Installing and Controlling Thermo Scientific Devices
ThermoQuest/Thermo Scientific FOCUS GC

Device Type:

Gas chromatograph

Device Driver:

Thermo Scientific: FOCUS Gas Chromatograph
(tested for firmware version 4.06)

Hardware Options
Supported:

  • 1 Inlet: Split/Splitless Injector (SSL)

  • 1 Column Oven (30-350°C)

  • 1 Detector: Flame Ionization Detector (FID) or Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD)

  • Electronic pressure/flow control for column and inlet:
    DPFC (Digital Pressure Flow Control)

  • Up to 8 Valves and external events
    Supported valve types:
    - Gas Sampling Valve (GSV)
    - External events (External)

 

What is required?

License:

Timebase Class 1

Connection:

A free RS232 port and the following cables are required:

  • Cable for the connection to the PC (Dionex part no. 8914.0148; refer to ThermoQuest/Fisons Cable).

  • Cable for the connection to the autosampler, depending on the autosampler type. (For information, refer to the operating instructions for the autosampler). For the AS2000 autosampler, the following cable is required:  ThermoQuest AS2000/TRACE GC Cable.

Dionex recommends digital data acquisition. (For analog data transmission, the following cable is required: A/D cable, depending on the used A/D converter.) A UCI Universal Chromatography Interface, a Dionex UI20 (Dionex part no. 46017), or any other A/D converter supported by Chromeleon (for example, PE Nelson Boxes), including the appropriate signal cables, may be used.)

Control Panel:

To control the instrument, use the Focus_GC.pan from the
Dionex Templates\Panels\GC folder in the Browser.

 

Hardware Installation

Device Connection:

First, install Chromeleon software, and then connect the instrument to the RS232 port on the Chromeleon server PC.  

Also refer to Connecting Devices via RS232.

To connect an autosampler other than the AS2000, use the appropriate cable for this autosampler.

In addition, an A/D cable may be required for analog data acquisition, depending on the used A/D converter, for example a UCI.

Device Settings:

(Also, refer to the installation instructions shipped with the instrument.)

The communication settings must be as follows:

 Baud rate 38400

 Handshake Rts/Cts

 Parity None

 Data bits 8

 Stop bits 1

 

Software Installation

  1. In the Chromeleon Server Configuration, add the driver to a timebase. For details, see Adding, Configuring or Deleting Devices. After you add the driver, the configuration dialog opens automatically.

  2. On each properties tab page, select the desired settings. For information about the settings on a page, click the Help button on a page or press F1.

Further Information

For detailed installation instructions, refer to the operating instructions for the instrument.

For an overview of the different Thermo Finnigan/ThermoQuest/TSP instruments for which device drivers are available in Chromeleon, refer to  Thermo Scientific.