Open-Frame / Slide Peltier Stage APE120A/APE120A-T
Product Detail
InSitu Pro™ APE120A and APE120A-T are the open members of the Peltier family — no chamber, no cryogens, just a TEC stage that goes where the work is. The APE120A open-frame stage drops into any setup and combines into multi-position arrays; the APE120A-T slide-format stage, with a stage-center height of only 5.1 mm, slots into a microscope stage like an oversized slide. Both cover −25 °C to 120 °C on electricity alone.
Key features
- ±0.1 °C with three control modesFixed-point, ramp, and multi-segment programmable profiles across the full −25 to 120 °C range.
- Open-frame freedom (APE120A)No chamber to open or close — place the sample, measure, swap. The bare-stage geometry drops into custom rigs, probe setups, and crowded benches where an enclosed stage will not.
- Multi-station arrays (APE120A)Open-frame units can be combined into multi-position workflows — run several samples through the same thermal program side by side; configuration is confirmed at quotation.
- Slide format, 5.1 mm (APE120A-T)A stage-center height of just 5.1 mm lets the A-T sit in a microscope stage like an oversized slide — the shortest path from bench to temperature-controlled imaging, with precise control of microscope-slide temperature for basic temperature-control applications.
- −25 to 120 °C, no cryogensThermoelectric cooling and heating on electricity alone — no LN₂, no dewars, no refills; ramping at up to 30 °C·min⁻¹ (APE120A) or 20 °C·min⁻¹ (APE120A-T).
- InSitu Pro™ family engineeringBuilt alongside the Peltier and optical stage ranges and their controller ecosystem, on the same host-computer software platform.
- Quote-ready orderingRequest pricing via this page or the Stage Selector; our engineers confirm the configuration for your setup.
Product specifications
| Parameter | APE120A | APE120A-T |
|---|---|---|
| SKU # | EIAP120A | EIAP12AT |
| Heating / Cooling Method | Peltier (TEC), electric — cryogen-free | |
| Temperature Range | −25 °C ~ 120 °C | |
| Temperature Stability | ±0.1 °C | |
| Temperature Control Rate | Max heating & cooling 30 °C/min | Max heating & cooling 20 °C/min |
| Sample Stage | Copper · 40 × 40 mm | Gold-plated copper · 35 × 32 mm |
| Optical Path | Reflection / Transmission (φ2 mm light-transmitting hole) | Reflection / Transmission (φ5 mm light-transmitting hole) |
| Chamber | Open (chamberless) | |
| Dimensions | 74 × 47 × 18 mm | 160 × 110 × 15 mm · stage-center height only 5.1 mm |
| Net Weight | 0.2 kg | 0.3 kg |
Basic configuration
| Included with every stage | Qty |
|---|---|
| Main unit (APE120A or APE120A-T) | 1 |
| Temperature controller | 1 |
| Water-circulation system | 1 |
| PC control software | 1 |
| Connection cables, tubing & accessories | — |
Options include adapter plates, custom water circulators, vacuum systems, host PCs, and custom control software. Final configuration and accessories are confirmed at quotation.
Do you even need LN₂?
The planner below is Peltier home turf: the TEC curve is this engine, rated to a −25 °C floor. Set your target — at −25 °C or above, the open Peltier stages get you there on electricity alone; colder targets belong to the LN₂ family.
Model: controller-limited linear ramp with a Newton-type approach near each technology's floor. Takeaway: the TEC floor of −25 °C is exactly this family's rating — above it, Peltier is the simplest, cleanest way to cool. Curves are schematic family-level behavior, not a guarantee for a specific unit.
The Peltier family · quick navigation
| Family | APE120A / APE120A-Tthis page | APE120 / APE120Vchambered |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open-frame arrays · 5.1 mm slide format | Chambered TEC · copper 40 × 40 mm · vacuum option |
| Page | — you are here — | Chambered pair → |
Matched controller set — no cryogen hardware to buy. Both models run on their matched temperature controller, water-circulation system, and PC software: no dewars, no LN₂ supply, no auto-refill hardware. The matched set is specified with your quotation.
FAQ
APE120A or APE120A-T — which one?
Pick by where the stage lives. If it goes into a custom rig, a probe setup, or a bench where you want instant sample access and the option to gang several units into a multi-position array, take the open-frame APE120A. If it goes under a microscope, the A-T's 5.1 mm slide format sits in the stage plate like an oversized slide.
Will an open stage frost up below zero?
In open air, sub-zero surfaces attract condensation — how fast depends on your room's humidity. Short dips and dry-lab conditions are usually fine; for long −25 °C holds or humid environments, the chambered APE120V keeps the sample environment sealed and suppresses condensation.
How do multi-station arrays work?
Open-frame APE120A units can be combined so several samples run the same — or different — thermal programs side by side. Tell us your station count and layout when you request a quote; our engineers confirm the configuration.
Peltier or the LN₂ family?
Decide with your coldest target: −25 °C or warmer, TEC wins on simplicity; below that — or above 120 °C — step up to the LN₂ optical family. The simulator above makes the crossover obvious.
Related
- InSitu Pro™ Stage Selector — answer five questions and match the whole range with a one-click quote.
- Stage Selection Guide — the five-step decision logic, including when Peltier beats LN₂.
- In-Situ Stages: A Theory Guide — the measurement science of temperature-resolved microscopy and Raman.
- Peltier H&C Stage APE120 / APE120V — the chambered siblings with the copper 40 × 40 mm stage.
Disclaimer: ACS Material, LLC believes the information on this page is accurate and represents the best and most current information available to us. Rated values shown are the manufacturer's current figures and the full specification is confirmed at quotation — always refer to the model datasheet for guaranteed ratings. The interactive simulator is a schematic teaching tool, 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.