StellarNet has been manufacturing rugged spectrometers to the worldwide market for over 25 years. We have had countless questions from customers just like you who want to keep their instruments in tip-top shape. Here are some insider tips for making sure your spectrometer is always in prime condition.
DON’T place your spectrometer in or near an acid bath or any chemical solvents. DON’T store it in a corrosive locker, or drop it in a volcanic pit. DON’T light it on fire or strap it to an exploding rocket
DO keep your spectrometer clean. Simply give it a wipe down with a soft cloth every once in a while. If you find yourself putting your spectrometer in interesting situations – an instrument case is a good investment.
DON’T let the fiber optic cable hang or dangle off of your table or bench. Do not put the fiber optic cable in situations where it could get smashed. Most importantly, don’t feed it or give it water after midnight. –Gremlins
DO clean the optics every once in a while. Think about it as a pair of glasses, no matter what you do, sometimes you get fingerprints on it, right? Use a kim-wipe to clean off the accessories (CR2, collimating lens).
DON’T yank or carry the spectrometer by the cable or clearly breakable parts.
DO remove the fiber and cables by the connection points.
DON’T use your shirt to wipe off the optics. When we say optics we mean accessories… NOT THE INTERNAL OPTICS. Don’t open the spectrometer enclosure!
DO keep the fiber optic cable comfortable – lightly coil it and keep it away from things that can smash it, like boulders and robots.
Optical Fiber, Sphere, and Cable Diagnostics
If you’ve accidentally performed one of our “Don’ts” how can you know if you need to send the system to us for repair?
Did you bend your fiber optic cable?
Check for cracks! This is pretty easy to do. Point one end of the fiber optic cable to an overhead light, and then look at the other end. Here are some pictures of a good vs. bad fiber.
Do you have an Integrating Sphere?
Check for brown spots or chips in paint! Moisture can cause the paint to break down and turn brown.
Did you carry the spectrometer by the USB?
Check for frayed ends or loose USB ports.
Make sure to check out our Spectrometer Re-Calibration Options
Last but not least, keep your spectrometer calibrated! Calibration assures that your spectrometer is working optimally. If your calibration is older than one year, we recommend that you call in and request to speak with an Applications Scientist about an annual re-calibration service. Annual calibrations are a good practice and healthy way to check up on your spectrometer system health.
Think about getting some of our great spectrometer upgrades this new year!
- Go Wireless! Teach your old spectrometer some new tricks by upgrading with a zAP2 package. zAP2 lets you cut the cord. Another way you can go wireless is by adding the SMART-Control.
- Upgrade your software! Visit our download page to make sure you are running the most recent version of SpectraWiz
- Add a Jack-in TTL trigger to capture a precise event
- Need more sensitivity and less noise? Try a TEC or TEC-X2 detector upgrade.
- How about interchangeable slits? See if you are eligible for an interchangeable slit upgrade.
