Digital Melting Point System for Students

The DigiMelt from Stanford Research System is a modern, low cost, digital melting point apparatus designed specifically for the student lab. Students learn the visual detection capillary method of melting point determination without the frustration of trying to control the oven temperature. DigiMelt rapidly heats the oven to the programmed start temperature, then slowly ramps at the specified rate. The student carefully observes the samples and records the melting points with the touch of a button.

Digital Temperature Readout

DigiMelt incorporates a platinum resistance temperature detector (RTD) instead of the usual mercury thermometer. This means better accuracy on the readings, and no more mercury cleanup from broken thermometers. The RTD is encased inside the oven block making it virtually unbreakable.

Microprocessor Temperature Control

Some student instruments use an open-loop variac that simply throttles full power to the oven without any sense of what the target temperature is. DigiMelt uses an RTD feedback, so it "knows" what temperature is on the oven. This menas the students can enter a start temperature, a ramp rate, and a stop temperature from which the microprocessor takes care of the rest. Furthermore, the microprocessor can deliver variable amounts of power to the oven, so it can quickly ramp to the starting temperature, then perform the ramp as slowly as 0.5C/min.

High Quality Optics

Rather than focing the student to peer through a tiny lens with poor illumination, the DigiMelt uses a large magnifier that allows plenty of eye relief. The user can see all three capilliaries easily at a comfortable distance from the instrument. White LED's are used to provide high-contrast illumination.