Automation and Database Implementation of a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer
Abstract
In today's highly technological society, more and more
industrial systems are being automated using computers. T.he
extent of this automation varies a great deal. Some systems
are simply "hard-wired", with mechanical switches setting
microprocessors into action. These require an operator who
makes changes according to his analysis of different process
variables. At the other end of the spectrum are "turnkey"
systems, which perform a complete operation without any need
for operator intervention.
An example of such a "turnkey" system is the automation
of a Balzers QMG 511 quadrupole mass spectrometer as designed
and implemented for the Optical Recording Project (ORP) of the
3M Company in St. Paul, Minnesota. T.he mass spec is used for
environmental analysis during an industrial process named
"C2". I was employed as a Technical Aide at the Magneto-Optic
Laboratory of ORP during the fall quarter of 1985 and given
the following tasks: a) write procedures that would allow
computer control of the mass spec and acquisition of its data,
b) design a turnkey-type system using these routines which
would run automatically, c) design a database for the mass
spec data; and d) design and implement a storage-and-retrieval
system for that database. During my twelve weeks at 3M, I was
able to accomplish all of these tasks.