The Volscan Profiler
The Volscan Profiler is a benchtop laser-based scanner that measures the volume, density and dimensional profiles of solid products.
Why choose a Volscan Profiler
Measure more than volume
The rapid 3-dimensional digitisation of products enables the automatic calculation of volume, density and dimensions of solid products as standard. Additional measurements include surface area, height, width, length and weight etc. The results may then be mathematically manipulated for immediate use or future retrieval in a variety of data formats.
Fast and accurate
In as little as 22 seconds manufacturers have precise data about their products in order to control and monitor their production.
World class data analysis software
Our powerful, feature-rich software comes as standard. Best of all, free updates are included for the lifetime of your instrument. Find out more
More accurate than the outdated seed displacement method
Traditionally, volume measurements of baked products have been obtained by the technique of seed displacement, in which the amount of rape seed or pearl barley packing around the loaf in a standard container is measured. Whilst this method has been universally recognised for decades as indicative of baking quality, it is now considered primitive, inaccurate, tedious and laborious. Repeated calibration, operator dependence, loss of rapeseed due to spillage/adherence of seeds to the product or to static electricity, seed clumping due to moisture absorption, periodic sieving of the seed to remove food crumbs, the potential crushing of soft products and the manual recording of results are the common drawbacks affecting both the efficiency and the accuracy of the measurement.
Besides offering rapid 3-dimensional digitisation of products, it has the ability to measure objects that, due to their texture or size, was not possible with seed displacement. Soft, thin or brittle products with vulnerable structure due to toppings, or being easily altered by the compressive nature of seed displacement are easily mounted on the Volscan Profiler by a variety of supporting pins.
Safer than alternative/outdated methods
Mercury displacement techniques represent a toxic risk to the environment and are therefore illegal in many countries. The Volscan Profiler has been verified as accurate as mercury displacement method.
X-ray techniques are expensive and present a health and safety issue and therefore require fully trained operators. The Volscan Profiler uses an eye-safe laser and therefore is the safest procedure for density determination.
More versatile than other methods
Fluid displacement techniques are not suitable for porous materials. The Volscan Profiler is a non-contact laser-based measurement that is not affected by sample porosity.
Gas displacement techniques usually measure very small samples or otherwise attract a high instrument price. The Volscan Profiler has the largest measurement envelope in its class.
Features and benefits
Fully rotatable test files
Appreciate the scan detail in every plane. The scanned data can be viewed in both 2D and 3D representations to allow comparisons with previous archived measurements. Within the 2D sectional view, additional manual measurements can be made on chosen intervals. 3D views of the product are rotatable in all planes providing flexibility of viewing for visual comparison and presentation.
Choice of Rotation Speed
For heavy soft samples (e.g. sandwich cake) or delicate samples, the centrifugal force created during the rotation can distort the sample or cause it to fragment or wobble and therefore a slower rotational speed is recommended. The fast speed provides the quickest scan times, but can affect the integrity of some products and produce less accurate results.
Stacking products for faster testing
By customer request, we have implemented a means of testing multiple products simultaneously, followed by post-test analysis of the data of each sample piece. One such example is in the testing of multiple bread rolls, the objective being to save time, to give an average volume and weight and then create individual scan files of each roll.
Easy verification
A measurement is only worth performing if it’s accurate. Check and verify your Volscan Profiler easily by testing a Calibration and Verification Rod. The instrument will verify that the rod correlates with the measurement values as provided by the manufacturer so that product testing can continue with confidence.
Testing bakery products? Use the AACC Standard Method 10-16.01
The highest accuracy and more scope in parameters and breadth of bakery samples than any other method. Why measure volume alone when we’ve proven the accuracy of measurement of a wider set of product dimensions? If you’re in the bakery industry this is the standard method that you will wish to follow. Find out more
All of your data in one place
Provided by a built-in spreadsheet for data collection and statistical manipulation. There is no need to export data to another spreadsheet program, as the Volscan Profiler software has its own integral spreadsheet, but Exporting to Excel is also an available option if preferred.
Presentation of results
A report template is available into which your data can be dropped and automatically positioned with test data fields or modified using full Report Editing tools. Alternatively, images and data can be copied and pasted into other applications.
Operate in another Language using the Language Editor
Menu items and operator messages can be easily converted into your own language using a provided plug-in tool for language editing.
Barcode Scanner compatibility
Allowing quick product information entry and reducing user error. This device attaches via the USB port on a PC.
Use your Volscan Profiler to:
Determine the effects of ingredients, formulation or processing variables on end product dimensions
Determine the dimensional properties of your ‘gold standard’ product for future consistent quality control
To assess dimensional changes during storage or transportation
Substantiate your product claims
Compare with competitive products
Provide an objective quantifiable result which can be archived and retrieved for future viewing should you ever need to check back and compare with historical data.
Why choose a Stable Micro Systems instrument?
The instrument of choice for leading companies and universities across the globe
While our consumers are aware that our instrument is the best in the world, their decision to purchase one is not just based on the hardware. Ultimately, it all comes down to the service we provide to all of our customers. When considering the purchase of a laboratory instrument, our clients consistently cite our experience and desire to assist them with testing issues of all shapes and sizes as the number one reason why a Stable Micro Systems instrument is, and will always be, their first option.
Further information
Buying advice
Read our guide Seven Tough Questions you should ask before buying a Volume Measurement Instrument
Case Studies
Explore our case studies to see how our customers have used their instruments to further their testing requirements and find solutions to testing problems.
