MilkoScan™ FT3 — Service Manual

document number 6008 5772 / rev 8 proprietary of foss copyright 2019 / all rights reserved foss analytical a/s, nils foss allé 1, dk 3400 hillerød, denmark dasdasdas milkoscan™ ft3 — spare parts manual v4 0 docid\ egnbfep33qjcmxhbg8tc5 all information is liable to change without prior notice please contact your local foss representative for the latest information about documentation updates for your specific instrument new line rev date of issue revised material 1 2019 09 03 first issue 2 2020 07 27 updates in general added information of touch screen/display added special tools and service tools added fossservicescan description updated conductivity module added removal and replacement procedure for conductivity module added removal and replacement procedure of instrument id chip added standardization procedure added verification procedure added torque values for tightening screws and nuts in removal and replacement procedures updated error & warning messages, diagnostic added error & warning messages, product added error & warning messages, instrument added error & warning messages, measurement added error & warning messages, prediction added error & warning messages, drv added error & warning messages, racm added error & warning messages, data exchange added error & warning messages, o thers added 7 segment display information 3 2021 09 23 updates in general updated error & warning messages, diagnostic updated error & warning messages, drv updated error & warning messages, racm added error & warning messages, ifu added firmware update instructions updated removal and replacement of main control pcb added pcb led description in general troubleshooting added approval of replaceable parts added adjustment procedure of pipette motor replacement added a tool more in service tools 4 2022 04 13 updates in general updated factory standardization adjustment added an updated electrical diagram ft3 added removal and replacement of h stage seat added troubleshooting of poor water quality removed verification procedure (by error) eratures and regulators (pm remote) added power info in schematic of general troubleshooting driver control pcb added removal and replacement of valve v1 v10 repair kit 8 2026 03 18 general update of the manual added removal and replacement of backlight pcb for both pump 1 and pump 2 updated general troubleshooting others (backlight) added factory reset updated fault tracking tables updated removal and replacement of interferometer procedure updated preventive maintenance on site procedure updated pictures of care menu page updated tech spec power consumption 1\ important instructions 1 1 service guidelines see 6009 5107 guidelines for service engineers for general support and safety guidelines this service manual is a part of the support documentation for this product see section error! reference source not found , error! reference source not fo und , for an overview of user and service documentation 1 2 service documentation this service manual is included on the service usb memory stick (if available) which contains the complete support documentation for this product if available, the service usb memory stick also includes animations illustrating working principles, process flows, and service procedures see section 8 document references for an overview of user and service documentation 1 3 self service support the css toolbox on sharepoint ( https //fossanalytical sharepoint com/sites/css https //fossanalytical sharepoint com/sites/css tct/sitepages/home aspx) contains all available support information please visit the css toolbox regularly for the latest updates on documents and software 1 4 contacting service for additional support for support on this product, please open a ticket in the global helpdesk crm system or contact global helpdesk or +45 4820 8400 1 5 esd information parts of this instrument, e g , pcbs, are sensitive to electro static discharge (esd) all exposed components should be handled using esd protection 1 5 1 esd protection rules handle all esd sensitive parts with an esd wristband connected to earth transport all esd sensitive parts in esd protected bags or boxes check your esd protection regularly to secure its function and quality 1 5 2 available esd material from foss 6004 9720 esd kit including wrist strap fig 1 esd equipment caution functional earth the esd grounding point of the instrument can be found behind the cover plate in front of the driver control pcb (fig 2) on the rear panel with the power switch and power connector (fig 3) fig 2 functional earth connection point on front side fig 3 functional earth connection point on rear side 1 6 precautions this service manual is addressed to service personnel please read the manual carefully and act accordingly 1 6 1 safety symbols explanation of safety symbols used in this manual the symbols in this manual identify important safety information intended to prevent personal injury and equipment damage the table below shows each symbol and its meaning, such as warning, caution, and electrical hazard table 1 safety symbols safety terminology explanation of safety terms used in this manual this section defines the safety related terms used throughout the manual to ensure consistent understanding and proper application of safety instructions term description warning danger to human safety caution danger to product performance/operation note important supplementary information table 2 safety terminology 1 7 personal safety warning electrical shock hazard when the cabinet is open, hazardous 115/230 vac is present only certified personnel are permitted to ope n the cabinet door and cover switch off the mains power before working inside the cabinet whenever it is safe to do so warning corrosive hazard reagents must be handled accord ing to the material safety data sheet (msds) supplied with each reagent msds documents in local languages can be downloaded from the sales & service toolbox here avoid contact with eyes and skin, and always wear appropriate protective equipment such as safety goggles and gloves warning inhalation hazard reagents must be handled in accordance with the relevant material safety data sheet (msds) msds documents in local languages are available for download from our sharepoint toolbox here wearing protective gloves, protective clothing, and eye or face protection is mandatory warning burn hazard internal modules may reach temperatures up to 45°c (113°f) and can cause burns or injury allow components to cool before servicing warning cutting hazard use caution when removing or replacing the pump piston glass, as it may break during handling and cause cuts to fingers or hands 1 8 product safety caution anyone operating this device must read the safety manual before use caution anyone installing or servicing this device must follow the documented procedures to prevent damage to modules, components, wires, tubes, and other parts caution waste from the instrument must be handled in accordance with local regulations the composition of foss reagents is provided in the msds in local languages can be downloaded from the sharepoint too caution before working inside the instrument, any accumulated static charge on the service engineer’s body must be discharged this can be achieved by wearing a grounded antistatic wrist strap connected to the instrument’s functional earth 1 9 warranty policy warranty conditions are specified in the order confirmation, invoice, or contract with the foss representative warranty applies only when the following conditions are met 1 9 1 product handling and maintenance the product has been installed, maintained, adjusted, and calibrated according to foss documentation the instrument has been properly maintained as recommended by foss the product has not been used for purposes other than those intended by foss the product has not been altered or repaired using non original foss parts or by unauthorized personnel only original foss consumables and accessories, or equivalents recommended by foss, have been used 1 9 2 software and pc usage only software authorized by foss must be installed on any product pc any external product pc complies with foss recommendations the pc must not be used for non operational purposes (e g , playing computer games, including preinstalled games) 1 9 3 general conditions the product has not been handled in a manner contrary to ordinary practice the customer/user has followed all written instructions and documentation provided by foss 1 9 4 parts subject to wear certain components are expected to have a shorter lifetime than the instrument these parts are listed in the user manual, product software, or owner’s guide liability for worn parts is limited to cases of extraordinary wear caused by defective materials or manufacturing errors 2\ technical description 2 1 general the milkoscan™ ft3 is an ftir based electronic milk analyzer designed for the analysis of liquid dairy products, including milk, cream, and yogurt one of its major advancements over earlier generations is the removal of the need for homogenizers instead, the instrument performs multiple measurements— known as subsampling—to deliver highly representative results for particularly challenging or viscous samples, such as crème fraîche, the system automatically engages its h stage to maintain measurement accuracy and reliability 2 2 hardware descriptions fig 4 front of the main unit 1 touch screen 3 waste tube 5 h stage valve 7 back pressure valve 9 detector /cuvette 11 conductivity module 13 pump 15 clean pipette and container 17 waste funnel 19 functional earth 2 sample pipette with led 4 valves on manifold 6 pump 8 driver control pcb 10 inline filter 12 valves on manifold 14 zero pipette and container 16 preheater 18 transport lock table 3 front of the main unit fig 5 rear of the main unit 1 power switch 3 control pcb 5 ethernet swit ch (sync board) 7 de humidifier 2 mains power connector 4 id chip 6 interferometer w/ir source 8 functional earth table 4 rear of the main unit 2 2 1 main unit fig 6 software illustration 2 2 1 1 general the milkoscan™ ft3 flow system is engineered to handle more viscous and particle rich samples than previous milkoscan™ instruments because the system operates without homogenizers, it relies on subsampling, which requires rapid start and stop flow control to meet these demands and maintain analytical accuracy, the system incorporates several key design features adaptive pumping system that continuously monitors pressure during sample intake heated pipette that reduces sample viscosity immediately upon entry low hydraulic resistance, achieved through a larger diameter pipette and a minimized intake path high pressure tolerance (up to 9 bar), enabling ultrafast stop and go operation to safeguard sensitive components such as the cuvette windows made of calcium fluoride (caf₂), spaced only 50 µm apart an inline cuvette manifold filter prevents particles larger than 34 µm from entering the cuvette 2 2 1 2 touch screen/display fig 7 touch screen/display touch screen/display (fig 7) serves as the operator interface, providing quick access to essential functions such as sample analysis, zero setting, and cleaning it allows the instrument to be operated without the computer interface for routine tasks only commonly used functions are available on the touch screen; advanced operations must be performed through the computer user interface the touch screen provides access to the following options and information start or stop analysis analysis progress button product selection for analysis events, error and warning indicator zero and clean start buttons ip settings restore factory settings erase all stored ip addresses reset driver control pcb settings to default reset main control pcb settings to default restart the instrument format file system on the pcb’s in may 2025, a new touch screen spare part was introduced following the discontinuation of components used in the previous version although the old version is no longer in production, any units already in local stock may still be used all functionality remains unch note the new touch screen requires software version 9 5 0 62 or newer, available in the sharepoint tool b ox 2 2 1 3 sample pipette unit fig 8 sample pipette unit the sample pipette (fig 8) is the primary physical interface between the user and the instrument the sample pipette unit consists of the pipette, pipette head, pipette head pcb, intake tube, pipette cover, waste manifold, waste drawer, and waste cover the pipette functions as a first stage heater through a double pipe construction containing a copper wire positioned between the tubes and connected to the pipette head pcb the outer tube includes a cone shaped intake that facilitates external cleaning after sample aspiration the pipette features a bi stable tilt mechanism, allowing it to tilt approximately 35° toward the user for convenient sample cup placement it remains in this position until manually or automatically released this design reduces splashing and enhances overall usability if the user does not initiate a cleaning sequence, the instrument automatically performs a back flush of the pipette to clean the flow system if the pipette is tilted, the instrument first returns it to the vertical position to prevent splashing onto the floor the pipette also includes a multi color led, controlled by the pipette head pcb, to indicate instrument status red error state measurement not possible orange intake in progress yellow descaling measurement not possible purple cleaning measurement not possible green ready for analysis green (low) sample cleanup new sample can be placed blue zero setting the sample temperature must be between 5°c and 40°c (40°f and 104°f) 2 2 1 4 pump units fig 9 pump units the milkoscan ft3 uses two piston/syringe pumps (fig 9) driven by stepper motors each pump is connected to a manifold equipped with a second stage heater, temperature sensors, a pressure sensor, and four electrically operated valves one pump acts as a feed pump while the other receives a defined fraction of the sample volume the pumps regulate the ratio between sample flow through the cuvette and flushing the inline filter reverse flow into the cuvette is supported for particle rich samples and for routine back flushing of the inline filter a push pull operating mode between the two pumps enhances cleaning efficiency by generating foam during the cleaning cycle, improving removal of residues from both the inlet filter and the cuvette each pump consists of a glass tube housing the piston glass tubes are backlit to allow easy visual monitoring during operation and maintenance 2 2 1 5 valves fig 10 valve fig 11 valves pump manifolds each of the two pump manifolds is equipped with four electrically actuated valves (fig 11) which regulates the flow system fig 12 valves back pressure manifold manifold valves position pump manifold 1 v1 v4 v1 (right) → v4 (left) pump manifold 2 v5 v8 v5 (right ) → v8 (left) back pressure v9 v10 v9 (front) → v10 manifold (rear) table 5 valve position high pressure valve v1 v4 rated up to 32 bar, with a nominal operating pressure of up to 20 bar a built in safety function opens valve v1 if the pressure exceeds 30 bar low pressure valve v5 v10 rated up to 12 bar, with a nominal operating pressure of up to 8 bar fig 13 valves disassembled starting from instrument s/n 9193 4234, valves v1, v4, and v8 are manufactured with a built in metal foil/membrane (fig 13, left = new), to prevent corrosion by isolating the solenoid from liquid ingress valves v2, v3, v5, v6, and v7 continue to be supplied without the metal foil/membrane (fig 13, right = old) for instruments produced before s/n 9193 4234, all valves (valve v1 v10) were supplied without the metal foil/membrane (fig 13, right = old) note all new spare parts now include the metal foil/membrane for improved durability (fig 13, left = new) 2 2 1 5 1 valve repair kits fig 14 valve repair kit solenoid failures are uncommon; most valve related issues arise from membrane defects or wear in the tipping mechanism solenoid failures are uncommon; most valve related issues arise from membrane defects or wear in the tipping mechanism (fig 14) consisting of the lower part of the valve, including the membrane and the housing for the tipping mechanism two kits are available high pressure kit for valves v1 v4 (rated up to 32 bar) low pressure kit for valves v5 v10 (rated up to 12 bar) these kits offer a cost effective way to extend valve service life and reduce instrument downtime 2 2 1 6 back pressure valve fig 15 back pressure valve the back pressure valve (fig 15) maintains a stable positive pressure in the system to ensure a consistent light path and prevent air bubbles from forming in the cuvette air bubbles can scatter infrared (ir) energy passing through the sample, resulting in inconsistent measurements on the milkoscan™ ft3, the back pressure valve is driven by a stepper motor, enabling electronic verification of backpressure during every zero setting when required, the system automatically adjusts the pressure to maintain optimal operating conditions the stepper motor also fully opens the valve whenever no sample is being measured, allowing a flushing sequence that cleans the valve and membrane for reliable performance two low pressure valves v9 and v10 are located upstream of the back pressure valve valve v10 opens to allow liquids to bypass the back pressure valve valve v9 opens to direct liquids through the back pressure valve only one of these valves is open at any given time, although both may be closed simultaneously 2 2 1 7 h stage fig 16 h stage the purpose of the h stage (fig 16) is to homogenize large fat droplets found in challenging products, such as crème fraiche the h stage uses a traditional ball and seat homogenizer design, but in this system it is motorized with a stepper motor this enables the pressure to be set and automatically adjusted for effective homogenization at much lower sample pressures than those required by the ft1 and ft2 models the h stage is configured in the product configuration for specific products and is activated only when those products are measured at all other times, the h stage is bypassed when no sample is being analyzed, the stepper motor fully opens the h stage to flush the ball and seat assembly, ensuring it remains clean since may 2025, the inner housing/pressure housing and h stage mechanics have been updated to a new design externally, the old and new h stages appear identical except for the part number (p/n) label, as the changes relate primarily to internal tolerances however, the difference in the inner housing/pressure housing is noticeable fig 17 inner housing/ pressure housing (left = old; right = new) the old version (fig 17, left) the previous design was made of peek material, with the homogenizer (fig 17, pos 1) and ruby ball (fig 17, pos 2) pressed into position due to the tight tolerances, any slight misalignment in the h stage mechanics could force the homogenizer out of position, causing it to jam during operation the new version (fig 17, right) the updated design is made of metal and still uses the same pressed in homogenizer with the ruby ball (fig 17, pos 2) a nut (fig 17, pos 3) tightened to a specified torque, has been added to prevent the h stage mechanics from displacing the homogenizer this nut is factory set and must not be adjusted note since the new pressure housing (fig 17, right) has an expected lifetime >2 years, the pressure housing has been removed from the pm kit since january 2026 2 2 1 8 sample heater (preheater) fig 18 sample heater (preheater) the sample heater (preheater) (fig 18) serves as the third stage of sample heating its function is to raise the sample temperature to the measuring level of 42 °c ± 1 °c (107 °f ± 2 °f) before the sample enters the cuvette 2 2 1 9 cuvette fig 19 cuvette see description in 2 2 2 7 sample cell (cuvette) 2 2 1 10 detector fig 20 detector see description in 2 2 2 8 ir detector 2 2 1 11 inline filter fig 21 inline filter the purpose of the inline filter (fig 21a, old short version) (fig 21b, new extended version) is to prevent particles larger than 34 µm from entering the cuvette the filter is user removable and can be rinsed under running water; in some cases, a brush may be needed to remove particles adhering to the filter surface the milkoscan™ ft3 instrument performs thorough internal cleaning of both the system and the inline filter, so routine manual cleaning by the customer is generally unnecessary external cleaning should only be performed when the diagnostic system detects a blockage and instructs the user to clean the filter a similar inline filter with a 25 µm mesh has also been introduced when analyzing multiple samples of cocoa milk, the standard filter may clog more quickly due to the high fiber content, which can be difficult to remove the finer mesh version helps prevent fibers from becoming trapped in the filter 2 2 1 12 conductivity sensor (optional) fig 22 conductivity sensor the purpose of the conductivity sensor (fig 22) is to measure (or estimate) the freezing point depression of the liquid by determining its electrical conductance the sensor consists of a series of metal discs (electrodes) arranged in sequence, through which the liquid flows the spaces between the electrodes are made of insulating material an electrical current is applied between two excitation electrodes, maintaining a constant voltage at two sensing electrodes the resulting current is therefore proportional to the liquid’s conductivity the conductivity sensor is calibrated using the clean liquid, meaning it is recalibrated automatically every time the instrument undergoes a cleaning cycle if the instrument is purchased without the conductivity sensor, an easy upgrade option is available (see chapter 3 6 64 upgrade ft3 with conductivity sensor) the necessary cabling is already installed, and the connector for the sensor is located behind a cover similarly, if the instrument was purchased with the sensor, it can be easily removed (see chapter 3 6 65 downgrade ft3 without conductivity sensor) 2 2 1 13 zero pipette unit and zero container fig 23 zero pipette unit and zero container the zero pipette unit (fig 23, left) serves as the input mechanism for transferring the zero reagent from the zero container (fig 23, right) to the pump 1 module the reagent is drawn into pump 1 when the pump is activated and valve v3 is opened the pipette features a double pipe construction with a copper wire positioned between the pipes, functioning as a heater and directly connected to the pipette head pcb the outer tube incorporates a cone shaped intake to facilitate cleaning a liquid sensor (conductivity based) (fig 23, left, pos 1) detects the presence of liquid beneath the pipette and verifies whether the liquid is the correct zero solution if the solution does not match specifications, a warning is triggered the container lid includes a colored led that emits blue light into the container for visual indication additionally, the pipette is spring loaded to maintain a vertical position during operation 2 2 1 14 clean pipette unit and clean container fig 24 clean pipette unit and clean container the clean pipette unit (fig 24, left) serves as the input mechanism for transferring the clean reagent from the clean container (fig 24, right) to the pump 1 and/or pump 2 modules the reagent is drawn into pump 1 or pump 2 when the respective pump is activated and the corresponding valve (valve v4 or v8) is opened the pipette features a double pipe construction with a copper wire positioned between the pipes, functioning as a heater and directly connected to the pipette head pcb the outer tube incorporates a cone shaped intake to facilitate cleaning the liquid sensor (conductivity based) (fig 24, left, pos 1) detects the presence of liquid beneath the pipette and verifies whether the liquid is the correct clean solution if the solution does not meet specifications, a warning is triggered the container lid includes a colored led that emits purple light into the container for visual indication additionally, the pipette is spring loaded to maintain a vertical position during operation 2 2 1 15 interferometer (ifu) fig 25 interferometer (ifu) see description in 2 2 2 measuring system/ifu theory 2 2 2 measuring system/ifu theory 2 2 2 1 general the interferometer (ifu) in the milkoscan™ft3 generates interferograms of the sample contained in the cuvette to predict results, these interferograms are processed using ftir (fast fourier transform – infrared) algorithms, which convert the interferograms into full single beam spectra these spectra cover the infrared wavelength range from approximately 2 µm to 11 µm fourier transformation, named after joseph fourier (1768–1830), is a mathematical technique that, in simple terms, decomposes a function such as an interferogram into a continuous spectrum of its frequency components this process enables the analysis of complex signals by representing them as a sum of simpler sinusoidal functions a single beam spectrum can be described as a curve representing the energy level at each wavelength within the measured range in other words, it shows how much energy is absorbed by the sample’s constituents at any given wavelength 2 2 2 2 the interferometer system the interferometer in the milkoscan™ft3 is a michelson type interferometer albert abraham michelson invented the michelson interferometer—the most widely used configuration in optical interferometry around 1880 this design creates an interference pattern by splitting a beam of light into two paths, reflecting the beams back, and then recombining them fig 26 interferometer the interferometer must be maintained at a constant temperature of approximately 40 °c (104 °f) and low humidity to achieve a stable operating environment, the system uses a 10 mm foam cover on the thermo box for insulation an integrated heating/cooling system combined with a heat sink and a thermoelectric heater/cooler (peltier element) for precise temperature control an electronic dehumidifier mounted inside the thermo box to regulate humidity 2 2 2 3 ir source fig 27 ir source the ir source module is installed in the source housing, which is mounted on the side of the ifu in case of failure, only the ir source module needs to be replaced the ir source uses a pig tail filament that heats to approximately 800 °c (1472 °f), emitting radiation across wavelengths from 0 7 µm to 50 µm while the ir source appears as a red hot glowing body, the emitted radiation is invisible to the eye but can be felt as heat the source operates at 24 v with a current of about 0 4 a, resulting in a power output of approximately 9 4 w a non adjustable off axis parabolic mirror is used to collimate the light before it enters the interferometer 2 2 2 4 beam splitter the beam splitter is a specialized, gold coated optical component that reflects approximately 50% of the incoming beam’s energy while transmitting the remaining 50%, thereby creating two beams of identical wavelength and phase within the interferometer, two types of beams are used the ir beam and the laser beam each of these beams is divided into two by the beam splitter interference and thus the formation of an interferogram occurs only when the two ir beams or the two laser beams recombine and overlap precisely on their respective detectors the beam splitter is an integrated internal part of the ifu and is non replaceable in the event of a defect, the entire interferometer must be replaced 2 2 2 5 fixed mirror the piezoelectric effect, discovered around 1880, derives its name from the greek word piezein, meaning “to squeeze” or “apply pressure ” when mechanical pressure is applied to a crystal, its shape or size changes, and as a result, a voltage can be measured across the crystal conversely, when a voltage is applied to the crystal, it undergoes a slight deformation although the dimensional change is in the nanometer range, it can generate extremely strong forces the piezoelectric effect is observed in many types of crystals and is widely used in precision positioning and actuation systems the fixed mirror is mounted on three piezoelectric elements, which can change height by a few microns when a voltage of ±150 v is applied when the piezo elements are not powered, the mirror returns to its mid position at the factory, the fixed mirror mechanism is first manually adjusted to achieve an adequate (maximum) ir signal (peak to peak) then, by applying a specific voltage pattern to the piezo elements, the system fine tunes the mirror position to optimize the ir signal when power is removed, the piezo elements revert to their original size; however, a memory function reapplies the same voltage pattern to restore the adjusted position, when power again is available this voltage application occurs every time the milkoscan™ft3 is powered up and a measurement is initiated the fixed mirror is an integrated internal part of the ifu and is non replaceable in case of a defect, the entire interferometer must be replaced 2 2 2 6 linear motor/moving mirror the linear motor moves the moving mirror back and forth at a uniform speed this speed is digitally controlled and regulated based on zero crossing pulses from the laser interferogram full travel from end stop to end stop, the mirror moves approximately 1 9 mm in about 3 seconds, corresponding to roughly 9,000 zero crossing pulses these values vary slightly between ifus due to mechanical differences measurement mode the mirror travels 2,300 zero pulses, equivalent to 0 49 mm over 0 177 seconds during each travel, the moving mirror passes a point where the distance to the beam splitter equals the distance from the beam splitter to the fixed mirror (distance “a” = distance “b” in fig 26) at this position, all wavelengths reaching the detectors have traveled the same distance and are therefore in phase this results in maximum signal output the interferometer is mounted on shock absorbing supports to prevent minor vibrations from disturbing the mirror’s uniform motion the linear motor is an integrated internal part of the ifu and is non replaceable in case of failure, the entire interferometer must be replaced 2 2 2 7 sample cell (cuvette) fig 28 cuvette the construction of the cuvette (fig 28), manifold, and inlet filter (fig 21), is designed to ensure that filtering occurs as close as possible to the cuvette the sample is measured by ir transmission in a calcium fluoride (caf2) cell with a 50 µm path length, the cuvette referred to as the cuvette the inlet filter is positioned inside the cuvette manifold, directly at the inlet to the measuring cell the cuvette manifold and therefore the cuvette is temperature controlled to a set point of 42°c ±1° (108°f±2°) temperature regulation is managed by the detector pcb the standardization method used in milkoscan™ft1 and ft2, which compensated for cuvette glass wear, is replaced in milkoscan™ft3 by a prediction algorithm that estimates path length changes during zero setting before the cuvette reaches its maximum allowable wear, a warning message is displayed to the operator the cuvette cannot be disassembled for repair; once worn, it must be replaced 2 2 2 8 ir detector fig 29 detector the ir detector (fig 29) functions as a highly sensitive thermometer in practical terms, the ir energy within the ifu can be considered heat energy during a sample scan, the detector records the energy (temperature) distribution across the ir beam’s wavelength range at specific wavelengths, sample constituents such as fat, lactose, snf, protein, and others absorb energy, altering the energy pattern across the spectrum these changes are captured by the ir detector and reflected in the sample’s interferogram using fast fourier transformation and calibration algorithms, these variations are quantified and displayed as parameters such as % fat, % protein, etc because the detector operates as a sensitive thermometer, it is also affected by ambient temperature fluctuations to ensure stability, the ir detector is temperature controlled via a heating plate integrated into the detector pcb 2 2 2 8 1 ir interferogram fig 30 ir interferogram the ir interferogram (fig 30) is generated from the ir signal that has passed through the sample in the cuvette at their respective wavelengths, the sample’s constituents absorb energy in proportion to their concentration consequently, the ir signal and thus the interferogram contains information about the concentration of each constituent in the sample a laser is a device that produces light or other electromagnetic radiation with unique properties through quantum mechanical effects the term laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation radiation from an ideal laser exhibits three distinctive characteristics single wavelength it emits light at one specific wavelength directional beam all waves propagate in precisely the same direction, forming a thin straight beam rather than a cone shaped one phase coherence all waves travel in phase with each other 2 2 2 9 laser diode the laser diode emits a beam with a wavelength of approximately 850 nm although this wavelength is temperature sensitive, the system regulates the linear motor speed so that the laser interferogram frequency remains constant at 1200 hz since 850 nm is outside the visible range for the human eye, special instruments are required for laser beam alignment the laser diode is non adjustable and non replaceable in case of failure, the entire interferometer must be replaced 2 2 2 10 laser detector the laser detector is mounted on the same pcb that also houses the laser diode, pre amplifier, interface, pre amplifier for the linear motor, piezo interface for fixed mirror adjustment, and the temperature sensor the laser signal, or laser interferogram, is a 1200 hz sine wave it is used to monitor the movement of the linear motor and to trigger the a/d converter, which converts the ir interferogram into digital values the laser detector is non replaceable in case of failure, the entire interferometer must be replaced