Patented Pressure Regulating System for Fluid Dispensing Systems for FPC Technology
Real Time Process Control (FPC) is a breakthrough in uniform fluid dispensing. FPC ensures a constant supply of fluid is always available to the pump regardless of reservoir size or fluid level.
Common issues encountered when dispensing fluids are illustrated in the graphs below. Natural variation occurs when constant air pressure is applied to a syringe (graph below left). The variations primarily originate with syringe fluid level and stiction (static friction) of the stopper and syringe wall. When FPC is applied, results improve (graph below right).
The Problem
Why do dispense results change over the course of a day and from day-to-day even if material is fed from the same reservoir? Dispense pumps are by nature very consistent in their operation and can cycle at extremely high levels of repeatability, so what’s the problem?
The above factors result in varied output and would commonly be compensated by an operator making adjustments to the program or reservoir pressure.
Current Feed Mechanisms = Inconsistent Results even with constant reservoir pressure
- Programmed or adjusted pressure is applied to the reservoir. Pressure remains constant regardless of other factors present (fluid variation, reservoir level, stiction, etc.)
- Operators spend valuable setup time guessing which software parameters need to be adjusted and how much to adjust pressure because intial dispense results are unpredictable.
Other compensation methods include:
- Weight scale – repeated use wastes fluid, impacts throughput time, and can be costly
- Vision calibration – only viable for single dots, impacts throughput time, and does not accurately adjust for larger volumes.
