THE J57 Automatic Refractometer from A.L.P.E. was designed to meet the unique needs of industrial environments where the refractometer is operated on the factory floor.
A single flat measurement surface, electronic temperature control and one button measurement capability make it perfect for high wear and tear, and heavy use applications.
The Rudolph J57 features a fully automatic measuring system. The operator simply places the sample on the prism, presses a button and the result is displayed on 7.5cm x 10cm backlit LCD. There are no shadow lines to match and there is no eyepiece requiring operator determination or manual adjustment.
Refractive Index (BRIX) readings are very sensitive to temperature. Most refractometers have the ability to correct for temperature, but this correction only works accurately with limited types of samples. Users looking for real accuracy had to spend the extra money for a circulating bath and then clean and maintain it.
The J57's built in electronic temperature control provides the best of both worlds, the absolute accuracy of a temperature controlled instrument with the convenience of not requiring a water bath.
Unlike traditional Abbe refractometers, the J57 Automatic Refractometer has only 1 measurement surface; there is no second prism to close on top of the sample. The measurement surface is very flat with no corners, crevices or deep sample wells making the J57 exceptionally easy to clean.
When Abbe style refractometers are used in a high throughput application, prism replacement becomes a regular task. The reason for replacement is that Abbe refractometers have glass prisms (hardness approximately 6 on the Moh's scale) compared to the J57's artificial sapphire prism (hardness 9 on the Moh's scale). By making the prism from artificial sapphire the need to replace the prism is avoided and total cost of ownership is lowered.
All functions of the J57 Automatic Refractometer are activated through a large touch screen LCD. The 70mm X 75mm measure button on the J57 is designed to allow an operator wearing gloves to activate measurement with an elbow or side of a hand.