1. Is data processing in the spectrometer necessary?

  This is the case when processing results are required quickly eg. at melting plants where a comparison with the “Steel Key” specifications or similar is necessary, where charge correction calculations have to be used, where data have to be transmitted to the process control computer, or the proportions of impurities have to be calculated by means of a formula. There are functions which can be initiated and carried out automatically on completion of the measuring process, without any appreciable increase in the total time required.

2. Should analyses be stored?

  It is not always necessary to store analysis data. Frequently  “rough “  analyses are produced which have to undergo data processing, which is carried out directly after the measuring process. In such cases, storage is frequently not sensible. On the other hand, when producing components entailing requirements with respect to safety or attestation, there is a legal prescription for data to be preserved. In this case an automatic storage system should be used. In addition, depending on the analysis rate, the required storage volume must be devised.

3. When should analyses be stored on an external computer ?

  Spectrometers frequently have free storage capacity on their system computer which can also be used for PADP application. In this case it must be borne in mind that simultaneous working is only possible in one application: either samples are measured, or statistical evaluations are run, works certificates printed, etc. Combined working is only possible on the spectrometer computer if appropriate free time is available in which no samples are being measured. An empirical value of about 30 samples per day can be taken as an empirical value for the limit here. Beyond this limit, the analyses should be transferred to an external computer for further processing. Data transfer to an external computer should be transferred to an external computer should always be considered, particularly because of falling computer prices. The spectrometer is then always ready for analyses.