Grease Thief Colorimeter 3.1

GT Colorimeter - A portable, battery-operated, and bluetooth enabled analysis instrument that allows for accurate and repeatable measurement of grease color under varying pathlength and controlled ambient lighting conditions.  The grease handling features include four precision spacers, made from tool steel, that allow a specific pathlength to be created by engaging and squeezing the grease between a spectrometer sample window, and an opposing reflective flat surface.  A zero-space (0.000 inch) positioning spacer allows that calibration of the unit's grease pathlength function, followed by 0.035 inch, 0.010 inch, and 0.005 inch positioning spacers.  The operator can measure both highly translucent greases (0.035 inch pathlength) and very dark greases (0.005 inch) and conditions in-between, for comparison to a reference new grease.  Criteria for action, including follow-up grease analysis, can be generated with values that are grease and/or application specific.  An additional functionality is the QC evaluation, which allows for the development of a target color for the manufacture of new greases, and the analysis and plotting of results for batches to ensure conformation to expected product color.  This feature can also be used to trend batch variations that may be related to performance parameters, and other conditions such as grease aging in service, contaminant accumulation, wear accumulation, and mixing with other greases.

The control of and results from the spectrometer are transferred via bluetooth to a provided touchscreen tablet, with apps that allow for used sample comparison to the designated new grease reference, and the quality control (QC) app for new product evaluation.  Results can be copied or uploaded to a cloud-based database for incorporation into the user's report generation or data storage protocols.  Battery operated spectrometer is recharged periodically by the use of a USB power cord.  All components are secured in a hard-sided case for shipment and protective storage.  The GT Colorimeter is equally effective in the laboratory and in the field, providing immediate information on the condition of in-service greases, or product floor quality control for process evaluation and improvement.

The upgraded GT Colorimeter 3.1 features an advanced colorimeter detector that permits multiple light source configurations, and can be used to allow individual parameter measurements, including L*, a* and b*.  This can be used not only for grease analysis, but a new flatter cuvette cell allows for liquid oil analysis or coolant analysis as well.  Criteria can be developed for ASTM D1500, for an objective color analysis without operator visual bias or ambient lighting variations.  Lighting configurations can be selected to conform to ASTM D7843 (MPC) testing.  Three instruments in one! Version 3.1 includes an improved and thicker Teflon disc to ease cleaning between uses.