FTA188 Contact Angle and Surface Tension Analyzer

Instrument Chassis

The FTA188 uses a classical horizontal optical bench design. A precision microscope provides a 6mm horizontal field of view. A rack-and-pinion stage focuses the microscope. The microscope and camera ride on a unique pivoting stage that quickly and easily sets the viewing angle anywhere from horizontal to 6 degrees look-down. This is useful for looking across large samples.

An array of very bright LEDs provide backlighting with high uniformity across the field of view.

​

Sample positioning is afforded by an X-Y-Z rack-and-pinion stage. Samples on this stage can be up to 150mm across and 25mm thick. The mechanical design leaves the entire right side of the instrument open. This allows very large samples to be handled with optional stages and it provides unparalled access to the measurement region. The operator can always clearly see the drop.

Liquid dispense is provided by Gilmont manually operated micrometer syringes. This syringe snaps into place on a rack-and-pinion Z stage to set the exact height of the dispense tip and to touch off sessile drops for contact angle analysis. Holders are provided for two spare syringes so the user can have pre-loaded liquids for a full three-liquid Lewis acid/base analysis. The micrometer syringe provides precise dispense volumes to a practical resolution of 1ul.

​

All sample stage, chamber, and pumping accessories of the FTA200 can be fitted to the FTA188. The one capability excluded is the zoom microscope of the FTA200. A special adaptor mounts to the FTA188 vertical surface plate to mount FTA200 chambers and pumps. Specimen stages directly bolt to the baseplate as the hole patterns are the same.