New automatic sample preparation system improves product quality

The new Centaurus automatic sample preparation system combines laboratory mill and press functions in a compact, easy-to-operate unit. After rigorous testing at FLSmidth Pfaff aqs and FLSmidth Automation, the Centaurus came to market in 2008. And now the first units are simplifying the sample preparation process for customers in the cement, mineral and metal industries.

Automated quality control systems help improve the product quality in industrial processes. FLSmidth Pfaff aqs, together with FLSmidth Automation, have taken product quality one step further with the Centaurus sample preparation machine. The fully automatic Centaurus produces test tablets from granular materials such as raw meal, clinker, cement, ore, slag, mine exploration samples and clinker for XRF and XRD analysis.

Housing a sample dosing device, an automatic fine-grinding mill and an automatic pelletising press in a soundproof 1m2 unit, the Centaurus fits seamlessly into new or existing production laboratory set-ups. Designed to function as a stand-alone system or for integration with linear or robot automation systems, such as the FLSmidth Automation QCX/RoboLab, the Centaurus can automatically feed samples directly to any X-ray analyser.

How it works
What’s unique about the Centaurus is that it can grind sample material without pressing it, or press sample material without grinding it. Before the grinding and pressing stage, the sample material type is identified via the operator terminal, or the interface of a supervisory quality control system such as the QCX/RoboLab. The preparation method is then selected and the sample preparation process, which is fully automatic, begins:

• The sample material, which is manually or automatically introduced, is dosed
• Grinding aid pellets are dispensed
• The sample is ground and/or pressed
• Interior component surfaces that have been in contact with the sample material are cleaned
• Excessive dust is removed from the steel ring samples
• The sample is vacuum-checked to ensure correct preparation.

After the sample preparation process is complete, the processed sample is automatically transported to the analysis device via a conveyor belt, or made available via a ring output. After analysis, the steel ring is returned for automatic cleaning and recycling.

Operating under typical cement sample preparation parameters, the Centaurus can prepare approximately eight samples per hour and can process material with a maximum particle size of six millimetres.

For further details on the Centaurus automatic sample preparation system, please visit www.flsmidth.com and go to FLSmidth Sites – Cement – Pfaff aqs.

Related links:
Go to FLSmidth Automation