Princeton 300-749 User Manual

15 Discovery Way, Acton, MA 01720

Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]

Web Site:

www.piacton.com

Operating Instructions

for Model 300-749

Remote Scan Controller for

Acton SP-300i/SP-500i Monochromators

Ver 2.0

1

General:

Acton

The
Acton 300i and 500i monochromator/spectrographs. Functions include
GOTO for rapidly moving the monochromator to a specific center wavelength,
scanning of wavelengths, indexing of gratings, selecting the installed grating turret
and setting the slit widths for monochromators with motorized slits. The controller
consists of an HP-48G graphics calculator with RS-232 interface and
Instruments generated scan control software. The controller is programmed
with all the instrument functions described above displayed as convenient
menu items, with simple keystrokes enabling any of the scan functions
to be performed.

Connection and Initialization:

The scan control software for the 300-749 is installed at the factory
300-749 is ready for use as it is shipped. A copy of the software is provided on disk
and may be reloaded into the HP-48G using a PC and the cables provided if it is
ever necessary to do so. This procedure is described in the last section of this
manual.

The controller is connected the monochromator using the cable provided through
the standard RS-232 port on the monochromator rear panel. The controller may be
used with any
assigned to a specific unit. Power should be switched on the
monochromator first. After the monochromator has initialized, the 300-749
controller should be turned on.

Battery Power Management:

If the controller is not used for several minutes, the LCD screen will turn off to
save battery power. If this happens, press the on button in the lower left corner of
the keyboard to return to the menu you were using.

Operation of the 300-749 Controller:

After the
controller is turned on, the following menu will be shown at the bottom of the
LCD screen: SP300 UTIL

Model 300-749 is a Remote Scan Controller for the

Princeton

and the

Acton 300i or 500i monochromator; the controller is not

Acton

Acton monochromator is turned on and initialized and the 300-749

2

If this menu is not shown, press the right arrow key (green) followed by the
“library” key (2) and press the key under the box labeled SP300. This should bring
up the menu shown above.

This menu indicates there are two main selections for operation: SP300 selects the
menu for normal SP300i/500i operation. UTIL selects lesser used utility functions
for the monochromator. Pressing the function key below SP300 brings up the
following menu. GOTO SCAN SPEED GRAT TURR DIVTR
and pressing the NXT key displays the remaining functions of this menu SLITS
and QUIT.

GOTO:
Press the function key below the GOTO command. The following screen is
shown: Go to:

Enter wavelength <
Key in the desired wavelength in nm ( up to two digits after the decimal ) and press
the ENTER key. The monochromator will move quickly to the selected
wavelength and display this wavelength.

SCAN:
Press the function key below the SCAN command. The following screen is
shown:
Scan To:

Enter wavelength <
Key in the desired wavelength in nm and press the ENTER key. The
monochromator will scan at the constant rate previously selected to the wavelength
just selected.

SPEED:
Press the function key below the SPEED command. The following screen is
shown: Scan Rate:

Enter Speed <
Key in the desired speed in nm/min ( maximum speed for a 1200 g/mm grating is
1000 nm/min; see monochromator manual for other rate limits). Future scans will
use this rate until the rate is revised.

3