a p instruments UX 3011 Moisture Analysers Instruction Manual

: June 17, 2024
: A P INSTRUMENTS

Table of Contents

a p instruments UX 3011 Moisture Analysers
Basic information
Safety instructions
Warranty
Accessories supplied
Operation
Data interface
Menu
Care and maintenance
Technical data
CONTACT
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

a p instruments UX 3011 Moisture Analysers

Basic information

Intended use
ULTRA X moisture analyzers are solely designed to quickly measure moisture and dry matter in solid, viscous, and fluid substances using thermogravimetric analysis. A sample is weighed while being dried by infra-red heat.

Common features for all ULTRA X devices:

Short measurement time, gentle and even drying of samples, high reproducibility
Automatic or time-controlled measurement shut-off

UX 3011/ 3011Q/ 3011HQ

Temperature-controlled infra-red heater 250 W/ 375 W
Temperature range: 40 – 200 °C/ 360 °C/600 °C
Stainless steel drying tray 111 mm diameter

UX 3031

Special device for the gypsum industry 2 temperature-controlled heaters for separate measurement of free and chemically bound moisture in gypsum products
Temperature range: 40 – 360 °C
Stainless steel drying tray 111 mm diameter

UX 3081/ 3081WQ

Special device for extra large samples, e.g. in the chipboard industry 2 temperature-controlled ceramic heaters
Temperature range: 40 – 220 °C/ 300 °C Stainless steel drying tray 245 x 120 mm

Safety instructions

Always transport the device in an upright position and protect it from impact.
Always operate the device on a level surface, using a vibration-free base.
Avoid draughts.
Never touch the (luminous) heater when it is hot, as there is a risk of injury!
Always disconnect the plug from the mains supply before performing any work on the device (e.g. changing the heater)! Repairs should only be carried out by a qualified technician.
Never place flammable material next to the device, as there is a risk of fire!
Please take extra care when using flammable samples! You may need to contact the manufacturer for advice.
Please be careful not to drop any sample particles next to the tray support plate.
Carefully remove any particles with a vacuum cleaner.
Only use accessories specifically designed for use with ULTRA X devices.
Do not move the device during measurement, as this will result in measuring errors.
Do not leave any substances in the measuring tray, if they are not being measured.
Devices should only be shipped in the original packaging using the original packaging material.
ULTRA X moisture analyzers are stand-alone units and are not designed to be used in continuous production runs. Any such use is at your own risk.

Warranty

A&P Instruments undertakes to repair faulty devices within the warranty period, free of charge, if the defect is a manufacturing fault. This warranty covers the repair of spare parts and the working hours required. It does not cover normal wear-and-tear and soiling and staining of the device. A&P Instruments will not accept any freight costs.
This warranty does not apply to: improper use of the device, use of the device for purposes other than those stated by A&P instruments, mechanical damage or damage caused by fluids or sample matter, incorrect setup or wrong electrical wiring, mechanical damage of the load cell e.g. as a result of being overloaded

Transport, packaging, installation site

Please check the packaging and device for any damage upon delivery.
Please retain the original packaging in case you need to return the goods to A&P Instruments.
Please only use the original packaging when returning the goods.

Accessories supplied

Start-up

Place the device on a stable, vibration-free surface, as level as possible and protected from draughts. The most suitable locations are the corners of a room, rooms with only one entrance, and heavy tables on concrete floors.
(not for ULTRA X 3081) Start by adjusting the heater to the height marked on the rod. Quartz heaters are 10 mm higher than radiant heaters. To do this, slightly loosen (never completely unscrew) the knurled screw on the back of the reflector holder.
Retighten the knurled screw manually.
Now swing the heater to the right or backward to its rearmost position. Avoid using force to twist the heater beyond its stop point, as this could damage the device. Place the tray holder on the device by turning it slightly in a clockwise direction. (Also remove it by turning in a clockwise direction).
Next place one of the two drying trays supplied on the tray holder using one or two sets of tongs. The notch in the reflector tray acts as an access gap for easy positioning of the tray.
Check that the voltage indicated on the type plate matches the local mains voltage.
The power cable is inserted into the device’s power jack and a suitable earthed mains supply. After the power supply has been connected, the device can be switched on or off using
To prevent weighing system measuring errors, the device should be switched on for 20 minutes before being used to allow for heat compensation. If weight values vary in the display’s milligram range during this period, this is considered normal within this phase. If the device is switched off using the reset (on/ off) button, it does not require a warm-up period, if switched on again with the same button.
ULTRA X moisture measuring devices are supplied so that in most cases substances can be measured immediately. If you are not satisfied with the result, the measurement parameters can be adjusted:

Loading the printing paper
Remove the printer cover. To do this, press the back of the cover.

Insert the paper into the metal slot below the print ribbon and press the line feed button until approx. 20 mm has been inserted.
Thread the paper through the slot in the printer cover and close the printer cover.

Changing the print ribbon
Remove the printer cover. To do this, press the back of the cover.

Remove the used print ribbon and insert a new one. You may need to turn the wheel on the print ribbon in the direction of the arrow until the print ribbon cartridge is positioned correctly.
The ribbon must be in of the paper. Close the printer cover.

Operation

Display and buttons

Menu

Factory settings

Temperature: 105 °C (45°C / 360 °C)
Automatic shut-off with parameters:
Weight loss 5 mg/ Query interval 45 secs / Start of query 3 mins
Quartz heater 12mg/ 15 secs / 3 mins
The buzzer switched on when the measuring process is complete

Menu settings
The device’s Preferences menu can be accessed using the ‘up’ or ‘down’ button.
In this instruction manual, it is assumed that the ‘down’ button follows the menu item sequence.
The menu is operated using a standard structure:

Temperature control

Automatic shut-off or timer

The automatic mode dries the sample until a constant weight is reached and then switches off the heater.

Weight loss in mg
a value should be defined here which corresponds to approx. 0.1 % of the original sample e.g. original sample 10 g = 10 mg

When the weight loss <= the mg weight specified here within the interval period defined below, the measurement is completed, if at least the start of the query time limit has expired.

Query interval in secs.
an interval should be selected here so that the sample is not dried for too short a period but also not for far too long. A period of 20 to 30 seconds is normally adequate. None /10-99 secs can be selected.

Start of query in minutes
Specify the drying period required for the samples without automatic mode. The factory-set 3 minutes is usually adequate. This value should be increased for extremely low temperatures so that the device does not switch itself off prematurely. This affects the UX 3031 in particular when free moisture is being measured at 45°C. You can select 1-99 mins.

The timer setting is the same as described for the quartz heater.
Values for the luminous and quartz heaters (only UX 3031) are entered separately from each other. Both heaters can be controlled separately from each other via automatic mode or the timer.

It is possible to select a drying time of 1 – 180 mins
The automatic settings are the same as described for radiant heaters.
During measurement, the device optionally displays: % moisture
% dry matter (TS) Example: 50 % moisture = 100 % Atro
% moisture Atro ( ), i.e. moisture related to the dry matter 25 % moisture = 33.3 % Atro
Dry matter (TS) in g/1000g 75 % moisture = 300 % Atro
Weight loss g (V)
Residual weight g (R) (current weight)
Weight increase (IW)
If measuring has stopped, you can see the purity of gypsum with

Printer options

For devices without a printer, the number of prints must be set to ‘1’!

Data output for the external printer (other manufacturers)
Follow the menu instructions and use a 200 g F1 weight to calibrate the scales.

The first two letters on the second line stand for Automatic (A) and Timer (T). They show the mode set for each heater.

Combinations: AA = Automatic quartz heater/ Automatic radiant heater

TA = Timer quartz heater / Automatic radiant heater,
TT = Timer quartz heater / Timer radiant heater,
AT = Automatic quartz heater / Timer radiant heater.

Two letters you see only by ULTRA X 3031/D all other models have only one letter, because of one Heater.
You can also lock the menu to prevent accidental changes to drying parameters.

Moisture analysis process
The device should be connected to the main supply and switched on with a drying tray. A weight value is displayed.
Set scales to zero using the ‘tare’ button, display ‘0.000 g’.

Swing the heater over the sample (for UX 3081, use the heater switch).
After a short time, the heater switches itself on, and the drying phase begins. Header data is now printed for devices with a built-in printer.
The sample is dried until it has reached a constant weight; the heater then switches off automatically. The time and measurement value is printed for devices with a printer.
If you do not wish to make any measurements, please always ensure that the heater is swung back to its rearmost position!
Measurement values are displayed for the entire length of time the heater is positioned above the sample.
If measuring has stopped, you can see the purity of gypsum with

The device should not be moved from its position during measurement, as this causes measurement errors.

The built-in printer prints the following at the start of the measurement:

Model, device ID, date, time, heater temperature, timer or shut-off parameters, initial weight

And after the device has finished measuring, once the heater has been swung back to its rearmost position

Measurement value, measurement time, substance, initials

Please ensure drying trays have cooled down before using for measurement.

If the measurement ends before it is complete, the display shows:

For substances that are difficult to remove from the tray after being dried, we recommend using foil trays, which can be made quickly and economically from aluminium foil using the ULTRA X foil press.

Data interface

Weighing data, temperature and drying data are also shown on the display via a standard USB flash drive and serial interface.
Depending on the model, a separate UX 3092 printer or a computer can be connected to the device.
Interface description
Model: V24 RS 232 serial data transmission and USB flash drive
Transmission rate: 9600 baud
Number of bits 8 data bits
1 stop bit
Parity check none
Handshake none

Data transmission using a USB flash drive
If the computer receiving the data has an internet connection, the system automatically installs a driver and creates a COM interface, as soon as the computer is connected to the moisture analyser.
If this is not the case, the driver must be manually installed in the device manager.

Special software is required for transmitting data to a PC:
ULTRA X DataChannel

Data can be exported in four different data formats: . xls; .html; .xml; .txt.
The software is extremely easy to install and use:
Connect devices, place CD in PC, the installation is self-explanatory.

Accessories

Order no.: Application:
Stainless-steel drying tray 10000282 Sample containers for UX 3011/ 3031 (2 trays supplied)
AV drying tray, large Sample containers for UX 3081(2 trays supplied)
Tray tongs 10000230 for lifting the tray (supplied)
Mains cable H1000190 Mains connection (supplied)

Consumables:

Printing paper 58 mm, durable 10 years I10000234 for built-in thermo printer
Printing paper 58 mm I1000006 for built-in needle printer
Ribbon I1000013 for built-in needle printer

Overview of menu setup via the UP button

Potential errors

a.ukena@apinstruments.de.

Care and maintenance

Please ensure that no pollutants enter the device.
Always keep the area around the tray holder clean.
Do not use compressed air to clean the device.
Do not overload the scales, max. weight 750 g.
Protect device from moisture and impact.
For ideal care and maintenance, we recommend taking out a service contract.

Printer self-test
If your printout is incorrect, you will need to run a printer self-test:

Disconnect the device from the mains supply using the main switch or plug.
Press and hold the linefeed button and connect the device to the mains, then release the linefeed button.
The printer will print a self-test:

Technical data

Technical data subject to change without notice
ULTRA X moisture analysers are stand-alone units and not suitable for use in continuous production runs. We shall not accept any liability for incorrect readings!

Accessories