Shimadzu AOC-20i User manual

SHIMADZU AOC-20
Clarity Control Module ENG
Code/Rev.: M090/50E
Date: 24.10.2017
Phone: [phone] DataApex Ltd.
Fax: [phone] Petrzilkova 2583/13
[e-mail] 158 00 Prague 5
www.dataapex.com The Czech Republic

Clarity®, DataApex ®and ®are trademarks of DataApex Ltd. Microsoft ®and WindowsTM are
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
DataApex reserves the right to make changes to manuals without prior notice. Updated manuals can be
downloaded from www.dataapex.com.
Author: MP

Shimadzu AOC-20 Table of Contents
Contents
1 Shimadzu AOC-20i/s Control module 1
2 Requirements 2
3 Installation Procedure 3
3.1 Autosampler Setup - communication 3
3.1.1 Connections 4
3.2 Clarity Configuration 5
4 Using the control module 7
4.1 Hardware Configuration dialog 7
4.2 Method Setup - AS 8
4.3 Shimadzu AOC-20i/s Setup 10
5 Sequence 12
6 Troubleshooting 13
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Table of Contents Clarity Control Module
To facilitate the orientation in the Shimadzu AOC-20 manual and Clarity chromatography
station, different fonts are used throughout the manual. Meanings of these fonts are:
Instrument (blue text) marks the name of the window to which the text refers.
Open File (italics) describes the commands and names of fields in Clarity, parameters that can
be entered into them or a window or dialog name (when you already are in the topic describing
the window).
WORK1 (capitals) indicates the name of the file and/or directory.
ACTIVE (capital italics) marks the state of the station or its part.
The bold text is sometimes also used for important parts of the text and the name of the Clarity
station. Moreover, some sections are written in format other than normal text. These sections are
formatted as follows:
Note: Notifies the reader of relevant information.
Caution: Warns the user of possibly dangerous or very important
information.
▌ Marks the problem statement or trouble question.
Description: Presents more detailed information on the problem, describes its causes,
etc.
Solution: Marks the response to the question, presents a procedure how to remove it.
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Shimadzu AOC-20 1 Shimadzu AOC-20i/s Control module
1 Shimadzu AOC-20i/s Control module
This manual describes the setting of the Shimadzu AOC- 20 i/s/d
autosamplers. The control module enables direct control of the instrument
over serial line.
Fig 1: AOC-20i
Direct control means that the autosampler can be completely controlled
from the Clarity environment. Instrument method controlling for example
the vials and further device specific functions (e.g. washing) will be saved
in the measured chromatograms.
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Shimadzu AOC-20 2 Requirements
2 Requirements
Clarity Installation CD ROM with AS Control module (p/n A26).
Free serial port in the PC (fast - 16550 UART).
Note: Modern computers usually have only 1 (if any) serial (COM) port installed.
To use more devices requiring the port, the MultiCOM adapter (p/n
MC01) is available.
Serial cross DB9F-DB9F cable (p/n SK01).
Note: Cables are not part of Clarity Control Module. It is strongly
recommended to order required cables together with the Control Module.
Caution: We have experienced power sources (controller boards) with DB9F
connector on the back instead of normal DB9M connector. In that case,
serial cross DB9M- DB9F cable is necessary. Contact our support on
[e-mail] to consult the correct wiring.
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Shimadzu AOC-20 3 Installation Procedure
3 Installation Procedure
3.1 Autosampler Setup - communication
The autosampler communicates with PC using the RS232- compliant
serial cross DB9F-DB9F cable.
Fig 2: Serial cross DB9F-DB9F cable
The RS-232 cable is plugged in to the autosampler controller board (not
the tower) present at the back side of the GC, replacing the cable
connecting it to the GC in default setup, as displayed in the Fig 3 on pg 3.
Fig 3: Shimadzu AOC-20 controller board connections
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3 Installation Procedure Clarity Control Module
3.1.1 Connections
Besides the serial RS-232 cable, the connections must be made between
the autosampler Start OUT/Ready IN connector and the appropriate
connectors on the GC to allow proper synchronization between the AS
and GC.
The Clarity Start (IN) input must be connected to the GC Start Out
connector.
The Clarity Ready (OUT) digital output is not used, the commands are
transmitted over the serial line.
Refer to Shimadzu manual for description of cables supplied with the
autosampler.
When autosampler has to be used with Shimadzu 201x series GCs (
2010, 2014, 2014C, 2014 APC/AFC), it is necessary to connect it to the
PC via separate serial line. The controller box is build in the
GC2010/2014 case, but to use the control from Clarity, the short serial
cable from the GC to the controller box needs to be disconnected and
replaced by a serial cable to the PC.
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Shimadzu AOC-20 3 Installation Procedure
3.2 Clarity Configuration
Fig 4: How to add Shimadzu AOC-20
Start the Clarity station by clicking on the icon on the desktop.
Invoke the System Configuration dialog accessible from the Clarity
window using the System - Configuration... command.
Press the Add button ①(see Fig 4 on pg 5.) to invoke the Available
Control Modules dialog.
You can specify the searching filter ②to simplify the finding of the driver.
Select the AOC-20 sampler and press the Add ③button.
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3 Installation Procedure Clarity Control Module
The Shimadzu AOC-20i/s Setup dialog will appear.
Fig 5: Shimadzu AOC-20i/s Setup
Select the correct Port,Baud Rate ,Parity and Stop bit settings for the
autosampler. Then press the Connect button. If the communication is
correct, the status of the autosampler will appear in the Connection row.
Note: The Shimadzu AOC-20i/s Setup dialog is more closely described in the
chapter "Shimadzu AOC-20i/s Setup" on pg 10.
The AOC-20 autosampler item will appear in the Setup Control Modules
list of the System Configuration dialog.
Drag and drop the AOC-20 icon from the Setup Control Modules ④list on
the left side of the System Configuration dialog to the desired Instrument
⑤tab on the right side ⑥(or use the button ⑦to do so).
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Shimadzu AOC-20 4 Using the control module
4 Using the control module
New Method Setup - AS tab appears in the Method Setup dialog, enabling
the setting of the AS control method.
The From AS and To AS buttons serve for transfer of methods from and to
autosampler.
Caution: If you have injection methods already established in the sampler, it is
advisable to download them to Clarity using the From AS button and
save them as a Clarity method.
The AS Status button displays the Hardware Configuration dialog.
4.1 Hardware Configuration dialog
Fig 6: Hardware Configuration
This dialog displays automatically detected communication port.
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4 Using the control module Clarity Control Module
4.2 Method Setup - AS
Fig 7: Method Setup - AS - Parameters
Dwell time
Waiting time after sample injection.
Valid range: 0 - 99.9 s
Rinse with sample
Sample washing times of the syringe before injection.
Valid range: 0 - 99
Rinse with solvent
Solvent washing times of the syringe after injection.
Valid range: 0 - 99
Viscosity time
Waiting time of the plunger after sample suction.
Valid range: 0 - 99.9 s
Pump syringe
Number of pumpings.
Valid range: 0 - 99
Plunger injection speed
Injection speed of the plunger.
Plunger suction speed
Plunger suction speed at sample suction.
Injection type
Injection type.
Standard - sample + (air)
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Shimadzu AOC-20 4 Using the control module
Solvent flush - solvent + air + sample + (air)
Solvent flush w/o air - solvent + sample + (air)
Standard internal - solvent + air + standard sample + air + sample + (air)
Standard internal w/o air - solvent + standard sample + sample + (air)
Syringe injection speed
Injection speed of the syringe.
Select Solvent
Selects the appropriate solvent for solvent wash in case there are three
solvent vials on the sampler rack. It is necessary to enable this option in
the Shimadzu AOC- 20i/s Setup dialog using the Use three solvents
checkbox.
Air Suction
Check if you want autosampler to suck air into the needle after sample
suction. This can help prevent premature evaporation of part of the
sample, when the needle is warmed-up.
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4 Using the control module Clarity Control Module
4.3 Shimadzu AOC-20i/s Setup
The Shimadzu AOC-20i/s Setup dialog sets the fundamental options of
the control module.
Note: It is accessible from the System Configuration dialog by doubleclicking the
Shimadzu AOC-20i/s item.
Fig 8: Shimadzu AOC-20i/s Setup
Port
COM Port used for communication between the hardware and the PC.
Baud Rate, Parity, Stop Bit
Communication parameters. Those parameters should be set according
to the actual communication parameters set in the autosampler (use the
Function key to check/modify them)
Default values:
Baud rate: 2400 (F80=2)
Parity: none (F81=0)
Stop bits: 2 (F82=1)
Note: The changes made on the sampler are active only after power restart.
Connect
Button which tests communication with auto-injector hardware and detects
if auto-sampler hardware is present.
First fill in the COM Port ,Baud rate ,Parity ,Stop bit fields and check
AOC17 mode if you need AOC- 17 compatible mode, then press the
Connect button. Now connection is tested and auto-sampler is detected
for established connection. Connection state is shown in the Connection
field. If connection fails then message box appears and you are asked to
check some parameters on the hardware.
Connection
Connection status.
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Shimadzu AOC-20 4 Using the control module
Sampler name
Assigns name to the sampler, under which it appears in configuration,
method setup, reports, etc.
Model
Defines the model of the AOC-20 sampler.
Vial size
Defines the type of the vials used on the sampler.
Syringe type
Defines the type of the syringe.
AOC-17 mode
Setting this checkbox enables AOC-17 compatible mode.
To use the AOC20 in this mode, set the functions F84=1 (default is
F84=0).
Note: Regardless of mode used, the Channel 1 Protocol parameter must be
zero (F83=0).
Use three solvents
Defines whether the autosampler uses the three-vial solvent option or not.
When checked, additional options will be available on the Method Setup -
AS tab for selecting the solvent vials for pre-wash and post-wash.
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Shimadzu AOC-20 5 Sequence
5 Sequence
To use the autosampler in the Clarity sequence, following conditions
must be met:
The sequence must be saved
The sequence must be set as Active Sequence
All used methods must have the External Start enabled and the Autostop
time set
Method Setup - AS dialog in the used methods must be filled
The required values for starting vial (SV), ending vial (EV), number of
injections from vial (I/V) and injected volume are set in the sequence
table.
Standard sequence operation
After sequence start, the AS control method will be sent to the sampler
and the datastation will wait for the injection signal from sampler. After
receiving it, the run starts and after finishing, the method for next injection
will be sent to the sampler.
Note: Autosampler control is not available during Single Run operation.
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Shimadzu AOC-20 6 Troubleshooting
6 Troubleshooting
When the cause could not be discovered easily, the recording of
communication between Clarity and the autosampler can significantly
help the DataApex support to discover the cause.
The recording can be enabled by adding or amending the COMMDRV.INI
file in the Clarity installation directory (C:\CLARITY\CFG by default). The
file can be edited in any text editor (e.g. Notepad).
Following lines should be added
[COM1]
echo=on
textmode=on
filename=CommDrv_%D.txt
reset=off
Note: Instead of COM1 type the correct serial port used to communicate with
the Shimadzu AOC-20 detector.
Note: %D (or %d) in the filename parameter means that the log will be created
separately for each day. The reset=off parameter disables deleting the
content of the log each time the station is started during the same day.
The created LOG files will greatly help in diagnosis of unrecognized errors
and problems in communication.
Recording the communication related to instrument control is not
recommended to leave it on for prolonged periods.
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