Capabilities
Home-built instrumentation
Extensive experience designing, constructing, and troubleshooting home-built mass spectrometers. Including:
- liquid sample ionization (APCI, ESI, nESI, DESI, glow discharge)
- vacuum requirements and technologies (rough pumps, turbo pumps, aperture dimensioning, vacuum gauges, compatible materials, from atmosphere to E-11Torr, etc.)
- power supplies (DC and RF)
- ion optical components (electrical feedthroughs, transfer multipoles, Einzel lenses, turning quadrupoles, etc.)
- mass analyzers (quadrupoles, TOF, ELIT)
- ion/charge detectors (electron multipliers, Faraday cups, and image charge pickup)
- signal amplification, digitization, and processing
Commercial instrumentation
We have considerable experience with the use and modification of commercial mass spectrometers, including the Sciex 2000 (QqQ), Sciex 4000 (QqQ), Sciex 5500 (QqQ), Sciex 6500 (QqQ), Sciex 5600 (QTOF), Sciex X500 (QTOF), Thermo TSQ, Thermo LTQ and Thermo LTQ-XL.
Data analysis and custom application design in MATLAB
MATLAB is used to generate advanced functions and perform custom data analysis. Whenever possible the code is optimized for performance, using vectorization, low-level functions, and MEX files. Incorporating MATLAB toolboxes allows one to readily interact with peripheral devices, perform advanced signal processing, access optimization routines, etc. MATLABs built-in App Designer can be used to generate custom graphical user interfaces (GUI) to interact with any functions (built-in or user) via supported GUI components. We have the added capability of being able to translate code generated in other languages to MATLAB.
Windows applications and forms using Visual Basic (.NET)
Windows applications and forms are generated in Microsoft Visual Studio using VB.NET. If desired, these can easily be integrated in Microsoft Office applications by way of Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO). Applications made via VB.NET can be made to interact with peripheral devices such as oscilloscopes and microcontrollers and can be password-protected to keep your data safe.
High-quality ion optical simulations
SIMION v8.2 is used to generate a high-quality geometric representation of the system being studied and to perform ion optical simulations. With over 10 years of experience using this program we can code both the geometry file (.gem) and workbench programs (.lua) to get the answer you need. This includes coding accurate electrodes from drawings, generating/incorporating custom functions and libraries, along with file input/output operations.
Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers, like the Arduino™ and Teensy™, are a wonder for custom instrument design. With their engaging community, wide array of sensors, communication protocols, shields, and pin modes, these powerful boards can greatly extend the functionality of your system. From driving DDS chips, to running stepper motors, to controlling an entire instrument, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. They can even listen to signals and act autonomously of the user, e.g. to disable the HV electronics if the pressure gets too high. Both MATLAB and Visual Basic can communicate with these microcontrollers directly via serial communication, thereby enabling you to generate an interface for the hardware.