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Common
Questions About . . .
• Standard Pumps
• Warranty and Returns
• Syringes, Seals and Valves
• Performance (Accuracy and Precision)
• Manufacturing and Quality Practices
• Application Questions
• AP/APV
• BP/BPV
Standard
Pumps from TriContinent
What
is different about Standard Pumps from TriContinent?
The Standard Pump family has been specially developed to meet
the needs of instrument manufacturers who are looking for
low-cost liquid handling components in smaller volumes. We
have taken the features most often requested by our customers
and created simple-to-integrate modules. By eliminating little-used
options and building specific products in volume, TriContinent
is able to pass significant savings to our customers.
A Standard
Pump is almost what I need. Can I get a custom product for
my specific application?
We offer both modified and custom pumps to meet specific needs.
To find out more, please e-mail www.tricontinent.com or call
us at 530-273-8888 or 1-800-937-4738. If you have a question
that our engineering department can answer, please use our
Engineering QuickLink to speak directly to one of our pump
engineers.
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Warranty
and Returns
What
is the Warranty?
All Standard Pumps carry an industry leading 2-year warranty,
unless otherwise noted. Their simple and robust design has
proven to be reliable over many years of service.
How
do I return something for repair or replacement?
Simply call your TriContinent Customer Service Representative
at 530-273-8888 or 1-800-937-4738. You will be issued an RMA
number (Returned Material Authorization). You will be asked
for information about the part to be returned: serial number
(if appropriate), catalog number (if known), part description,
reason for return, cause of failure (if known). The
RMA number must be clearly marked on the outside of the package
when received by TriContinent.
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Syringes,
Seals and Valves
What
is the syringe made of?
The syringe barrel is borosilicate glass (the industry standard),
and the seal is virgin PTFE. Syringe adapters are molded polypropylene.
What
is a valve made of?
The three-way valves used in our Standard Pump line have a
polycarbonate body with a high-density polyethylene core.
Nylon valves are also available.
How
long will a syringe, seal, or valve last?
The glass syringe barrel should never need to be replaced
unless broken or contaminated. The life of the seal depends
largely on the application and routine maintenance. With aqueous,
non-aggressive liquids and regular maintenance, a Standard
Pump seal will last, on average, 250,000 cycles. Valves will
last, on average, 1,000,000 cycles in a chemically compatible
application. (For more information see "About Syringe Seals.")
How
are liquid compatibilities verified?
First, it is imperative to check that your liquids are compatible
with the wetted surfaces of your system.
Second,
hard particulate matter in liquids can cause scoring of seals
and valves. Saline buffers are very common and work quite
well UNLESS you allow the liquid path to dry out without rinsing.
The saline crystals left behind can significantly shorten
seal and valve life.
If the
liquids you are running have particulate matter, either filter
the liquid or anticipate frequent seal or valve replacement.
What
size syringe should I use?
Please refer to "Selecting Syringes," "Syringe Graphs," "Accuracy
and Precision," and "Optimizing Pump Performance."
What
is the stroke length of syringes?
The short stroke syringes (1000 steps of travel) have a working
stroke length of 0.6560" (16.7 mm). The long stroke syringes
(2000 steps of travel) have a working stroke length of 1.3120"
(33.3 mm). Each step of travel is .000656" (.02 mm).
Can
the Standard Pump syringes be autoclaved?
Our Standard Pump syringes cannot be autoclaved. If this is
a desired feature, please contact TriContinent about a custom
pump syringe.
Are
the syringes, seals, or valves covered by any warranty?
These items are normal replacement items and, as such, are
not covered by any warranty.
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Performance
(Accuracy and Precision)
Will
the performance of the pump in my application be the same
as Standard Pump accuracy and precision?
This data was collected under controlled conditions. The tubing
and probes were selected for each syringe to provide optimum
results over the entire range of volume. Speeds and protocols
were also developed to maximize performance curves, not throughput.
Typically,
these pumps are utilized in functions with very specific liquid
handling needs. They normally do not operate over the full
volume range. When tubing, probes, and protocols are properly
tailored to a specific need, the results are often as good
or better than shown on tables. However, if the wrong tubing,
probes, speeds and/or protocols are employed, results can
be markedly worse. Careful attention must be paid to these
areas. See "Accuracy and Precision" for more detail.
The
documentation states a universal specification for accuracy
and precision of 1% @ 100 steps of travel. Can we be sure
that all syringes meet this specification?
The accuracy and precision of syringes and/or pump mechanisms
are determined through design specifications, process control,
and mechanical inspection. We inspect the I.D. of our glass
barrels using Deltronic gage pins (.0001 resolution) and/or
bore air gages. Pump mechanisms are tested functionally to
assure accurate and repeatable step positions.
Manufacturing
and Quality Practices
How
do I know I am getting a quality pump?
TriContinent verifies electronic, mechanical, and fluidic
functions (as applicable) on all pump products prior to shipping
to ensure these products meet or exceed the specifications
listed herein. Compliance of Standard Pump products is achieved
through adherence to the Quality System prescribed by the
ISO 13585 standard.
Can
performance and accuracy be adjusted?
No. Standard Pumps are designed and manufactured to provide
stated performance the first time and every time. Should there
be any deviation, it is likely due to leaks, programming,
or improper liquid path design.
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Application
Questions
What
is the viscosity range of liquids that I can use?
These products were designed to operate with aqueous solutions,
but have been successfully used in applications using liquids
of <100 centipoise (light machine oil). There are many
factors, such as speed, tubing diameter, volume, etc. that
will affect each application.
Can
I build my own diluter?
Yes. By using the AP/APV modules and PCBAs, you will simply
need to add your own case and controller.
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AP/APV
What
syringe speeds can I use?
The nominal operation range of the AP/APV is between 10 SPS
(steps per second) and 500 SPS. It has been determined that
the combination of electronics/mechanics/fluidics employed
in the AP/APV performs best within this range. The total programmable
range of speeds is 10 SPS through 1270 SPS; however, performance
above 500 SPS is neither tested nor covered by the warranty.
Users must be very careful if selecting speeds above the 500
SPS threshold to prevent excessive backpressures and syringe
stalling.
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BP/BPV
The BP/BPV
modules employ user-defined motor drivers. As such, proper
and optimum operating speeds must be determined by the user.
Do
I need to provide any cooling for the Standard Pump modules?
TriContinent Standard Pumps are designed to operate at 10º
to 40º C. With TriContinent drivers and electronics,
no additional cooling is generally required.
Users
of BP or BPV should be aware that the motor is rated for use
to 100º C and should be especially cautious if using
slow speeds and/or high-current drivers. If the temperature
will exceed these levels, external cooling should be used
or damage can occur.
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