ISCO dual pump software controller for HPLC

(Josef Planeta, on behalf of the Department of Separations with Compressed Fluids)

On this web, we present and freely offer the software, which was developed for micro-HPLC separations.

For our two Isco 100 DM pumps + D-series pump controller + Upchurch Nano-mixer, we needed a software to meet these goals:

- easy-to-use interface
- in manual mode, ability to define flowrates, flow and pressure limits
- display of actual flowrate, pressure and remaining volume in the pumps
- in program mode, ability to define steps with flowrate and composition of mobile phase
- ability to cooperate with the DataApex Clarity® software (synchronization of the start of program)
- clear presentation of operating parameters while the program is running
- possibility of correct the adjusted flowrates for pump leaks
- pressure stabilization monitoring

Program preview and description:

Program interface:

Top part of the window:

Pump A, Pump B - actual flowrate, pressure and remaining volume. Values are same as on the D-series pump controller display. Value of flowrate is green colored in the case of pumping. Note: it is necessary to manually set the D-series pump controller to kPa and mL units.
Setup - place where the user can setup the RS-232 parameters (port number, communication speed and pump ID). The values are accepted after pressing the Update button. Here, the optional synchronization with DataApex Clarity software can be enabled/disabled. If enabled, the user can specify the channel to be used for program gradient start.

Middle part of the window - manual control:

Pump A, Pump B - acts as a switch and transfers actual values for the selected pump into Pump parameters buttons. User can enter new Input value in the edit field and confirm it by pressing the proper button.
Remote control - when the program is started, this field is unchecked - the pump is still in manual control via the keyboard of the D-series pump controller. After checking the field, the program controls the pumps.
Disable output valves - when the program is started, this field is unchecked. After checking, the output valves will not move, when the pumps start or stop. This feature is useful when some sensitive device (e.g., Nano-mixer) is directly connected to the pump outlet.
Leak - if enabled, the flowrate can be corrected to known value of pump leak. See the 'Leak Test' in the pump manual. Numerical value of leak represents the volume [µL] leaked after one minute, recalculated to 1 MPa.

Bottom part of window - program control:

Edit fields for step, flow, %B and time - are enabled only when the program is not running. Step 0 is "equilibrate" step - which is kept until the Start of program. You can click to spin the Step button or enter the step number directly and fill parameters. The time is entered in the format minute.second , e.g., 1.30 for 1.5 minutes and means the time of one particular step .
Store step - each step must be stored by clicking the button before the next step is entered.
Clear step - the first step in the sequence, which has all values = 0 is 'cleared' , it is not performed and it is recognized as the end marker. You can clear a step by this button. If you wish perform to one - step analysis, you will clear step 2 (step 0 is the equilibrium step and step 1 is the one step of analysis, step 2 is thus cleared).
Auto repeat - when checked, the program will perform all steps and run step 0 => "Equilibrium" conditions and waits for starting a new run.
Runtime info - when the program is running, total time, step time and mobile phase composition is displayed.
Equilibre - switch to step 0 (equilibrium step) and wait for start of program.
Run PGM - manual start of program. Alternatively, if Clarity synchronization is enabled, program can start via the signal from Clarity.
Stop PGM - the program is stopped, but the pumps are working and actual composition of mobile phase is still pumped .
Stop pumps - the pumps are stopped and pressure is going down.
Pressure stabilization monitor - graphical window in the lower right corner. Here the time course of presure of both pumps is drawn with as an auto-fit graph. This drawing is useful as it shows when the system pressure is already stable and chromatographic measurements can begin.

Program installation:

Software requirements: Windows 2000 (XP or higher is recommended).
It consists from file Isco.exe (the program itself), runtime dll msvcr90.dll and dynamic library Dasnet.dll (provided by Isco company ). If msvcr90.dll is present in your system, there is no need to install it.

Installation: Download the ZIP package and unpack to a directory (e.g., c:\Isco\). Then connect the pumps and serial cable with the D-series pump controller and PC, switch power on and start Isco.exe .

Source code available!

Source code of this program (GPL3) is provided in the hope that it can be useful. We will occasionaly add new features to shape this software to fit our needs. You are welcome to check this page for future updates.

TODO queue: clean source, modification for GCC (to avoid dependency on msvcr90.dll ), save / load program setting to file.

This version of Isco software is provided as-is, without any guarantees or warranty.
Although the author has attempted to find and correct any bugs in the software, the author is not responsible for any damage or losses of any kind caused by the use or misuse of the programs.

Actual version: 2.02

DOWNLOAD ISCO PROGRAM

DOWNLOAD SOURCE CODE