning it in an anti clockwise
direction. Pulling the filter holders
slightly away from the body can
aid their removal.
1. Zero
Menu 2. Span (Top 1. Saved results
Calibration) 2. Setup Wizard…
3. Undo
4. Report
1. Calibration
2. Tools
3. Setup
4. Information
1. Use Methods
5. Help
If Methods are 1. Use Methods 2. Hide Preset
not enabled 3. Selection Type
4. Print List…
1. normal
2. zero
If Methods are 3. span
enabled 4. Add new…
5. Settings…
1. Methods 1. Operator PIN .... 123
2. Passwords 2. Supervisor PIN . 135
3. Display
Default settings shown
4. Reading
5. System
1. Header
1. hide
2. Temperature
2. show
3. Quality
4. Configuration
5. Reading 1. show
2. highlight
1. Recurrance
1. single
2. Appl. Correction
2. continuous
3. Scales
3. auto single
4. Temp. Comps
1. none
2. acid
3. offset
1. english
2. french
3. spanish 1. Add new…
4. german
1. dd.mm.yy
2. mm.dd.yy
1. Date Format
2. Summer Time 1. no
3. Set Clock… 2. yes
1. none 5. statistics
2. printer 6. multi + prt
3. save
4. prt + save
1. Language 1. Mode
2. Time / Date 2. Serial 1 1. none
1. Printer
3. Communications 3. Parallel 2. 24 column
2. Serial Ports
4. Traceability 4. Record After Read 3. csv (lims)
5. Temp. Control (Item 3. Serial 1 Only)
1. no
2. yes
1. 4800
1. Baud Rate
2. 9600
2. Word Length
3. 19200
4. 38400
1. off 1. 7 bit EP
2. number 2. 8 bit NP
3. text
4. dateinc
1. Batch Codes 5. barcode 1. off
2. Auto Increment 2. number
3. Log Users 3. text
1. Mode 1. off
2. Disable presser 2. on
If the instrument’s measurement settings are being set using Methods, then
either the Zero or Span method will automatically be selected when a Zero
or Span is being carried out.
If the calibration is to be carried out at 20°C, then the specified value of the
sample at 20°C should be entered.
Alternatively, if the calibration is to be carried out at a temperature other
than 20°C and if:
a. the sample is distilled water or a sucrose solution, then ‘sugar’
temperature compensation could be selected and the specified value of
the sample at 20°C can be entered.
b. the sample is an AG Fluid, then ‘ag fluid’ temperature compensation
could be selected and the specified value of the sample at 20°C can be
entered.
c. the sample is not sucrose or an AG Fluid, then the specified value of the
sample at the calibration temperature must be entered.
Zero calibration
press the Menu softkey
select 1. Calibration
select 1. Zero
If the clean prism calibration is carried out, it is vital that the complete prism
face is scrupulously clean and dry. Press OK.
The current measurement settings are displayed in the bottom left of the
aim point screen, so that the aim point units can be checked. Press ‘Enter’.
Place a small amount of distilled water onto the Measuring Prism. The
complete prism surface must be covered by the water; generally 1ml is
sufficient to achieve this.
Lower the presser.
Press OK.
There will then be a delay while instrument waits for the sample to
stabilise.
When the calibration has been set the instrument will show ‘Calibration
Complete.’.
Span calibration
press the Menu softkey
select 1. Calibration
select 2. Span (Top Calibration)
When requested, enter the Span sample aim value. See ‘Calibration Standard
Values’ above.
Calibration
The current measurement settings are displayed in the bottom left of the
aim point screen, so that the aim point units can be checked. Press ‘Enter’.
As with the zero calibration, place the span sample onto the prism and lower
the presser. Press ‘’Ok’ to start the calibration.
Continuous readings will be taken until stable and then the calibration will be
corrected to the new value.
During both Zero and Span calibrations, the spread of the last 5 reading
values is shown in refractive index (irrespective of the scale used for
calibration). This value must be less than 0.00001 for the value to be
accepted.
Calibration report
Display a report of the last Zero & Span calibrations.
Pressing Print will optionally send the report to a printer which can be
authorised and retained by the operator.
Now the measurement display will show the Method softkey from the
Measurement Display.
Measurement
The instrument will now show the Mode softkey from the Measurement
Display.
The zero and span method only contain Scale and Temp. Comp. settings.
The zero or span calibration procedure will be carried out at the
temperature of the last selected method, i.e. the temperature of the last
measurement reading.
Enter the method name. This could be a common name such as cola or
lemonade, a trade name or a product reference code (but not a batch code,
it must identify a generic product type). The name can be a combination of
lower case letters, numbers and other characters.
However, if a large number of methods have been created, e.g. greater than
20, then it could be easier to select the required method by its index
number rather than scrolling through the list. To change the method
selection method…
Press and hold either the method Type the method number and then
number or Select with the method press and hold Enter.
highlighted.
The three test conditions can be set to check any, or all, of the available
parameters. These are :
Reading value
Temperature
Quality
Example: A method has been configured with the scale set to Brix and two
limits tests of:
Reading value; lower limit = 10.5 upper limit = 11.5
Quality; lower limit = 105 upper limit = 110
or
the Quality is less than 105 or higher than 110
then the reading will be recorded as ‘fail’ and displayed with a line
through it:
Note: The tolerance value entered must be in the units of the selected scale for
the method; e.g. If the scale is Brix then the tolerance could be, say, 0.1
or if the scale is refractive index then the tolerance could be 0.00015.
The number of readings value must not be greater than 10.
Note: The tolerance value entered must be in the units of the selected scale for
the method; e.g. If the scale is Brix then the tolerance could be, say, 0.1
or if the scale is refractive index then the tolerance could be 0.00015.
The number of readings value must not be greater than 10.
Secondary Reading
The instrument has the optional facility to display the current measurement
in a different scale, temperature compensation and resolution. This can be
of use should an instrument be required to use 2 different scales. Having
both scales displayed removes any need to swap between the configurations.
Methods
The Secondary Mode menu item is used to enable this facility and specify the
display format.
"Operator" 123
"Supervisor" 135
Entering PINs
After pressing SETUP the user is prompted to enter the PIN and press
Enter.
Accessibility
Changing PINs
The "operator" and "supervisor" passwords can be changed to any three digit
numbers in the range 001 to 999.
Setting the "operator" password to 000 will give unrestricted access to the
Mode menu (or Method selection if enabled) and PIN screen will not be
displayed after pressing Mode.
In the event of the PIN being forgotten, contact Bellingham & Stanley Service
Department for assistance.
Enter the time and date digits as shown. The clock will be updated when the
last digit is keyed.
csv (lims) Designed for easy integration with a LIM system. Each value
is separated using commas.
If a printer is connected to the Parallel port then csv data can also be output
via the Serial 1 port.
When configuring the ports it is advisable to first set ‘Serial 1’ and ‘Parallel’ to
‘none’, and then configure the ports.
When Print is pressed and no previous results have been logged, the
instrument will request the traceability data (batch and operator details) if
selected. This information will be used to identify all of the measurements in
the group.
Optional
Settings
This feature will only operate in single recurrence mode (see page 3-22).
Continuous mode will disable the Read key and readings will be repeatedly
taken and updated on the screen. A small progress bar will be displayed
above the Read key, to indicate that measurements are being taken.
If a Reading Stability condition has been set (see page 3-14), then this will be
disabled while Reading Recurrence is set to Continuous.
With the ‘auto single’ mode selected, the instrument will automatically take a
single measurement if a sample is detected after lowering the presser.
Press and hold down the ‘Methods’ or ‘Mode’ softkey for approximately
three seconds. The Configure Display screen will show.
Customisation
Press ‘OK’ to use the new settings or ‘Quit’ to revert to the previous
condition.
If the presser has been disabled the ‘auto single’ reading recurrence mode
will not function.
Batch codes
If a batch code is required, it can be either a number (in which case the keys
will only enter 0 – 9) or as text (the keys then having full alpha-numeric
capability).
Setting Description
off The instrument will not request a batch code.
number Number from 0 to 32000.
text 14 character alpha-numeric string.
dateinc auto increasing number from 0 to 9999, in the format of
yymmddnnnn
Example
0603117775 (11th March 2006, number 7775)
barcode first 14 characters read from a barcode (see the following
page)
Traceability
The display will briefly show ‘Result Printed.’ or ‘Result Saved.’ depending
upon printer type configuration.
If the printer type is set to ‘printer’ then the measurement will be printed,
showing the scanned barcode number.
Traceability
User codes
When the user code option is selected, the user can be recorded in a
number of formats.
Setting Description
off The instrument will not request a user code.
number Number from 0 to 99.
text 30 character alpha-numeric string.
No. Equation
1 reading = A + Bx + Cx2 + Dx3 + Ex4 + Fx5
2 available later
Enter the new scale name, (16 characters) e.g. coffee solids
Enter the scale ID, (2 characters) e.g. cs
Enter the 6 constants A to F. Any constants not required, (e.g. E & F with a
4 term polynomial), should be set to 0.
Enter Offset (this can generally be 0 though greater accuracy can be
Extra scales
The scale will then be added to the Scales List and can subsequently be
Altered, Deleted or Copied.
No. Equation
1 Reading Correction = A + Bx + Cx2 + Dx3 + Ex4 + Fx5
2 available later
Enter the new temp. comp name, (16 characters) e.g. coffee solids
Enter the temp. comp ID, (2 characters) e.g. cs
Enter the 6 constants A to F. Any constants not required, (e.g. E & F with a
4 term polynomial), should be set to 0.
Enter the Equation no. (e.g. 1, see table above)
The temp. comp will then be added to the Temp. comps List and can
subsequently be Altered, Deleted or Copied.
The temp. comp will now be available when adding or editing methods.
To adjust the offset ensure the relevant method has been selected, take a
measurement and finally from the methods settings…
Select 4. Advanced
select 5. Offset
press Yes to confirm adjustment
enter desired value for the measurement (aim point)
The offset and scaler values can be accessed by the Const softkey after
selecting Offset.
The Reset menu item will set the offset and scaler values so that they have
no effect upon the reading.
The offset and scaling factor are part of the instrument’s measurement
settings, so each method can have its own parameters.
The percent acid value (total acid expressed as anhydrous citric acid) is part
of the instrument’s measurement settings, so if Methods are used each
method can have its own default acid value, and if Methods are not used
then they are set globally from the Mode menu.
Appl. Corrections
The acid correction is only active when the Brix scale is selected.
Unplug the instrument. Press, and hold down, the far left soft key (power)
and plug the instrument back in. Do not release the key until LED lights and
then goes out. When the key is released the screen will show…
Default values
Initially the two options will be set to ‘no’ and ‘none’. Select the settings that
you want to return to default values by setting them to show ‘yes’. The
‘Setup…’ option has further options within it. When set correctly press
‘Quit’ at the ‘Default Menu’.
The instrument will ask the user to confirm their choice. Selecting ‘Yes’ will
carry out the default.
Performance
Model RFM330+ RFM340+
Refractive index
Measurement Range 1.32 to 1.58 1.32 to 1.36385 1.36385 to 1.58
Accuracy (±) 0.0001 0.00002 0.00004
Display resolution 0.0001 0.0001 / 0.00001
Brix
Measurement Range 0 to 100 0 to 20 20 to 100
Accuracy (±) 0.1 0.01 0.03
Display resolution 0.1 0.1 / 0.01
Temperature
Ambient operating range 5 to 45°C
Specification
Temperature compensation
Sugar (ICUMSA) 10 to 40°C
Sugar (extended) 5 to 10 and 40 to 70°C
AG fluid 10 to 40°C
Prism
Material Artificial sapphire
ND 1.7681
Sample surface diameter 12 mm
Prism plate
Material 316 stainless steel
Dish diameter 59 mm
Prism seal Silicone rubber and resin
Spill barrier material PEEK
RS232 configuration
Baud rate 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400
Word length 7 bit even parity or 8 bit no parity
Default settings underlined.
Power requirements
Voltage 110 to 230 V~ ±10%
Frequency 50 to 60 Hz
Maximum current 2A
Calibration Oils
Calibration Oils are one of the most commonly used materials for calibrating
refractometers as they have good traceability, particularly to NIST.
Printers Code
Dot matrix impact printer parallel: Euro version 230V 55-11
Dot matrix impact printer parallel: UK version 230V 55-12
Dot matrix impact printer parallel: US version 110V 55-13
Dot matrix impact printer serial: Euro version 230V 55-14
Dot matrix impact printer serial: UK version 230V 55-15
Dot matrix impact printer serial: US version 110V 55-16
See Spares below for printer spare parts
Spares Code
Sample contact presser insert 22-017
Air filter pack (standard filter) Quantity: 20 26-292
(enhanced protection filter) Quantity: 20 22-088
Paper for dot matrix impact printers Quantity: 20 55-91
Accessories
In certain harsh environments the standard air filters and cooling air outlet
vents could become covered with sample, and over time this could block the
airflow, which would affect the temperature control abilities of the
instrument.
The Enhanced Protection Pack air filters have a greater filtering ability and
are more tolerant to airborne contaminants, which will result in longer
periods between airfilter changes. The outlet vent cover stops the outlet
vents from becoming blocked, if sample should run down the back of the
instrument.
To fit the Enhanced Protection Pack simply remove the standard side air
filter holders (as if changing the filter). Replace the standard filter holders
with the EPP air filter holders. Fit the outlet vent cover by pressing the
cover into the outlet vent cover flange.
Accessories
See page 2-22 for details on changing the EPP air filter.
The splash covers fix to the front of the instrument by adhesive strips and
are made from Polyether Polyurethane.
Specification