What to Pack in Your Portable Spectrometers

Jan 21, 2021 Over the past two decades, laboratory instrumentation has migrated into the field, enabling many analyses to be carried out on-site. Designing spectrometers for field use requires careful planning and design throughout the product development process. Subjects for consideration include requirements management, computational needs, and system power, size, and weight. Portable spectrometers often require robust designs for use in vibration-prone or hazardous environments. These conditions present issues related to mechanical stability, sealing, materials, and temperature control. Terry Sauer addresses useful techniques for approaching these challenges.

***This presentation premiered during the 2021 Photonics Spectra Conference Spectroscopy track. For information on upcoming Photonics Media events, see our event calendar here.

About the presenter
Terry Sauer is the President of Presco Engineering. He has spent his 30+ year career developing analytical instrumentation. Working at a range of companies including IBM, Spectra-Tech, Mettler-Toledo, SensIR Technologies, and Smiths Detection, Terry has experience in software development, systems design, project management, and process development. He has worked on optical, mass and ion mobility spectrometers, gas and liquid chromatographs and in industries from pharmaceuticals to homeland security. He is the author of a chapter on the systems engineering of miniature spectrometers in a forthcoming book.