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MPA160 Digital Melting Point System for Students


Melting Point Apparatus
  • Student grade digital MPA
  • Mercury free
  • Simultaneous analysis of 3 samples
  • Integral RTD thermometer
  • PID-controlled temperature ramping
  • Tube tapper packs samples
  • Easy to clean and maintain
MPA160 specifications

DigiMelt is a modern, low cost, digital melting point apparatus designed specifically for the student lab. Students learn the visual detection capillary method of melting point determination without the frustration of trying to control the oven temperature. DigiMelt rapidly heats the oven to the programmed start temperature, then slowly ramps at the specified rate. The student carefully observes the samples and records the melting points with a touch of a button.
Magnified View Three Capillaries

Digital Temperature Readout

DigiMelt incorporates a platinum resistance temperature detector (RTD) instead of the usual mercury thermometer. This means better accuracy on the readings, and no more mercury cleanup from broken thermometers. The RTD is encased inside the oven block making it virtually unbreakable.

Microprocessor Temperature Control

Some student instruments use an open-loop variac that simply throttles power to the oven without any sense of what the target temperature is. DigiMelt uses an RTD for feedback, so it "knows" what temperature is on the oven. This means the students can enter a start temperature, a ramp rate, and a stop temperature and the microprocessor takes care of the rest. Furthermore, the microprocessor can deliver variable amounts of power to the oven, so it can quickly ramp to the starting temperature, then perform the ramp as slowly as 0.5 ºC/min.

High Quality Optics

Rather than forcing the student to peer through a tiny lens with poor illumination, the DigiMelt uses a large magnifier that allows plenty of eye relief. The user can see all three capillaries easily at a comfortable distance from the instrument. White LEDs are used to provide high-contrast illumination.

Tube Tapper

For many students, the melting point lab is the first time they have touched a capillary. This can lead to lots of capillaries on the floor and many broken capillaries. DigiMelt employs an integral cell phone vibrator motor to let students pack their sample without tapping them on the bench or dropping them through a long glass tube. A molded guide in the chassis allows students to pack three samples at a time.

Easy Maintainance

Cleaning the lens is as simple as removing the lens retaining ring. If a student should break a capillary, the entire lens holder assembly slides out for easy clean up of the broken glass. Replacing thermometers is a thing of the past as the RTD will never break and cannot be removed from the instrument. Unlike conventional incandescent bulbs that must be periodically replaced in some student instruments, the white LEDs used in DigiMelt will last a lifetime.

Safer for Students

No Mercury

The DigiMelt uses an internal RTD thermometer, which means students and TAs are never exposed to toxic mercury vapors. Some student instrument will reach 500 °C and stay at that temperature indefinitely ¾ a severe burn hazard. The DigiMelt’s maximum temperature is 260 °C, which allows testing of virtually all organic compounds a student might examine. Intelligently designed cowling protects students from touching the hot oven. Furthermore, the oven will automatically turn off after being idle for 30 minutes.

Specifictions

Display  
Type 4 digit LED
Readout (Start, stop or ramp rate, oven temperature, and stored measurement data
 
Temperature
Resolution 0.1 °C
Accuracy ±0.5 °C (<200 °C) / ±0.8 °C (=200 °C)
Reproducibility 0.2 °C
 
Oven
Range 50 °C to 260 °C
Ramp rate 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 °C per minute
Heat-up time ~10 minutes (to 250 °C)
Thermometer Built in Pt RTD
Temperature control Closed-loop PID
Auto safety shut off After 30 minutes idle
 
Capillaries  
Dimensions 1.4 mm to 2.0 mm outside dia., 100mm length
Capacity Up to 3 tubes
Fill height 2 mm to 3 mm
Tube Tapper Automatic sample packing
 
General  
Power 90 to 264 VAC, 47 to 63 Hz, 150 W
Environment 0 °C to 30 °C, non-condensing
Weight 2 lbs.
Dimensions 6"× 9.75"× 5" (WHD)