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Vescent SLICE-QTC Manual

Four-channel temperature controller
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2022/04/05 13:27
SLICE-QTC Four-Channel Temperature
Controller
Model No. SLICE-QT and SLICE-QTC
Document Revision: 1
Document Last Updated on 2022/04/01 18:06
Please read
Limited Warranty
Links
Click here for the
SLICE-QTC Quick Start
Click here for the
SLICE-QTC
Click here for the
Ziegler-Nichols loop tuning
Click here for the
SLICE-QTC web
Click here for the
Github page for SLICE-QTC GUI
Click here for the
Github page for SLICE-QTC firmware revisions
Please check back for added functionality. Contact
corrections, or to request added functionality.
Description
The SLICE-QTC is a high-precision temperature controller (see
thermal plants with sub-millikelvin precision.
Fig. 1: The SLICE-QTC
Purchase Includes
SLICE-QTC Temperature Control Unit
AC power cord with appropriate wall plug for you location (if known)
Four single-ended 6-ft control cables
Final Test Documentation
Product Manuals - https://www.vescent.com/manuals/
1/26
and
General Warnings and Cautions
Guide.
API.
instructions.
page.
1)
SLICE-QTC Four-Channel Temperature Controller
prior to operating the SLICE-QTC.
sales [at] vescent [dot] com
figure
1). It will control up to four
for questions and

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Summary of Contents for Vescent SLICE-QTC

  • Page 1 [at] vescent [dot] com for questions and corrections, or to request added functionality. Description The SLICE-QTC is a high-precision temperature controller (see figure 1). It will control up to four thermal plants with sub-millikelvin precision. Fig. 1: The SLICE-QTC...

  • Page 2: Proper Usage

    Know the electrical limits of of your transducer and set the limits of the SLICE-QTC accordingly. Each channel can provide up to 6 A or 20 W of power with a maximum compliance voltage up to ~18 V.

  • Page 3: List Of Symbols

    3/26 SLICE-QTC Four-Channel Temperature Controller List of Symbols Warning. Pay special attention to procedures and notes. If procedure is not followed carefully, damage to the SLICE-QTC or devices connected to it may occur. Potential for electrical shock hazard. Specifications Performance...

  • Page 4: Front Panel

    Last update: 2022/04/01 18:06 slice:qt https://www.vescent.com/manuals/doku.php?id=slice:qt Fig. 3: Side view of SLICE-QTC configured for viewing from below Fig. 2: Underside of SLICE-QTC Front Panel An image of the front panel is shown in figure 4. The functions and connections are as follows:...

  • Page 5: Interface Connections

    Fig. 5: View of rear of SLICE-QTC Interface Connections Connections to the thermal plants are made from the rear panel. Four cables for this purpose are provided with the SLICE-QTC. Each has one end terminated with a CUI Inc. PDP-40 connector connecting to the CUI Inc.

  • Page 6: Screen Navigation

    You may purchase more cables separately from Vescent Photonics. We do not recommend making cables, but if you do so, make sure the metal sleeve is well connected to the connector ground to provide proper shielding to the signal cables.

  • Page 7: Home Button

    2022/04/05 13:27 7/26 SLICE-QTC Four-Channel Temperature Controller Home Button Fig. 7: Home button Returns to Home screen (figure Back Button Fig. 8: Back button Returns to previous screen. Changes will be lost if not accepted before using the Back button.

  • Page 8: Entering Values

    Last update: 2022/04/01 18:06 slice:qt https://www.vescent.com/manuals/doku.php?id=slice:qt Entering Values In order to afford maximum resolution, the least significant digit will not necessarily change to precisely your target value and will be coerced to the nearest acceptable value, which is limited by the digitization scheme for the set point.

  • Page 9: Home Screen

    2022/04/05 13:27 9/26 SLICE-QTC Four-Channel Temperature Controller Fig. 13: Escape button Exits keypad without accepting changes. Clear Fig. 14: Clear button Clears value in field being edited. Delete Fig. 15: Delete button Deletes last character entered. Enter Fig. 16: Enter button Accepts edits and exits keypad.
  • Page 10 Enabling Feedback Touch the OFF button at the bottom of the column for the desired channel. The button will turn white and read ON to indicate the SLICE-QTC is actively controlling the temperature for that channel. In figure 17 figure 18 CH 1 is active and CHs 2-4 are inactive.
  • Page 11 2022/04/05 13:27 11/26 SLICE-QTC Four-Channel Temperature Controller dashed lines indicate the user-defined “lock range” (see figure 25). In figure 19, the lock range is set to ±3 mK. If ∆T is outside of this range, the Error field background will change from green to yellow.

  • Page 12: Channel Settings

    Last update: 2022/04/01 18:06 slice:qt https://www.vescent.com/manuals/doku.php?id=slice:qt Fig. 20: Menu of settable parameters Adjusting the Graph To adjust the vertical range (∆T) of the graph from the Details screen, touch Settings > Y Scale. Select the appropriate setting (figure 21). Fig. 21: Setting the y-scale on ∆T vs. t graph To adjust the time base of the graph from the Details screen, touch Settings >...
  • Page 13 2022/04/05 13:27 13/26 SLICE-QTC Four-Channel Temperature Controller Fig. 22: Screen for adjusting PID parameters for individual channel To set the PID loop filter parameters from the Home screen, select CH X > Settings > PID Params and the screen in figure 22...
  • Page 14 Steinhart-Hart constants will be calculated automatically or vice versa. NOTE: The SLICE-QTC can achieve sub-millikelvin stabilities over a very wide set point temperature range. For most applications working near room temperature, an NTC thermistor with a nominal value of 10 kΩ...
  • Page 15 2022/04/05 13:27 15/26 SLICE-QTC Four-Channel Temperature Controller Fig. 24: Set Thermistor and Plant Information WHEN USING A RESISTIVE HEATER, be sure to set the transducer type (CH X > Settings > Plant) to Heater/Monopolar. If set to TEC/Bipolar, attempts by the SLICE- QTC to actively cool your plant will result in a thermal runaway condition.

  • Page 16: Front-Panel Inputs & Outputs

    Front-panel Inputs & Outputs The front panel of the SLICE-QTC has two analog inputs (channels A & B) and two analog outputs (channels 1 & 2, not to be confused with the temperature control channels) available for use. The two analog outputs can be configured to output useful monitor signals, while the two analog inputs can be...
  • Page 17 2022/04/05 13:27 17/26 SLICE-QTC Four-Channel Temperature Controller Each selected function for inputs and outputs will have settings that you can adjust, specific to the chosen functionality. To access these settings, select the Settings (“gear”) icon that is just to the right of the selection window.
  • Page 18 Last update: 2022/04/01 18:06 slice:qt https://www.vescent.com/manuals/doku.php?id=slice:qt Fig. 28: Programming the input on Channel A Input Input Channels A & B Slow Servo Input In some use cases, it is convenient to have the temperature set point automatically adjusted to keep another external parameter (which depends on temperature) at a certain value.
  • Page 19 2022/04/05 13:27 19/26 SLICE-QTC Four-Channel Temperature Controller Feedforward This mode allows a feedforward signal to be summed into the output of the PID loop filter. The feedforward signal current is related to the input voltage Vin by: Feedforward Current [A] = Gain[A/V] x Vin + Offset[A].
  • Page 20 Fig. 30: Adjusting the Gain & Offset of Channel 2 Output When the SLICE-QTC is programmed to deliver data to an output port, the data that is being delivered will be indicated on the Channel Detail screen as seen in figure...

  • Page 21: System Settings

    Trigger Out The Trigger Out on the back panel of the SLICE-QTC can be forced to go high to alert an external device to a status change. To program the trigger, from any screen touch I/O > Trigger Out. You will be presented with the screen shown in figure...
  • Page 22 1.52 July 2020 Tab. 9: Most recent firmware versions as of July 2020 From time to time, Vescent will upgrade the firmware for controlling the SLICE-QTC. The procedure to upgrade the firmware is given here. Host GUI If accessed through a PC Host GUI, the Settings screen (figure...
  • Page 23 It is possible to control the SLICE-QTC from a Windows -based PC using a GUI. In order to use the GUI, you must first download the latest version, connect the PC to the SLICE-QTC, and assign a COM port to the SLICE-QTC. The following describes the steps involved.
  • Page 24 Last update: 2022/04/01 18:06 slice:qt https://www.vescent.com/manuals/doku.php?id=slice:qt On the SLICE-QTC GUI, click on the Settings icon to get to the window shown in figure Fig. 35: Settings screen when viewed by GUI Click on the OFF button below COM Port. You should see a menu similar to the one shown figure...

  • Page 25: Firmware Update

    Fig. 37: Ready to upgrade The GUI should now actively control the SLICE-QTC. You should only have to do the above steps once from a given PC. After assigning the COM port, the system will recognize the device in the future (unless you reassign the COM port to another device).
  • Page 26 2 for acceptable input ranges Four-pin DIN connector In some early versions of the SLICE-QTC, the order of these connectors is reversed. Optimum Settings for Automatic Controllers, by J.G. Zieger and N. B. Nichols Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logic_level From: https://www.vescent.com/manuals/...

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