Ocean Optics CUV-TLC-50F User Manual

Temperature-regulated Cuvette
Holder

CUV-TLC-50F

Installation and Operation Manual

Document Number 000-30000-000-02-0205

Offices:

E-mail: [e-mail] (General sales inquiries)

Ocean Optics, Inc.

830 Douglas Ave., Dunedin, FL, USA 34698

Phone [phone]

Fax [phone]

8:30 a.m.–6 p.m. EST

Ocean Optics B.V. (Europe)

Nieuwgraaf 108 G, 6921 RK DUIVEN, The Netherlands

Phone [phone]

Fax [phone]

[e-mail] (European sales inquiries)
[e-mail] (Questions about orders)
[e-mail] (Technical support)

Copyright © 2001-2005 Ocean Optics, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from Ocean Optics, Inc.
This manual is sold as part of an order and subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or
otherwise circulated without the prior consent of Ocean Optics, Inc. in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.

Trademarks

Microsoft, Windows, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Excel are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Limit of Liability

Every effort has been made to make this manual as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information
provided is on an “as is” basis. Ocean Optics, Inc. shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or
damages arising from the information contained in this manual

Table of Contents

About This Manual .......................................................................................................... iii

Document Purpose and Intended Audience ............................................................................. iii

What’s New in this Document ................................................................................................... iii

Document Summary.................................................................................................................. iii

Product-Related Documentation ............................................................................................... iv

Upgrades......................................................................................................................... iv

Chapter 1: ......................................................................1Introduction

Overview.......................................................................................................................... 1

Features .......................................................................................................................... 2

System Setup .................................................................................................................. 2

Components .................................................................................................................... 3

Optional Equipment......................................................................................................... 3

Optical Components.................................................................................................................. 3

Additional Accessories ..............................................................................................................5

Packages for Specific Applications ...........................................................................................6

Chapter 2: ..........................................................................7Operation

Optics .............................................................................................................................. 7

Typical Configuration for Absorbance Measurements .............................................................. 7

Typical Configuration for Fluorescence Measurements............................................................ 8

Optical Adjustments................................................................................................................... 8

Converting an Imaging Lens into a Collimating Lens................................................................ 9

System Operation............................................................................................................ 9

Performance.................................................................................................................... 10

Temperature Equilibration ......................................................................................................... 11

Low Temperatures..................................................................................................................... 11

Temperature Ramping .............................................................................................................. 12

Error Conditions .............................................................................................................. 12

000-30000-000-02-0205 PRELIMINARY DRAFT i

Table of Contents

Chapter 3: ...................................................................13Specifications

Specifications Table ........................................................................................................ 13

Temperature.................................................................................................................... 13

Variable Speed Magnetic Stirring.................................................................................... 14

Dry Gas Purge................................................................................................................. 14

Serial Interface ................................................................................................................ 14

Mechanical Diagram........................................................................................................ 15

Appendix A: ............................17Serial Control for the CUV-TLC-50F

Overview.......................................................................................................................... 17

Setup and Software Installation....................................................................................... 17

Uninstalling the Software........................................................................................................... 17

Serial Control from Other Programs ................................................................................ 18

The Example Programs................................................................................................... 18

Ramping Control ............................................................................................................. 19

Index.....................................................................................................21

ii 000-30000-000-02-0205

About This Manual

Document Purpose and Intended Audience

This document provides you with an installation section to get your system up and running. In addition to
the Maxwell system installation and operation instructions, this manual also includes information for
locating the OOIBase32 installation instructions (see

What’s New in this Document

This version of the Temperature-regulated Cuvette Holder Installation and Operation Manual adds
performance data, new configuration drawings, and optional equipment.

Document Summary

Product-Related Documentation below).

Chapter Description

Chapter 1: Introduction Provides information on product features and

system setup.

Chapter 2: Operation Contains configuration information for absorbance

and fluorescence measurements, and optical
adjustments.

Chapter 3: System Operation Contains instructions for using the CUV-TLC-50F,

and a list of error conditions.

Chapter 4: Specifications Provides product specifications and a mechanical

drawing.

Appendix A: Serial Control for the

CUV-TLC-50F

Provides information specific to serial control via
the serial interface on the PC.

000-30000-000-02-0205 iii

About This Manual

Product-Related Documentation

You can access documentation for Ocean Optics products by visiting our website at

http://www.oceanoptics.com. Select Technical → Operating Instructions, then choose the appropriate

document from the available drop-down lists. Or, use the Search by Model Number field at the bottom
of the web page.

You can also access operating instructions for Ocean Optics products on the Software and Technical
Resources CD included with the system.

Engineering-level documentation is located on our website at Technical → Engineering Docs.

Upgrades

Occasionally, you may find that you need Ocean Optics to make a change or an upgrade to your system.
To facilitate these changes, you must first contact Customer Support and obtain a Return Merchandise
Authorization (RMA) number. Please contact an Ocean Optics Application Scientist for specific
instructions when returning a product.

.

iv 000-30000-000-02-0205

Chapter 1

Introduction

Overview

The CUV-TLC-50F Temperature-regulated Cuvette Holder is a high-quality, versatile sample chamber
with a Peltier temperature controller calibrated against a NIST-traceable thermometer. The device
controls the temperature of the holder from -40 °C to 85 °C and maintains a constant temperature within
±0.02 °C. The CUV-TLC-50F includes the cuvette holder and the external temperature controller box.
Both collimating and focusing lens systems are available in AR-coated fused silica. SMA 905 optical
fiber connectors are provided with the lens systems. To run the thermoelectric cooler efficiently, we offer
a simple water pump and water container.

The CUV-TLC-50F forms the core of a fiber optic spectroscopy system. The holder provides rapid and
precise control of the temperature of a standard 1 X 1-cm cuvette. Since the height of the optical
centerline (the center of the optical path through the cuvette) is 8.5 mm above the outside bottom of the
cuvette, the CUV-TLC-50F readily accommodates a variety of standard micro-cuvettes that depend on
this dimension for small volume work. Fibers and combined lenses can be attached at any combination of
the optical ports.

000-30000-000-02-0205 1

1: Introduction

Features

Features of the CUV-TLC-50F include the following:

• Magnetic stirring (in the CUV-TLC-50F). A stir bar is included.

• Dry gas purge: Limits condensation and excludes oxygen from around the cuvette. Tubing for

water and gas connections is included.

• Optical slits: Control the illuminated volume. Several removable optical slits are included.

An optional PC-based CUV-TLC-ADP adapter package comes with Windows-compatible software that
allows you to remotely start a test sequence, operate the controller box and monitor experiments. Without
the CUV-TLC-ADP, you can control the cuvette holder’s temperature mechanically from the controller
box.

One side of the holder is open for visual inspection, or may be blocked with a blank slit. The other three
sides can be left open or fitted with a removable lens system. Both collimating and focusing lens systems
are available in either AR-coated BK7 glass or AR-coated fused silica and can be used in a variety of
configurations. Typically two collimating systems are used on opposite sides for absorbance
measurements, or two imaging lens assemblies are used at right angles for fluorescence measurements.
SMA 905 optical fiber connectors are provided with the lens systems.

System Setup

► Procedure

1. Firmly fasten the CUV-TLC-50F to your table using the holes in the base of the instrument.

2. Connect a water source to either one of the two hose barbs labeled “water” on the rear side of
the CUV-TLC-50F. Use a length of tubing with 1/8” (3mm) inside diameter such as the 3603
Tygon provided. Cooling water is required for the functioning of the thermoelectric cooler.
Tap water may be used. However, a more convenient source would be a circulating bath or a
small submersible pump in a container of water.

3. Connect tubing from the other hose barb to a drain or back into the source of circulating
water. Do not exceed an input water pressure of 25 psi (1.7 bar), as damage may occur inside
the TLC50.

4. Set and maintain a cooling water flow rate of about 200 – 300 ml per minute. This flow
should require a pressure of approximately 3 – 5 psi (0.2 – 0.3 bar). If a circulating bath is
used as the water source, it may not be possible to maintain this flow rate. However, a slower
rate will likely be adequate for low temperature work, if precooled circulating water is used.

5. If using dry gas, connect a source of dry gas (typically nitrogen or air that has passed through
a desiccant) using a length of tubing with 1/8” (3mm) inside diameter, to the hose barb
labeled “gas” on the side of the CUV-TLC-50F. A flow of gas must be used to prevent
condensation on the faces of the cuvette when working below the dew point temperature. Set
the dry gas flow rate to 50 – 200 cc/min.

6. Connect the Temperature Controller to a power source and to the CUV-TLC-50F using the
electrical cords provided.

2 000-30000-000-02-0205

1: Introduction

Components

CUV-TLC-50F Components

Optional Equipment

The following optional components and packages are also offered for specific applications. Contact
Ocean Optics for additional information.

Optical Components

CUV-TLC-CL Collimating Lens

The CUV-TLC-CL is an AR-coated fused silica collimating lens with SMA 905 connector and fiber optic
steering plate The CL-UV collimating lens collimates the diverging light from the end of a fiber and
passes it through the cuvette, or alternatively focuses collimated light onto the end of another fiber. The
collimating lens is mounted on a fiber optic steering plate that provides fine adjustments of the position of
the end of the fiber relative to the cuvette. The secondary knurled ring shown in the picture permits the
movement of the end of the fiber relative to the lens and cuvette, thus permitting an adjustment of the
degree of collimation. Collimating lenses are typically used for absorbance measurements.

000-30000-000-02-0205 3