Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ SMS-3300 is a turnkey solution for laboratory workflow automation designed to increase the productivity of process control laboratories in the mining, cement, and metals industries. Multiple spectrometer automation opens up new possibilities for users who need more complete and integrated automation solutions.
Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
An Evolution of Existing Automation Solutions
Since the early 1990s, Thermo Scientific has regularly improved its robotized spectrometers based on customer input and their experiences. With more than 1000 systems deployed globally in the mining, cement, and metals industries, Thermo Scientific is known for its dependability and performance.
Building on this achievement, the ARL SMS-3300 system demonstrates:
- The dedication to focus on whole workflow solutions rather than just the footprint of standalone laboratory equipment
- The capability to provide new automation solutions at the edge of technology by utilizing a range of competencies and products, such as bigger and more powerful robots
- The aim is to provide customers “in-the-field” readily upgradeable systems that can go from single to dual instruments for the least amount of money and upgrade labor while leaving the minimum potential environmental impact.
Single Source – One Partner, One Competence, One Responsibility
Thermo Scientific is a pioneer in designing and producing X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) and optical emission spectrometers (OES) with an automated system.
Its expertise extends beyond a single automation or analytical approach, including whole systems provided as turnkey solutions that include sample preparation.
Exceptional Performance at Affordable Cost
Single Instrument Configuration: ARL SMS-3300 Single
This is for customers who foresee future growth in their analytical requirements. The ARL SMS-3300 Single can easily be upgraded in the field into a double instrument system, such as the ARL SMS-3300 Dual.
Double OES Configuration: ARL SMS-3300 Dual
This is typical of the laboratories used by primary metal producers, where two instruments are required to permanently offer analytical services and guarantee rapid response times when several urgent samples have to be processed simultaneously.
High Sample Throughput and Analysis Dependability
This makes it possible to handle large sample workloads in metal applications. The cheaper option for two completely duplicate and separate automated lines, each with a robot, is the ARL SMS-3300 system.
It streamlines the handling of samples by giving all samples a single introduction place and an optional magazine storage feature that holds up to 32 production samples to free the introduction.
Combined XRF and OES Analysis
A single sample analysis is produced using high-concentration alloy elements from the ARL 9900 XRF spectrometer and trace and light elements from the ARL iSpark metals analyzer in high alloy and stainless steel, specific aluminum or copper, brass, and bronze applications.
Very Short Response Times
The ARL SMS-3300 robot transfers samples between system components in seconds.
Increased Uptime and Speed
Electro-mechanical transfer systems that are time-consuming and complex are eliminated. The speed at which the findings are provided enhances manufacturing turnover, which is far more important than labor savings-related productivity improvements.
Latest Industrial Robotics Technology with Intelligent ARL SMS Software
The ARL SMS-3300 system simultaneously drives two spectrometers and one preparation machine. It uses SMS software with enhancements and intelligence. It has a robot from FANUC, the world’s leading manufacturer of industrial robots.
The ARL SMS-3300 system uses a medium pedestal standing industrial robot with six moving axes and a gripper arm length of 1320 mm. The larger work volume allows for the installation of two spectrometers side by side.
The system requires little floor space and small distances between components, allowing for quick operation without compromising accessibility for maintenance. This allows for more flexible placement and connection of sample preparation machines.
The ARL SMS-3300 heavy-duty robot can handle a maximum payload of 7 kg and is ideal for automated twin spectrometer systems. Standard manufacturing sample weights result in less solicitation and wear, better dependability, and a longer lifetime.
The ARL SMS-3300 robot requires little maintenance due to its brushless AC-Servo motors and internal cabling. Absolute encoder technology permanently establishes the mechanical origin when the unit is turned on.
ARL SMS-3300 with single or dual OES instrument configuration. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
ARL iSpark AutoStand. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
An Automation Product Designed with its Users in Mind
Simplicity of Operation
The ARL SMS-3300 automation software utilizes the same platform as the OXSAS analytical software for OES and XRF spectrometers. This standardized software environment makes fully automated OES and XRF spectrometers easier to use. A single SMS system monitoring screen also offers comprehensive sample tracking and automation features.
Flexible Instrument Integration and Comprehensive Analysis Modes
Using two equivalent spectrometers allows for simultaneous analysis of samples, maximizing throughput and sample cross-transfer. Samples can be prepared by a machine and analyzed by either spectrometer, reducing response time and ensuring 24/7 availability, 365 days per year.
When measuring the same sample with both XRF and OES, sequential processing applies to twin XRF and OES systems. Every spectrometer has an offline mode for testing and developing analytical methods.
The SMS software automatically controls the instrument accesses for the operator and robot; an easy software command allows the equipment to transition between automatic and manual modes.
Full Compliance with Security Regulations
The ARL SMS-3300 safety enclosure meets CE compliance criteria. The system is compliant with electromagnetic rules and guidelines and robotic applications. A separate control box pauses robot operation and unlocks access doors for manual intervention within the system. Automatic operations can be easily resumed without restarting the system.
Easy Service and Maintenance
Each instrument or preparation equipment can be detached easily without disrupting the automatic system’s functioning. The spectrometers can be moved to a separate park position for service or manual operation. There is no need to halt the SMS system or unplug the spectrometer supplies. Resuming automatic operation by sliding the spectrometer back into the SMS takes only a few minutes.
ARL iSpark robot access for automatic analysis. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
ARL iSpark access for manual analysis. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
SCT Samples Magazine. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
Material Analysis is the Job, Quality Strength and Automation the Commitment
The ARL SMS-3300 System Features as Standard
- The safety enclosure has computer-controlled operator access doors and a control box.
- Color lamps display the condition of the system and instruments
- Thorough instrument monitoring protocols to guarantee that the spectrometers consistently produce high-quality findings, preventing waste and rework in production
- Prompt identification of sample presence
- Waiting positions are used to temporarily store prepared samples before analysis to enhance throughput.
- A large magazine can hold up to 153 setting-up, control samples, and type standards and can be shared between two spectrometers or devoted to one instrument. Magazine sections can be used to temporarily store incoming samples.
- Support for conditioning samples for cleaning the OES stand
- To prevent surface bias over time, the robot rotates standards before re-preparation
- Filing of selected samples on a chute (e.g. bad samples)
- Sample sorting and filing in 8 boxes
- An inverting device turns standards and samples upside down during or after preparation.
- The manual introduction job involves introducing/removing standards from the system and introducing production samples.
Fixed magazine for standards. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
Manual introduction position. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
Production or SCT Sample filing in a box. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
Production or SCT Sample filing on a chute. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
Scalable Solution to Meet Specific Needs
Easy In-Field Upgradability from Single to Dual Instrument Automatic System
A full range of options, including:
- The sample introduction magazine can handle up to 32 manufacturing samples based on priority
- Selecting the right sample preparation machine is crucial for producing high-quality, reproducible analysis surfaces
- Support for oxides used in metal manufacturing, including mineral ores, sinters, baths, slags, and blast furnace slags
- Up to 5 production sample shapes
- Sample registration via terminal or network
- Registration with sample identifying parameters captured on a network disk
- Label manufacturing samples on the analytical surface or back
- Dot-peen printer to mark “soft” samples
- A vision system evaluates the surface quality of prepared samples and rejects them without requiring further investigation. Selecting optimal spark positions for challenging samples using OES
- Sample batches and collections; to make it easier to register and process recurring series of samples (such as samples from electrolytic baths with aluminum)
- Remote control of the automated ARL OES and XRF spectrometers
- Extra digital signals beyond the ones included in the standard allow alarms to be communicated to external visual or acoustic devices
- Automatically re-prepare samples that cannot be examined
- Production samples are filed chronologically on three chutes in addition to the one supplied as standard
- Sample radioactivity detection (RMS)
- Local or remote manual sample introduction door
- Handling and cooling of hot samples (Max. 850 °C) using air or/and water media
- With SMS Scheduler, control, and standardization sample analysis can be done automatically at predefined times and intervals
- Integrated bar-code reader for automatic sample registration, reducing the possibility of mistakes while manually inputting sample data before analysis and enabling quicker sample identification
Vision system. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
Manual sample introduction door. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
Spark position evaluation with vision system. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
Labeling system. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
SMS Cooling. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers
Temporary storage of incoming samples. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Elemental Analyzers and Phase Analyzers