Locate the task in the fluid path first
Arrows indicate task relationships, not that every component is connected in series in one tube. Check valve positions, pump wetted boundaries and operating states for each branch.
Screen architectures for dose volume, batch count, permissible pauses and actual backpressure. Observe evaporation, crystallization, viscosity and nozzle droplet retention with the actual formulation. Define whether the next vessel is triggered immediately after each action finishes.
Common product roles and application guides
| Product category | Role in this instrument |
|---|---|
| Syringe pump | Batch reagent aspiration and dose-by-dose dispensing |
| Valveless metering pumps | Suitable repeated dosing or continuous supply |
| Fluidic valves | Selection of reagent sources and dispensing destinations; dispensing-outlet on/off control |
| Bubble and pressure detection | Provide low-liquid signals for controller identification of potentially affected doses |
| Tubing and fittings | Connect liquid sources, drives and dispensing outlets |
Operating requirements differ by step
| Stage | Task category | Operating conditions to define |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated dispensing: choose a replenishment strategy | Dispensing operating conditions | Dose, count, first and last doses, retained volume and recovery after replenishment |
| Material compatibility: cover operation, shutdown and cleaning | Medium and material requirements | Formulation, concentration, temperature, contact duration, materials/seals and cleaning |
| Supply monitoring: record the current dose | Inputs for fault detection | Specific sensor configuration, location, liquid/tubing, sampling rate, threshold and time window |
Repeated dispensing: choose a replenishment strategy
Compare cycle volume with usable capacity to calculate refill frequency and lost time. Evaluate valveless candidates by displacement per revolution, speed and actual output after starts and stops.
Material compatibility: cover operation, shutdown and cleaning
The pump head, seals, tubing and nozzle all contact the reagent. One material designation cannot describe the complete path. Tests must also include idle periods, cleaning and liquid changes.
Supply monitoring: record the current dose
When an empty-source or bubble signal occurs, the platform should associate its timing with potentially affected containers and recorded delivery stages. Check the first dose after restoring the path before releasing the next batch. A normal sensor reading does not establish acceptable delivery.
Explore configurations through product application guides
Validate the complete cycle through application results
Include first, middle and last batch doses, recovery after bottle changes, and extended operation with the actual medium.
| Step to validate | Measurements or observations | Priority troubleshooting checks |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated dispensing: choose a replenishment strategy | Use actual media to check first, middle and last doses and delivery after bottle changes; confirm received volume and timing rather than substituting commanded steps for volume | Empty sources, bubbles, nozzle droplets and backpressure changes affect first or last doses |
| Material compatibility: cover operation, shutdown and cleaning | Evaluate changes in materials, leakage and delivered volume over time, including shutdown cleaning, extended standby and restart | Swelling, crystallization, evaporation or adsorption can alter materials and metering performance |
| Supply monitoring: record the current dose | Measure fault detection, false alarms and end-to-end response separately; cover baseline changes with liquid, speed and operating conditions | Normal air segments, viscosity changes and sampling delays may be misclassified |
Repeated dosing and continuous supply are different modes. Valveless metering also requires validation with the actual medium and operating conditions.
Common selection and recovery questions
Should first and last doses be checked when the batch average meets requirements?
Record startup, continuous dispensing, the final dose and the first dose after standby or a bottle change separately. Identify transient and steady-state differences before evaluating the whole batch.
Can the previous dose command be repeated after a low-liquid fault is cleared?
Establish whether the vessel has already received part or all of its dose, then follow the program to resume, discard or restart, avoiding duplicate delivery.