Optical Heating and Cooling Stage ACH600S/ACH400SV
Product Detail
InSitu Pro™ ACH600S and ACH400SV are optical heating-and-cooling stages for studying how a sample's optical properties evolve with temperature. Combining liquid-nitrogen cooling with resistive heating, they sweep from −190 °C to 600 °C (ACH400SV: to 400 °C in a vacuum chamber) with ±0.1 °C stability under a microscope or Raman objective — one instrument for phase transitions, thermochromics, low-temperature photoluminescence, and high-temperature oxidation studies alike.
Key features
- Full −190 to 600 °C in one stageLiquid-nitrogen cooling and resistive heating in the same body — cooling and heating branches of a transition measured on the same sample, without changing instruments.
- ±0.1 °C with three control modesFixed-point, ramp, and multi-segment programmable profiles cover static holds and dynamic protocols alike; the provided LabVIEW VIs / C# SDK support customized programming.
- Reflection and transmission opticsHand-removable JGS2 quartz windows and a through-hole silver stage support both light paths; a twist-off top cover makes sample loading and removal quick — full geometry in the table below.
- Light, thin bodyThe slim 24 mm profile adapts to optical instruments of different brands and models; if your installation space is extremely tight, the ultra-thin T variants take over.
- Condensation-free imagingA gas-blowing bracket routes the LN₂ exhaust across the window during low-temperature runs.
- Choose your atmosphereACH600S runs in an atmosphere chamber for fast everyday work; ACH400SV adds a vacuum chamber that suppresses oxidation during measurements (see the simulator below).
Product specifications
| Parameter | ACH600S | ACH400SV |
|---|---|---|
| SKU # | EICH600S | EICH40SV |
| Heating / Cooling Method | Liquid-nitrogen cooling · resistive heating | |
| Temperature Range | −190 °C ~ 600 °C | −190 °C ~ 400 °C |
| Temperature Stability | ±0.1 °C | |
| Temperature Control Rate | Max heating 150 °C/min · max cooling 40 °C/min | |
| Sample Stage | Silver · 23 × 23 mm | |
| Optical Path | Reflection / Transmission (φ2 mm light-transmitting hole) | |
| Top Window | φ25 × 1 mm | |
| Bottom Window | φ10 × 1 mm (optional, for transmission path) | |
| Window Material | JGS2 quartz glass, 220–2500 nm; manually removable and replaceable | |
| Window Defogging | Gas-blowing bracket; LN₂ exhaust defogs at low temperature | |
| Window-to-Stage Distance | 4.5 mm | |
| Chamber Height | 3.5 mm | |
| Chamber | Atmosphere | Vacuum |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 97 × 24 mm | 138.5 × 97 × 24 mm (excl. bellows) |
| Net Weight | 0.5 kg | 0.6 kg |
Basic configuration
| Included with every stage | Qty |
|---|---|
| Main unit (ACH600S or ACH400SV) | 1 |
| Temperature controller | 1 |
| Cooling controller | 1 |
| Liquid-nitrogen tank | 1 |
| Water-circulation system | 1 |
| PC control software | 1 |
| Connection cables, tubing & accessories | — |
Options include adapter plates, custom LN₂ tanks, custom water circulators, vacuum systems, host PCs, and custom control software. Final configuration and accessories are confirmed at quotation.
Plan your cooling run
Both models cool with liquid nitrogen at up to 40 °C·min⁻¹ down to −190 °C. Set your target below and see how LN₂ compares with Peltier stages and passive cooling — and how long a run to your temperature actually takes.
Model: controller-limited linear ramp with a Newton-type approach near each technology's floor. Takeaway: below −25 °C, LN₂ is the only option — exactly what this stage family provides. Curves are schematic family-level behavior, not a guarantee for a specific unit.
Why the vacuum model? · ACH400SV
Above a few hundred °C in air or another oxidizing atmosphere, oxide growth on many metals and alloys becomes significant, rising steeply with temperature; under diffusion-controlled conditions it is often approximated by parabolic kinetics. Hold a sample for an hour at your working temperature and compare the two chambers:
Model: parabolic oxidation x² = k·t with an Arrhenius rate constant — an approximation for diffusion-controlled oxidation, not every material or temperature; the vacuum panel suppresses the oxidant supply. Takeaway: if your sample must come back chemically intact from high temperature, reach for the vacuum chamber of the ACH400SV.
The LN₂ optical family · quick navigation
| Model | ACH600S / ACH400SVthis page | ACH600S-T / ACH400SV-Tultra-thin | ACH600S-XY / ACH400SV-XYXY positioning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distinctive | Standard body · R/T optics | Thinnest profile, 21.5 mm | XY ±6 mm · 0.01 mm |
| Temperature | −190 ~ 600 °C (atmosphere) · −190 ~ 400 °C (vacuum) | ||
| Page | — you are here — | T variants → | XY variants → |
Temperature controller, LN₂ cooling-rate controller, dewar & auto-refill pump. Every stage ships with its matched temperature controller and cooling controller; smart LN₂ auto-refill and dewar options keep long low-temperature runs unattended. Ask for the matching set when you request a quote.
FAQ
ACH600S or ACH400SV — which one?
Pick by atmosphere, not by price. If your measurements stay below ~300 °C or your samples tolerate air, the ACH600S gives you the full 600 °C reach with the simplest workflow. If the sample must not oxidize — metals, perovskites, air-sensitive 2D materials — the ACH400SV's vacuum chamber is the difference between a measurement and a ruined sample (see the simulator above).
Can I measure in transmission?
Yes — the silver stage has a φ2 mm through-hole and an optional φ10 × 1 mm bottom window, so both reflection and transmission paths are supported. The JGS2 quartz windows pass 220–2500 nm and are hand-removable for cleaning or replacement.
Does the window fog during cooling?
A gas-blowing bracket routes the liquid-nitrogen exhaust across the window to defog it, helping keep the view clear during long runs at −190 °C.
Will it fit under my Raman microscope?
Yes — the light, thin 24 mm body with only 4.5 mm from window to sample surface adapts to optical instruments of different brands and models. If your installation space is extremely tight — e.g. under a Horiba Raman spectrometer — look at the ultra-thin T variants, which are built for exactly that.
Related
- InSitu Pro™ Stage Selector — not sure this is the right family? Answer five questions and match the whole range with a one-click quote.
- Stage Selection Guide — the five-step decision logic behind optical vs electrical, cooling, and atmosphere, with interactive simulators.
- In-Situ Stages: A Theory Guide — the measurement science of temperature-resolved microscopy and Raman, including why hysteresis demands a stage that both heats and cools.
- Optical Heating Stages AH200-Mini / AH600S / AH800S — heating-only siblings when cooling is not required.
Disclaimer: ACS Material, LLC believes the information on this page is accurate and represents the best and most current information available to us. Specifications reflect the manufacturer's current datasheet; idealized values are benchmarks and final configurations are confirmed at quotation — always refer to the model datasheet for guaranteed ratings. The interactive simulators are schematic teaching tools, not performance data for a specific unit. ACS Material makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding suitability for any purpose, and will not be responsible for damages resulting from use of or reliance upon this information.