mPulse - Model X-MET 5100 -Scrap Metal Analyser

The only button on the mPulse is the trigger which is used to power-up the instrument and fire the laser. After switching on, a safety key-code must be entered by the user and there is a short warm up time before the laser will fire.

The nose of the mPulse should be placed against the sample and the trigger held until the result is displayed. All other operations are simple ‘Icon-Driven’ applications which can be selected on the large, touch-screen, colour display directly facing the user.

There are single and multi-test operations with statistical precision data. The pre-loaded alloy table is extensive and can be amended by the user. Communications include Bluetooth, a removable flash drive and a remote safety interlock. Power is from a rechargeable battery pack which will provide up to 250+ tests from full charge. Battery packs can be quickly swapped to maintain operation.

The mPulse can be used to test large or small samples including turnings and granules. The laser scans the surfaceof the sample and will ‘bounce’ repeatedly across tiny samples to optimize the analysis.Samples can be held where convenient because the laser is microscopic, non-penetrating and cannot be felt.

mPulse is a ‘surface analyzer’ so test pieces should be clean but no specific sample preparation is normally needed. Anodized surfaces will usually be burnt through by the laser.

• Rapid analysis time – about 1 second.
• Simple point and shoot operation.
• Wide range of metals.
• Any sample size or type.
• High confidence in the result.

• The mPulse has been assessed to be a Class 3B laser and should be handled accordingly.
• Although powerful, the laser beam is microscopic in diameter and is virtually harmless providing the beam is not aimed directly into the retina of an eye from a short distance.
• The mPulse laser will not penetrate the human body and is non-ionizing. Laser light is considered non-carcinogenic. No need for operator certification or licencing.

• Analytical concentration ranges are appropriate for the type of metal being tested (full details are available on request).
• Typical limits of detection vary from 0.05% to 1%. Elements below the detection limit of the mPulse are not displayed.
• Empirical calibrations are against certified reference materials and other samples with qualified analysis. Accuracy can be optimized over selected ranges by user-set localized standardization.
• Precision is concentration dependent but the user should expect better than +/- 2%RSD at 10% Ni in 316 Stainless Steel.
• Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometry (LIBS) can be considered a ‘virtually’ non-destructive technique – less than 1 billionth of a gram of material is consumed during a typical test.

Laser pulses generate a high temperature micro-plasma on the surface of the metal. Microscopic particles are exploded from the surface into the plasma where they are atomised and energised. After this excitation, light that is characteristic of the elemental composition of the metal is emitted and analyzed within the spectrometer.

The laser is very powerful but is focused to a microscopic point on the sample and causes virtually no sample heating around the test area.

The laser Diode and Analytical Optics are both heated. The system requires a short warm-up period for the laser to become operational. Analytical performance will gradually improve as the temperature of the optics stabilizes.

The LiFeP explosion proof battery pack will permit 250+ analyses from full charge. The battery can be recharged using the standard ‘Fast-Charger’ within 2 hours. The mPulse can also be operated from mains via the charger.