Low-Pressure Gradient Professional IC Option

Metrohm's 850 Professional Anion MCS Low Pressure (LP) Gradient (2.850.2210) is suitable for new method development. The use of gradient chemistry (whereby the eluent strength is increased during the run) facilitates shorter retention times for late eluting peaks.

Metrohm believes that correct selection of the column and optimum mobile phase allows most separations in a routine environment to be solved isocratically. Any gradient separation also requires an additional equilibration step at the end of the separation, where the mobile phase is returned to its original (weaker) state. The 850 Professional IC Anion MCS LP Gradient can be operated with sequential, chemical or without suppression for complete flexibility.

The low-pressure gradient unit is suitable for method development as it can be used as an eluent selector for automatic switching between three different eluents so method development can be automatically performed overnight. The 850 Professional IC instruments feature Magic Net software for automatic recognition. It also provides complete system monitoring and ensures the control cards for calibration and samples are adhered to and documented in an FDA- and GLP-compliant form.

The software can easily produce reports. One-button IC allows novice operation. The 850 Professional IC?s Icolumns provide automatic recognition of the column. They will indicate optimal eluent, flow rate and the maximum pressure to safeguard the column. The Idetector provides digital signal processing with a 0 - 15000uS/cm single range. Metrohm claims the 850 Professional IC?s suppressor provides the lowest noise of any anion suppressor on the market, with full solvent compatibility and resistance to transition metals.

There is a ten year warranty on the suppressor and three years on the instrument hardware. Typical consumable costs for an automated instrument are GBP1000 a year.

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Penn Unveils Multi-Bowl Option For Fastener Press

Penn Engineering has introduced a multi-bowl option for the Pemserter Series 3000 fastener-installation press that enables multiple insertions without tooling changeovers. The multi-bowl option allows an operator to install up to four different types and/or sizes of self-clinching nuts, studs and stand-offs in automatic feed mode. Benefits are said to include easier operation, increased flexibility, quicker fastener insertions and improved productivity compared with a standard machine using four fixed bowls and requiring manual tooling changes.

The new option integrates the Series 3000 press with a QX Turret Tool system (handling the quick tooling changeovers automatically) and up to three expansion bowls. The press additionally features full servo electromechanical actuation technology without hydraulics to optimise ram function and achieve repeatable speed and force for proper, accurate and permanent installation of fasteners in thin metal sheets.

Among other press features, PC-based programming interfaces with Windows operating platforms for job versatility and customisation, menu-driven touch-screen controls, descriptive screen alerts and an on-screen multimedia instructional video contribute to user-friendly operation and quick learning.

Data logging capabilities allow for performance monitoring and a Lightstream operator safety system provides a continuous safeguard by ensuring ram force is applied only to fasteners. The Series 3000 press is designed with a 24/61cm throat depth, can realise a ram force up to 16,000lb/71.2kN and can be operated remotely through networking. The press is CE certified.

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Ansys Releases HFSS 12.1 With IE Solver Option

Ansys has announced the 12.1 release of HFSS software, a technology for 3D full-wave electromagnetic field simulation. The product introduces an integral equation (IE) electromagnetic solver option, which is based on 3D full-wave method of moments (MoM), which can be implemented in the HFSS desktop. This technology is effective for large-scale radiating and scattering simulation studies. For example, an aircraft system integrator interested in antenna placement or radar cross-section (RCS) studies can accurately simulate and design with the IE solver, reducing prototype iterations, cost and time to market.

HFSS software helps engineers design, simulate and validate the behaviour of complex high-performance radio frequency (RF), microwave and millimetre-wave devices in next-generation wireless devices, defence communication systems and consumer electronics. Users of this latest version of HFSS software are said to be able to achieve a reduction in development time and costs while realising increased reliability and design optimisation. The MoM solution procedure used in the HFSS IE solver is suitable for modelling open or radiating problems.

The solver computes the currents on the surfaces of objects and uses those currents to accurately determine the radiated and/or scattered fields. The IE solver provides an automatically adapted and conformal triangular mesh for accuracy. For the largest models requiring the greatest computational resources, the IE solver automatically applies a matrix-based adaptive cross approximation (ACA) algorithm to achieve solution efficiency. This minimises memory and time for the overall simulation.

Setting up such a simulation consists of defining the model, geometry, boundary conditions, material properties and excitations; the simulation process is fully automated, requiring little user input and providing confidence and reliability in the results. HFSS users can implement the IE solver as a new design type in the HFSS desktop. The software can share models, including material properties and geometries, between designs and design types. Current HFSS users will require a little additional training to understand the new capabilities.

The IE solver can use field results from the HFSS finite element method (FEM) solver as a sourcing excitation. Thus, an antenna designer can simulate a feeding antenna structure using the wide variety of source excitations available in HFSS software and link the fields to the IE solver to efficiently compute the radiation pattern of a large dish antenna. Users benefit from both the general utility of HFSS and the computational efficiency of the IE option all within a familiar desktop environment.

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