The CENTAURUS fully automatic laboratory system is used for creating test material tablets made from grainy materials such as cement, ore, slag, earth samples, raw meal, clinker etc. for XRF and XRD X-ray analysis.
CENTAURUS fulfils the following functions in production laboratories in terms of sample preparation: processing of unground sample material as well as material that has already been ground in a sample tablet, grinding of unground sample material and pressing into a steel ring. After notification of the sample material to be processed using the operator terminal and selection of the stored sample formula with the associated process data, additional handling of the sample preparation process is performed fully automatically.
This applies to the dosing of the sample material, entered either manually or automatically, the dispensing of the grinding aid tablets as well as the grinding and pressing processes selected. In addition, automatic handling within the CENTAURUS takes over the function of checking the pressed sample under the vacuum press for impermeability, as well the cleaning of the sample and the system components used in the preparation process. After completion of the sample preparation, the processed sample is automatically transported to the analysis devices via the conveyor belt or made available via a ring output.
CENTAURUS: system components
- Entry sample dosing device
- Grinding aid dispenser
- Grinding vessel made from tungsten carbide (WC)
- Optional: Liquid cooling system for the grinding vessel
- Hydraulically powered pelletizing press with ramping function
- Air-based cleaning system for all components
- Steel ring magazine
- Steel ring handling
- Steel ring cleaning before and after analysis
- Stability test of pressed sample
- Preparation of approx. 10 samples per hour
Operator’s terminal
- Operator convenience with operation terminal
- Easy operation with clearly arranged user guidance
- Complex status information
- Easy, flexible handling for service and maintenance
Advantages at a glance
- Stand alone and/or integration in linear or robot automation systems
- Usable for direct connection to automatic X-ray analysers
- Sample feeding by operator, robot or automatic handling
- Ergonomic and well-formed design, easy front-side operation
- Space-saving construction, only 1 qm footprint
- Easy accessibility for maintenance, service and cleaning
- Housing designed to be soundproof
- No vibration
- 99 programs selectable
- Grinding with pelletizing, grinding only, pelletizing only
Technical data
- Dimensions (approx. Width/Depth/Height) 1.000 mm / 1.000 mm / 1.652 mm
- Weight approx. 1250 kg
- PLC-type Embedded controller
- Operating unit Operator panel
- Connection power 5 kW
- Operating voltage 3 x 400 V AC ±10%
- Control voltage 24 V DC
- Valve voltage 24 V DC
- Mains frequency 50/60 Hz
- Compressed air pressure 6 – 8 bar (Quality 1.4.1. according to ISO 8573-1)
- Compressed air
- consumption 1,1 Norm-m3/cycle
- Suction connection D = 80 mm
- Vacuum level 160 mbar
- Suction volume 150 m3/h
- Noise emission 75 dB (A)
- Input granulation max. 6 mm
- Output ring 51,5 x 35 x 8,5 mm/40 x 32 x 14 mm
- Grinding vessel made of tungsten carbide (WC)
- Pneumohydraulic pressure converter of the press steplessly adjustable
from 0 kN to 150 kN