Post subject: Which Raman Machine do you guys recommenced?
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 3:36 am
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Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2017 11:46 pm Posts: 5
Hi, I am been searching for Raman for testing gemstones but I see many brands on internet. Which of the Raman Machine do you guys recommend for testing gemstones 100-200 pcs a day?
Post subject: Re: Which Raman Machine do you guys recommenced?
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 3:17 pm
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Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 9:42 pm Posts: 1033
How much do you want to spend? Do you want a desktop unit or one you can take in the field? Do you want one that can measure inclusions (need a microscope setup) or just tell the gem type?
The gemmoraman is a very safe choice for a desktop unit--if you have the budget for it it's excellent. I've never heard a negative review and I've been consistently impressed with it whenever I've seen it demonstrated (and I make sure to stop by MAGI's booth every year at Tucson, they have amazing stuff).
If your budget is lower, I sell older refurbished portable ramans that were made for first responders (what's that white powder??) which we've converted for gem/mineral usage. They work quite well and it's nice to be able to take them to Tucson and other shows.
Post subject: Re: Which Raman Machine do you guys recommenced?
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2020 2:00 am
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Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2017 11:46 pm Posts: 5
dchallener wrote:
How much do you want to spend? Do you want a desktop unit or one you can take in the field? Do you want one that can measure inclusions (need a microscope setup) or just tell the gem type?
Thank you for your reply. My budget is around $50,000. Desktop unit and can measure inclusions.
Post subject: Re: Which Raman Machine do you guys recommenced?
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2020 2:02 am
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Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2017 11:46 pm Posts: 5
dchallener wrote:
How much do you want to spend? Do you want a desktop unit or one you can take in the field? Do you want one that can measure inclusions (need a microscope setup) or just tell the gem type?
Thank you for your reply my budget about $50,000 , Desktop Unit
Post subject: Re: Which Raman Machine do you guys recommenced?
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2020 3:57 pm
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Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 9:42 pm Posts: 1033
So you want a Raman Microscope. SciApps used to sell a portable Raman that had an attachment that turned it into a Raman Microscope. I have been looking for a while unsuccessfully for the attachment. They ARE expensive generally speaking. But there is a budget one that comes up on ebay every so often. I don't know how well it works, but it is in the range of around $10k, if I remember. Some assembly required. And I don't think it is set up for gems/minerals. For around $800 you can get software that might work with it and do gems and minerals. (It doesn't work with all spectrometers.)
Other than that..... try to find a used one. The new ones are out of your budget range. I found one once and still haven't gotten around to seeing if I can get it to work.... but I put in my papers to retire TODAY, so I may just be able to get to it.
As an aside, I saw a used FTIR microscope for sale that needed a new detector. I called the company to find out how much a new detector was. It was $75k. But they didn't want to sell them. They highly recommended just getting a new unit.
Post subject: Re: Which Raman Machine do you guys recommenced?
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:41 am
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Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
Perhaps you should draft a letter to Dr. George Rossman at Caltech and ask him for a recommendation. He has a plethora of sophisticated spectrographic instruments at his disposal.
Post subject: Re: Which Raman Machine do you guys recommenced?
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 2:56 pm
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Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 9:42 pm Posts: 1033
George - or Robert Downs an University of Arizona are probably the two main experts in the field. But I suspect their systems are north of $100K. I think Thermo fisher and Horriba make them.
Key words are: Raman Microscope confocal if you want to do your own search.
I have no idea about this company, but the specs are nice. higher wavelenght is better, as it reduces the fluorescent background.
Again -- I know NOTHING about this company or this Raman microscope.
But it is in your budget.
You will have to get your own software for this, and most of the spectra available use 532 or 782 wavelength. Now theoretically it doesn't matter what wavelength you use, you should get the same spectra. But you know what they say: In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they aren't.
Post subject: Re: Which Raman Machine do you guys recommenced?
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 3:40 pm
Site Admin
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
As I have pointed out several times over the last couple of decades, unless one really understands the mechanism of an instrument, you may be unwise getting a used product.
Could David and his son Stephen sort it out? Oh yeah.
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