How do I test a metal sample with the Rigaku KT-100S Handheld LIBS Metals Analyzer?

Watch the video to learn how to easily test a metal sample quickly and safely with the KT-100S Handheld LIBS

• When you see the analyze screen, ensure that the drill-down mode is set to the expected amount of drill-down. If you see an unexpected drill-down mode, you can change it by pressing the right button on the keypad and selecting it from the drill-down menu.
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  • Protip: The different drill-down modes are listed below. We recommend that you use the light drill-down mode for relatively clean samples. If you are not sure which drill-down to use, contact the support team at Metal Analysis Group (MAG) to help you determine which setting is best for your samples.
  • None - For clean, uncoated samples only. 1-second analysis time.
  • Default - For mostly clean metal samples. The analyzer will use the first laser shot to clean the sample of any surface contamination. A second laser shot will test the metal. 2-second test time.
  • Light - For most metal samples. The analyzer will use three laser shots to clean the sample of any surface contamination. The last laser shot will test the metal. 3-second test time.
  • Medium - For dirtier metal samples. The analyzer will use seven laser shots to clean the sample of any surface contamination. The last laser shot will test the metal. 5-second test time.
    • Note: If you choose to use medium drill-down, it is important to hold the analyzer steady and in the same spot on the metal for the entire test time to realize the benefits of the laser cleaning shots. If the analyzer moves at all, the last laser shot will not be testing the surface you expect and you may get an erroneous result. 

• • Heavy - For very dirty and some thinly-coated samples. The analyzer will use ten laser shots to clean the sample of any surface contamination. The last laser shot will test the metal. 7-second test time.Not recommended for common samples.
    • Note: If your samples are this dirty, coated, rusted, corroded, painted, or you just can't make contact with a clean, bare metal surface, MAG recommends using a sample preparation technique to sand or grind the sample to prepare the surface for testing.
    • Note: If you choose to use heavy drill-down, it is important to hold the analyzer steady and in the same spot on the metal for the entire test time to realize the benefits of the three pre-test last shots. If the analyzer moves at all, the fourth laser shot will not be testing the surface you expect and you may get an erroneous result. 
• When ready to test the metal, place the analyzer nose flush against the sample, pull the trigger once and let go. Hold the analyzer nose flush against the sample without moving it until you see a result on the screen or you can hear the laser stop shooting.
  • Protip: LIBS is a surface technique that requires complete contact with the metal in order to provide quality results. If the analyzer moves or does not stay in contact with the sample during the test, you may get an erroneous result.
• After the test is complete, you will see the result on the screen. The image below explains the different items and numbers seen on the result screen.
  
• If you only need to see a grade match as a result, without the chemistry, press the right arrow on the keypad from any result screen and select "Match Result" from the menu.
  
• The "Match Result" screen will look like this:
  
  • You can adjust the number of possible matches you see on the screen here.