Vescent SLICE-QTC Manuale utente
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Product Manuals - https://www.vescent.com/manuals/
SLICE-QTC Four-Channel Temperature
Controller
Model No. SLICE-QT and SLICE-QTC
Document Revision: 1
Document Last Updated on 2022/04/01 18:06
Please read Limited Warranty and General Warnings and Cautions prior to operating the SLICE-QTC.
Links
Click here for the SLICE-QTC Quick Start Guide.
Click here for the SLICE-QTC API.
Click here for the Ziegler-Nichols loop tuning instructions.
Click here for the SLICE-QTC web page.
Click here for the Github page for SLICE-QTC GUI
Click here for the Github page for SLICE-QTC firmware revisions
Please check back for added functionality. Contact sales [at] vescent [dot] com for questions and
corrections, or to request added functionality.
Description
The SLICE-QTC is a high-precision temperature controller (see figure 1). It will control up to four
thermal plants with sub-millikelvin precision.
Fig. 1: The SLICE-QTC
Purchase Includes
SLICE-QTC Temperature Control Unit
AC power cord with appropriate wall plug for you location (if known)
Four single-ended 6-ft control cables1)
Final Test Documentation
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Absolute Maximum Ratings and Power Input
Note: All modules designed to be operated in a laboratory environment.
Parameter Rating
Environmental Temperature >15°C and <30°C
Environmental Humidity <60%
Environmental Dew Points <15°C
Maximum AC Line Input Current 2 A
Tab. 1: Absolute Maximum Ratings
The SLICE-QTC will accept input line voltages within the ranges shown in table 2.
Parameter Value Units
Input Line Voltage 100-240 VAC
Frequency 50-60 Hz
Phase 1 phase
User-serviceable fuse2) T 2.0 A L 250V
Tab. 2: Input Voltage Specifications
Proper Usage
If this instrument is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer in this
manual or other relevant literature, protection provided by the instrument may be
impaired.
Successful implementation of the SLICE-QTC depends critically on the design of the
whole system: controller, transducer, plant, and sensor.
Tips for Successful Temperature Regulation
The transducer, plant, and sensor must all be in good thermal contact. Use thermal paste or1.
epoxy to avoid air gaps between a TEC or heater and the body of the plant as well as to secure
the thermistor to the plant.
Know the electrical limits of of your transducer and set the limits of the SLICE-QTC accordingly.2.
Each channel can provide up to 6 A or 20 W of power with a maximum compliance voltage up to
~18 V. Choose transducers that work within these limits. Using the current, power, and/or
voltage ratings of your transducer to calculate loads on individual channels and set limits
appropriately in the CH X > Settings > Load Limits window.
Maintain proper shielding of the control cable, but avoid ground loops between the SLICE-QTC3.
and the plant. In most cases this means extending the foil shield in the cable to as close as
possible to the plant without electrically connecting the SLICE-QTC to the plant.
Never connect either of the TEC leads on a plant, or the SLICE-QTC to ground.
This configuration is very likely to cause severe damage to the SLICE-QTC.
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List of Symbols
Warning. Pay special attention to procedures
and notes. If procedure is not followed
carefully, damage to the SLICE-QTC or
devices connected to it may occur.
Potential for electrical shock hazard.
Specifications
Performance3)
Parameter Value
Channels 4
Loop Filter PID, adjustable corners and
proportional Gain
Control Range -10 to +120°C
Compatible Transducer TEC or resistive heater
Compatible Sensor NTC thermistor 4)
Temperature Stability ±0.2 mK over 10 min5)
Precision ~1 mK
Control Capacity 40 W total6)
20 W max for a single channel
Current Capacity 6 A per channel7)
Compliance Voltage ≤18 V8)
Input & Output
I/O Voltage Range ±10 V
Triggering TTL
Control Interface
Control Front-panel touch screen, GUI, Serial
API
Connections Host control: USB Type B
Tab. 3: Specifications of SLICE-QTC
Extendable Legs
The SLICE-QTC has four extendable legs (figure 2). Extending the front legs allows easy viewing from
above (figure 1) and extending the rear legs (figure 3) allows easy viewing from below.
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Fig. 2: Underside of SLICE-QTC
Fig. 3: Side view of SLICE-QTC configured for
viewing from below
Front Panel
An image of the front panel is shown in figure 4. The functions and connections are as follows:
Parameter input adjustment knobs1.
Control signal inputs2.
Signal monitor outputs3.
Touch screen with view of CH 2 Details screen4.
∆T plotted as a function of time (blue line)5.
System locked range (yellow dashed lines)6.
Fig. 4: Front of SLICE-QTC
Rear Panel
An image of the rear panel is shown in figure 5. The functions and connections are as follows:
Main On/Off power switch1.
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AC line power in9)
2.
User-serviceable fuse (T 2.0 A L 250V)1.
Output trigger (BNC)3.
Input trigger (BNC)4.
USB port (Type B)5.
Connections to thermal plants10)11)
6.
Fig. 5: View of rear of SLICE-QTC
Interface Connections
Connections to the thermal plants are made from the rear panel. Four cables for this purpose are
provided with the SLICE-QTC. Each has one end terminated with a CUI Inc. PDP-40 connector for
connecting to the CUI Inc. CP-7240-ND connector on the SLICE-QTC. The other end is unterminated
and is for connecting to your specific plant. The pin out for connecting the cable (Beldon 1502R
010500) to your specific plant is given in table 4.
Connector
Pin Number Color Function AWG
1 Red TEC/Heater+ 18
2 Black TEC/Heater- 18
3 White Thermistor+ 22
4 Blue Thermistor- 22
Metal Sleeve Ground Shield 24
Tab. 4: Cable pinout
Do not have servo loop engaged when
connecting Servo Output to your plant.
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Use caution grounding the shield (drain) at
the transducer end of the interface cable as
ground loops may be formed, degrading
performance. Consider floating the plant or
not connecting the shield to the plant
chassis.
You may purchase more cables separately from Vescent Photonics. We do not recommend making
cables, but if you do so, make sure the metal sleeve is well connected to the connector ground to
provide proper shielding to the signal cables.
Operating the SLICE-QTC
Screen Navigation
The touch screen interface and the Host GUI operate in a substantially similar way, except touch is
substituted for a click in the touch screen interface.
When presented with a given view, it is possible to select the functionality or edit the values in a field
bordered in blue. When a particular field is actively being edited, its border will change to yellow. The
Home Screen of the SLICE-QTC is shown in figure 6. From the Home screen, summary control over the
four channels is possible, including setting Tset, initiating lock, or entering an individual channel's
Detail screen.
In general, the status displayed in an editable field is the current status (not the result of touching the
button). Touch the field to select a new value/status. For instance, in figure 6 all of the channels are in
stand by. Touching the OFF button to initiate servo control over a plant will change this button to read
ON (figure 17).
Fig. 6: Home screen of SLICE-QTC
Control Bar
On the left edge of the screen is the Control Bar. At any given time, these buttons will have the
following effect.
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Home Button
Fig. 7: Home button Returns to Home screen (figure 6).
Back Button
Fig. 8: Back button Returns to previous screen. Changes will be lost if not accepted before using the
Back button.
Lock Button
Fig. 9: Lock button (shown in unlocked mode) Locks out further modification of parameters. Touch to
lock or unlock parameter entry. It is still possible to engage the temperature control loops when
system is locked, but it is not possible to change the set point temperature or loop parameters, etc.
I/O Button
Fig. 10: I/O button Enters the screen for programming the front-panel I/O.
System Settings Button
Fig. 11: System settings button Enters screen for system control settings (brightness, volume, etc.).
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Entering Values
In order to afford maximum resolution, the least significant digit will not necessarily change to
precisely your target value and will be coerced to the nearest acceptable value, which is limited by
the digitization scheme for the set point. For instance, you may select a set point temperature of
17.000°C, but the closest allowed digitized value may be 16.999°C.
In most instances, there are two methods for entering parameter values: the physical rotary knobs on
the front panel and the pop-up keypad on the touch screen. When using the knobs to change the
value of a parameter, changes take effect immediately. When using the keypad, changes do not take
effect until the enter key is depressed.
Rotary Knobs
If you touch an editable field for a brief moment, a cursor will appear under one of the digits of the
parameter value. By turning the right knob, it is possible to increase (cw) or decrease (ccw) the value
of the underlined digit. Turning the left knob will change which digit is editable (cw to move to the
right and ccw to move to the left).
Keypad
If you touch and hold an editable field such as the set point temperature, a numeric keypad will
appear as seen in figure 12. You can enter in the full value of the desired parameter with this keypad.
Fig. 12: Pop-up Keypad
The action initiated by each button is described below.
Escape
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Fig. 13: Escape button Exits keypad without accepting changes.
Clear
Fig. 14: Clear button Clears value in field being edited.
Delete
Fig. 15: Delete button Deletes last character entered.
Enter
Fig. 16: Enter button Accepts edits and exits keypad.
Home Screen
The Home screen summarizes the status of all four channels (figure 6). The data for each channel is
arranged vertically. At a glance, for each channel, Tset, Tact, and ∆T can be read, as well as whether
servo control is engaged. If the loop is engaged and ∆T is smaller than a user-defined range, the Error
value field will be green, indicating a locked state. If ∆T is outside this user-defined range, this field
will turn yellow.
Setting the Temperature
To set the temperature set point from the home screen, touch the Setpoint window for the desired
channel (circled in red for CH 1 in figure 17). A long touch will cause a keypad to appear. Enter
desired value and touch the accept button.
A short touch will highlight the Setpoint window in yellow (figure 18). Use rotary knobs to select digit
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to edit (left knob) and value for digit (right knob).
Fig. 17: Select Temperature setpoint for CH 1
Fig. 18: Knob adjustment of Temperature setpoint for CH 1
Enabling Feedback
Touch the OFF button at the bottom of the column for the desired channel. The button will turn white
and read ON to indicate the SLICE-QTC is actively controlling the temperature for that channel. In
figure 17 and figure 18 CH 1 is active and CHs 2-4 are inactive.
When the system is locked (as defined by the user in the CH X > Settings > Limits screen) the Error
window will display ∆T with a green background. As the system approaches lock, it will display ∆T on a
yellow background.
Channel Detail Screen
You can set how individual channels behave in the Channel Detail screen. To enter a Channel Detail
screen from the Home screen, touch the CH button for the appropriate channel (figure 6). figure 19
shows the CH 1 Detail screen. From this screen, you can change Tset, and initiate temperature control
as from the Home screen. You can also visually monitor the performance of the loop. When the lock is
engaged, the graph in the lower right of the screen displays ∆T (Tact - Tset) on a rolling basis. The yellow
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