2 Description of the Refractometer

The RM40 / RM50 refractometers measure the refractive index nD of liquids. The two instruments differ in mea­
suring precision. Both instruments:
● measure liquids whose refractive indices range respectively from 1.3200 to 1.7000 (RM40) and to
1.58000 (RM50).
● require only minimal sample quantities for measurements (0.5 mL),
● maintain the temperature of the sample constant with the aid of a built-in Peltier thermostat in a range from
5 to 100 °C (RM40) and 5 to 75 °C (RM40).
● directly indicate the sugar content of samples in various sugar units (Brix, invert sugar, HFCS42 or
HFCS55)
● calculate the concentration of a solution by means of data from measured standard solutions, literature
tables or formulas
● are equipped with an integrated test function that enables regular testing of the accuracy of the measure­
ment,
● enable checking of the product-related specification limits and generate rolling statistics.

The samples can be introduced manually with a syringe. For the optimal use of the RM refractometers, the fol­
lowing pumps and sample changers are available:
● A peristaltic pump (FillPal):
For the automatic filling, emptying and rinsing of the cell.
● The autosampler InMotion™
The autosampler for a completely automatic measurement of up to 303 aqueous, low viscous samples in
series.
● The automatic sample and cleaning unit (SC1):
for fully automated measurements of free-flowing and viscous samples. The system automatically cleans
and dries itself on completion of a measurement so that it is ready for the next measurement.
● The sample changer (SC30):
The SC30 sample changer for the completely automatic measurement of up to 30 samples in series.
The following devices can be connected:
● Computer for operation under LabX
● External measuring cells:
• METTLER TOLEDO DX40, DX45 or DX50 density - modules
• METTLER TOLEDO RX40 or RX50 refractive index - modules
● Barcode reader for scanning sample data, set values of certified standards and for starting measurements
● finger print reader for user identification
● Compact printer (USB-P25), to print out results
● External instruments:
• METTLER TOLEDO S20 – SevenEasy™ pH
• METTLER TOLEDO S30 – SevenEasy™ Conductivity
• METTLER TOLEDO S220 - SevenCompact™ pH/Ion
• METTLER TOLEDO S230 - SevenCompact™ Conductivity
• Lovibond colorimeters PFX880 / PFXi880, PFX950 / PFXi950 and PFX995 / PFXi995 series, Tintometer
• Minolta colorimeters CM-5 / CR-5
● USB stick
● External sensors:
• ErgoSens – Infrared movement sensor for the automatic start of measurements
• LevelSens – Level sensor for waste bottle
• AtmoSens – Air pressure sensor for measuring air pressure and taking the latter into account in adjust­
ments and tests with air.

Special features of the refractometer:

8 Description of the Refractometer

● A maintenance-free LED is used as a light source for the measurements.
● The measuring prism is made of sapphire. It is therefore extremely corrosion resistance and very robust. It
also has a high thermal conductivity.
● For temperature measurement, NTC thermistors with extreme long-term stability are used. This means that
there is no need to regularly readjust the measuring cell.

Description of the Refractometer 9

 3 Principles of Refractometry
3.1 Definition of the Refractive Index
The refractive index of a substance is the ratio of the speed of a light beam in a vacuum to its speed in the sub­
stance (dimensionless).
n1 If a light beam crosses at a certain angle from an optically less
dense to an optically denser medium (e.g. from air to water), it
is deflected; when the beam crosses from one medium to
another perpendicularly no directional change takes place.
According to Snell's law, the ratio of the refractive index of the
two media is proportional to the ratio of the incident and refrac­
tive angle of the light beam:

n1 β
= sin
n2 sin α

n2

If a light beam passes from an optically denser to a less dense

medium, it is also deflected. If the angle of incidence α is
increased, then it reaches a critical value, at which the light
beam no longer enters the less dense medium (refractive angle
β = 90°). When this "critical angle" is exceeded, total internal
reflection occurs. The refractive index is calculated from this
critical angle α :
β = 90o —> sin β = 1
1 2 1: Critical angle
2: Total internal reflection

As refraction depends on the wavelength of the incident light, the refractive index n is measured as standard
with the D line of sodium (wavelength 589.3 nm) and designated nD.
The refractive index not only depends on the wavelength of the light but also on the temperature of the mea­
sured sample. For this reason the temperature must always be stated along with the result, e.g. nD25.
The standard temperature is 20 °C.

3.2 Method of Measurement

3 The light emitted from the light source passes through the
prism and hits the sample. In the process it is partly refracted
(angle of incidence < critical angle) and partly reflected (angle
2 of incidence > critical angle).
The reflected light is measured by means of an optical sensor
(CCD). The boundary between the dark and light area corre­
sponds to the critical angle required for calculation of the
1
refractive index.
4 1: Light source
2: Prism
3: Sample
4: Optical sensor (CCD)

3.3 Design of Measuring Cell

The light source is a light-emitting diode (LED), whose beam passes through a polarization filter, an interfer­
ence filter (589.3 nm) and various lenses before it reaches the sample via the sapphire prism. The reflected
light (angle of incidence > critical angle) is deflected via a lens to the optical sensor that determines the critical
angle. The temperature in the prism/sample boundary is measured with a built-in sensor.

10 Principles of Refractometry
1: Light source
2: Polarization filter
3: Interference filter
4: Lens
5: Lens
6: Prism
7: Lens
8: Measuring cell
9: Optical sensor (CCD)

Principles of Refractometry 11
 4 Description of Functions
4.1 Layout of the Terminal
The control panel of the terminal consists of an integrated touchscreen and the following buttons, located next
to the touch-sensitive surface of the display: You can press these buttons any time, regardless of which dialog
you are currently using.
● Two Home buttons that bring you back to the Homescreen.
● Info, opens the info screen that shows the data related to the specific device.
● Reset that interrupts the ongoing task and processing of the pending tasks. To continue the waiting tasks,
open the task list (with the Tasks button) and click Resume.

4.2 Operating the Touchscreen

The touchscreen is automatically activated when the instrument is switched on.
To select a button or an input element in the dialog window, you simply touch the screen using a soft blunt
object or a fingertip.
It is also possible to select input elements using a USB mouse. To do this, simply connect the mouse to a suit­
able USB port on the instrument.
Never touch the surface of the touchscreen with pointed or sharp objects! This may damage the screen!

4.3 Homescreen
Home is the first screen that is displayed when you start up the instrument or when you log in. Home is the
main screen. On the left-hand side of the screen you will see five buttons that lead to the following dialog win­
dows:
● Methods / Products: The button leads you to the method or product editor, in which you can create and
administer the methods or products (see "Methods and Products").
● Series: In this dialog, you can create and manage series of individual samples, e.g. for using a sample
changer (see "Series").
● Results: Here you administer the results of your analyses (see "Results and Statistics").
● Setup: You can administer the following points here:
• Adjustment and test sets
• The hardware and all resources used by the instrument
• User and global settings
• Tables (internal and user defined) and auxiliary values
• Maintenance and service of the instrument
● Manual: This button takes you to manual operations.

In addition, there is another area that can be configured individually by each user (with the necessary autho­
rization). Each user can store up to eight shortcuts here. With these shortcuts, defined methods, products,
series and manual operations can be started directly from the homescreen (see "Functional Description"): The
user interface > Shortcuts").
● Standby display: The standby display continuously shows the current cell temperature (Tcell) and set tem­
perature (Tset), even if no task is running.
Via the standby display in the Homescreen you open the Cell data dialog.
● By pressing the home button on the control panel of the terminal, you return to Home.

See also
● Methods and Products (page 36)
● Series (page 60)
● Results and Statistics (page 62)
● Shortcuts (page 14)

12 Description of Functions
4.4 The User Interface
The graphical user interface consists of the following five basic elements:
● The title bar at the top of the display specifies the name of the current dialog.
● In the top right-hand corner you will see Tasks button, which signals the presence of ongoing processes
(see "Tasks and online screen: Tasks (page 73)").
● The navigation bar, located below the title bar, specifies the path to the current dialog.
● The scroll bar on the right-hand side of the screen becomes visible if the content of the screen extends
beyond the viewable area. If this occurs, use either the arrows or the area in between them to move the
viewable area of the screen up or down.
● Five buttons are located at the bottom of the screen. The function of these buttons varies and depends on
the context of the current dialog.

4.4.1 Entering Data in the User Interface.

There are different types of input fields in the user interface. They allow you to enter data or select data from a
list. Input fields can also be deactivated and their contents are then displayed as information only and cannot
be changed in the corresponding dialog.
The various types of input fields are identified by an icon to the right of the screen:

Text input fields A In these fields text can be freely entered.

BC

T
Number input fields 1 Numbers can be entered in these fields.
23

T
Drop-down lists Selecting these fields opens a drop-down list from which you can
select an entry.

T
List fields Selecting these fields opens a menu list in a new window.

T
Parameter field Selecting these fields opens a new dialog with various additional para­
meters.

T
Formula fields Freely definable formulas can be entered in these fields

T
Info field The values in deactivated input fields are displayed as information only
i and cannot be edited in the corresponding dialog.

In addition to the input fields there are checkboxes that can be checked in order to select certain functionalities.
Checkboxes can affect the scope of the corresponding dialog, i.e. input fields can be hidden or visible depend­
ing on whether the checkbox is checked.

Description of Functions 13
 Sorting lists
There are lists that can be sorted alphabetically or numerically by column in ascending or descending order. To
do this, simply touch the parameter in the header row by which you would like to sort the list. A small arrow in
the header row indicates the parameter by which the list is sorted and whether it is sorted in ascending or
descending order.

4.4.2 Shortcuts
Shortcuts allow you to start methods, series, and manual operations directly from the homepage. You can
locate shortcuts by means of the button AddToHome on the Homescreen. AddToHome is found in the respec­
tive Start analysis dialog of the methods, products, series or of the manual operation.
Two types of shortcuts are supported.
Direct shortcuts which, when selected, start the task immediately without warning (only if the other settings
allow this), and
normal shortcuts which take you to the corresponding Start analysis start dialog from which you can start the
task.
Shortcuts are user-specific, i.e. each individual user can create shortcuts for the tasks that they would personal­
ly like to conduct. Shortcuts are managed in Setup, under the subcategory "User Settings". Here you can delete
or modify shortcuts, or change their position on the Homescreen.
Shortcuts Direct shortcuts
(lead you initially to the (task starts immediately, directly and with­
Start analysis dialog) out advance warning)
for methods

for products

for series

for manual opera­

tions

A maximum of 8 shortcuts can be saved on the Homescreen. As soon as this maximum is reached, "AddTo­
Home" in the start dialogs of methods, products, series and manual operations is deactivated.

14 Description of Functions
5 Setup
This section tells you how to set up the refractometer acccordance with your requirements so that you can carry
out the measurements.
The following summary shows the buttons available in Setup for the various setting options:
Adjustments & Tests Adjustment sets
Test sets
Hardware Cell
Automation
External instruments
Peripherals
Sensors
Auxiliary instruments
User settings Language
Screen
Beep
Shortcuts
Keyboards
Global settings System
User management
Analysis and resources behavior
Physical Properties
Tables & Values Tables
Auxiliary values
Maintenance & Service MT service
Import / Export
Add external cell
Reset to factory settings
Firmware
Update
Hardware / Firmware summary
Cell
Touch screen adjustment
Export of adjustments / Tests / Measurements
The "Expired Resources" button
The Expired Resources button is located on the setup overview screen. It provides you with a summary of all
expired resources, stating the: type, name and expiration date of the respective resource.
Expired resources are entered if the setting "Monitoring adjustment set/test set/auxiliary value" is activated dur­
ing setup.
Below you will find a detailed description of the setting options available in setup:

5.1 Adjustments & Tests

Navigation: Home > Setup > Adjustments & Tests
Adjustment and test sets can be administered as described below. You can create new sets and delete existing
ones (when deleting you receive a prompt with the option to cancel). Before an adjustment or test can be per­
formed, an adjustment or test set must be defined.
A maximum of six different adjustment sets or test sets respectively can be entered in the set list.
Before an adjustment or test can be performed, an adjustment or test set must be defined.

Setup 15