Maximum precision and excellent lifetime in mass spectrometry

This high-precision sample manipulator has been specially developed for highly sensitive analyses in mass spectrometry with the best possible lifetime. For a material testing, this manipulator reaches even the smallest samples on one arm into a vacuum chamber and prepares them there with the laser. The sample moves in the plane by a few millimeters and inspects it with high precision in the submicrometer range.

Ultra-precise analysis of smallest samples

To position the actuators outside the vacuum chamber, the sample arm is surrounded by a metal bellows. This flexible bellows is displaced by the drives outside the chamber.A purely linear movement in two directions was not possible due to the low flexibility of the metal bellows in transverse direction. Instead, a linear movement and a rotation around a pivot point 100 mm away from the sample were combined with a solid state joint.Both directions of movement are driven by stepper motors which act on sliding screw drives. The backlash of the ground sliding threads is largely suppressed by means of global spring preload.

Individual extensions and customizations

Engineering services include the fitting of the systems to your structure and the desired controlls. Furthermore, we develop prototypes and like to adapt the systems to the environmental requirements of your application particle emission, radiation, temperature, precision special parts manufacturing, working height, collision protection, safety concept, compensation factor and filter, sensor mounting, brake, decoupling, special lubrication, special colors, holders, adapters, special motors with pharmaceutical approval, comprehensive documentation, test protocoll, llife cycle tests

Applications with exceptionally high sample complexity

This high-precision sample manipulator can be easily combined with existing systems, resulting in a wide range of applications, such as

• Identification of biomolecules e.g. proteins and peptides, oligonucleotides or oligosaccharides
• Analysis of active substances, e.g. drugs, medicines, doping substances, cosmetics or chemicals in the organism
• Examination of tissue sections and tumor spread
• Age and origin analysis
• Identification and quantification of components in complex mixtures such as environmental contaminants
• Inspection of the precision of circuits in the semiconductor industry
• Explosives detection on clothing and luggage at airports and for other security systems