Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS50 AEM User manual

Nicolet iS50 FT-IR Spectrometers
iS50 AEM
User Guide
269-295900 Revision A February 2013

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Thermo Scientific iS50 AEM User Guide 1
1
iS50 AEM
This document describes the Thermo Scientific iS50 AEM (Auxiliary Experiment Module)
which is an optional sampling module for your Nicolet™ iS™50 spectrometer. The document
covers the following topics.
Contents
•About the AEM
•Important Features
•Operating Precautions
•Setting Up the AEM
•Checking Performance
•Collecting Spectra
•Maintenance
•Troubleshooting
NOTICE Be sure that all persons operating this system read the site and safety manual
first.

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Using this Manual or Help System
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Using this Manual or Help System
This manual or help system describes how to operate the AEM. It includes important safety
precautions; always read and follow these precautions.
Conventions Used
This manual uses these conventions for providing safety and other special information:
Other Documentation
The user guide and Help system for the Nicolet iS50 spectrometer describe spectrometer use
and maintenance. Since using the AEM is similar to using one of those spectrometers, we will
sometimes refer you to the on-line documentation or system manual for more information.
We provide complete instructions for using the software in the OMNIC Help system and in
Getting Started with OMNIC Software. Instructions for most accessories are included with the
particular accessory.
WARNING Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or
serious injury.
CAUTION Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or
moderate injury.
NOTICE Follow instructions with this label to avoid damaging the system hardware or
losing data.
Note Contains helpful supplementary information.
Tip Provides helpful information that can make a task easier.

1 iS50 AEM
About the AEM
Thermo Scientific iS50 AEM User Guide 3
About the AEM
The iS50 AEM provides you with an additional sample compartment for data collection.
Using OMNIC software or the AEM Touch Point, you can quickly redirect the infrared (IR)
beam path from the spectrometer to the AEM and start collecting spectra. This flexibility
eliminates the need to continually change accessories in the main sample compartment.
Many of the detectors and accessories that can be installed in the spectrometer can also be
installed in the AEM including:
• All Thermo Scientific Smart Accessories
•Otherbaseplate-mountedsample compartment accessories
• iS50 TGA interface, which can be connected to a compatible thermal gravimetric
analyzer
Figure 1. iS50 spectrometer with iS50 AEM
Note The iS50 AEM cannot be fitted with iS50 purge shutters, the IR beam polarizer, the
iS50 ABX (automatic beamsplitter exchanger) or the built-in iS50 ATR module. The
iS50 Raman module can only be used in the main spectrometer sample compartment; it
does not work with the iS50 AEM.
The AEM mounts on the right side of the spectrometer
Nicolet iS50
FT-IR spectrometer
iS50 AEM

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Important Features
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The iS50 AEM provides these enhanced features:
• Integrated iS50 design
• Push button configuration
• High efficiency optics (redirects the IR source from Nicolet iS50 spectrometer)
• Up to three dedicated IR detectors
•Optionalpurge
For information about additional sampling modules and accessories for your Nicolet iS50
spectrometer, contact our sales representative in your area.
Important Features
This section describes the major features of the iS50 AEM. These topics are included:
•From the Front
•Inside the Sample Compartment
•Back Panel Features
Before operating the AEM, you should be familiar with the fundamentals of FT-IR
spectroscopy and the operating characteristics of your FT-IR spectrometer.

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Important Features
Thermo Scientific iS50 AEM User Guide 5
From the Front
Figure 2. iS50 AEM front view
These features are visible from the front and sides of the AEM:
•Sample compartment. Place your accessories and samples here for analysis. When you
collect spectra, a focused IR beam will be reflected from the spectrometer to the sample in
the AEM sample compartment. The beam is focused at the center of the sample
compartment, at a height of approximately 9 cm (3.5 in) when measured from an
installed standard transmission baseplate.
•Detector compartment. Like the iS50 spectrometer, up to three detectors - two
interchangeable and one fixed DTGS - can be installed in the iS50 AEM at the same
time. For more information, see “Changing Detectors”.
•Detector fill port. Used to add liquid nitrogen to the dewar to cool an MCT detector.
before each use. For more information, see “Cooling the AEM Detector.”
•External beam port (left side). Light from the spectrometer passes through this port to
the AEM sample compartment input optics.
Touch Point
Sample compartment
Detector fill port
Detector compartment
Desiccant compartment
External beam port

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Important Features
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•Desiccant compartment. Contains desiccant when the AEM is shipped from the factory
to prevent excessive moisture from damaging the optics. If the AEM is purged, you can
remove the desiccant after the purge is installed and running. If the spectrometer and
AEM are not purged, then the desiccant must be installed and the system’s internal
atmosphere monitored for humidity. For more information, see “Connecting a Purge
Source” or “Checking the Desiccant.”
•Touch Point. Automatically configures the spectrometer for sampling with the AEM. The
Touch Point LED shows the status of the AEM. The LED has three states described
below.
Table 1. AEM status indicator states
Inside the Sample Compartment
There are two connectors inside the sample compartment of the AEM.
Figure 3. Inside the iS50 AEM sample compartment
•Purge Out Connector. Can be fitted with a purge exhaust to disperse purge gas into the
AEM sample compartment.
•Accessory Connector. If you have a photoacoustic or other accessory that has a detector
or motor, connect the cable from the accessory to this standard 25-pin connector.
LED status Meaning
On Ready for use
Off System is not configured for AEM sampling
Blinking Optics are reconfiguring
Note This is not a pass-through connector. If the accessory has a 15-pin connector,
use the sample compartment accessory adaptor cable that came with your
spectrometer to connect it.
Accessory connector Purge Out connector

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Important Features
Thermo Scientific iS50 AEM User Guide 7
You can also use the Accessory connector to access power and ground for your own
detectors, accessory motors, and other custom hardware located in the AEM sample
compartment.
This table contains pinout information for the Accessory connector.
Table 2. Accessory connector pinout descriptions
CAUTION Avoid personal injury. Improper or unsafe cabling can cause damage to your
accessory and may create a safety hazard.
• Only qualified persons should connect custom hardware to the Accessory connector
inside the AEM sample compartment.
• Do not use this connector for signals that exceed a ±12 VDS. Limit the current to a
maximum of 500 mA.
Pin Number Description
3, 8 +5 VDC
23 +3.3 VDC
16, 21 +12 VDC (unfiltered for motors)
10, 22 Digital ground (for +5, +3, and +12 motors)
6 +12 VDC (filtered for detectors)
19 -12 VDC (filtered for detectors)
4, 17 Analog ground (for +12 detectors and -12 detectors)
2 Sample compartment motor +
15 Sample compartment motor -
18 Sample compartment detector +
5 Sample compartment detector -
20 SDA (for detector communication)
7 SCL (for detector communication)
1 SDA (for digital communication)
14 SCL (for digital communication)

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Figure 4. Sample Compartment Dimensions