Automate Multi-Point Calibration

Generate a complete calibration series automatically, from one certified cylinder.

A GasMix dynamic diluter turns multi-point calibration into an unattended sequence. From a single certified cylinder, it generates each concentration level in turn and coordinates with your analyser over a simple digital I/O handshake: it waits until the instrument is READY, triggers the run, holds each level for a user-set mixing and sampling time, then steps to the next. Because the handshake is generic, it drives gas chromatographs (Agilent, Shimadzu) and elemental / speciation analysers alike, including PAC instruments such as Elements and Multitek. Your calibration curve is built start to finish with no operator between points.

1 cylindera full concentration ladder, generated on demand

UnattendedREADY / START handshake, no operator between points

GC + analysersAgilent, Shimadzu, PAC Elements / Multitek

Traceablecalibrated MFC control, documented uncertainty

Multi-point calibration is one of the most repetitive jobs in the lab: swap a cylinder, wait for the line to settle, launch a run, record the point, repeat. Every manual step costs time and adds a chance for error. Coupling a dynamic diluter to your analyser removes the manual loop entirely. This page explains how the automation works, what it delivers, and where it fits, with links to the detailed application pages.

See the diluter built for this → AIOLOS III

Why automate multi-point calibration

One cylinder, a full curveA single higher-concentration certified standard is diluted on the fly to every level, instead of a cylinder per concentration.
Unattended sequencesThe diluter and analyser coordinate themselves, so a full multi-point series runs with no operator between points.
Identical, repeatable timingUser-set mixing and sampling times mean every level is handled the same way, run after run.
Traceable by constructionLevels come from calibrated mass flow control with documented uncertainty, not hand-mixing.

How automated calibration works

The diluter sits between your certified cylinder and your analyser, with a dilution gas line and a bidirectional digital I/O link to the instrument. The sequence is the same whatever the analyser:

The diluter generates each level and coordinates with the analyser over a READY / START digital I/O handshake. The same principle drives a GC or an elemental analyser.

1GenerateThe diluter dilutes the certified gas to the next target level, with a user-set mixing time to flush the line.

2Wait for READYIt holds until the analyser signals READY, so a run never starts before the instrument is prepared.

3Trigger STARTA relay triggers the analyser run, with a user-selectable sampling time.

4AcquireThe analyser measures the point; a stream selector can switch between calibration and sample.

5Next levelThe system steps to the next concentration and repeats, building the full curve automatically.

Because this is a generic READY / START digital I/O exchange, it is not tied to one brand or one detector. GasMix diluters are coupled in the field with gas chromatographs (including Agilent and Shimadzu) and with elemental and speciation analysers (including PAC instruments such as Elements and Multitek), driven by the AlySoft software that programs the sequence and logs it.

Automate calibration on your analyser

Tell us your instrument (GC or elemental analyser), target compounds and concentration range, and we will confirm the coupling and diluter configuration.

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Which instruments can be automated

The coupling works with any analyser that exposes ready and start signals. In practice, GasMix diluters are run with:

Instrument type	Examples	What is automated
Gas chromatographs	Agilent, Shimadzu (Micro GC and GC)	Multi-point GC calibration curves, unattended
Elemental / speciation analysers	PAC Elements, PAC Multitek	Automated calibration series across levels
Other gas analysers	FTIR, PID, sensors and monitors with digital I/O	Programmed concentration sequences

Brand names are trademarks of their respective owners. This page describes interoperability of GasMix diluters with these instruments and does not imply any endorsement by their manufacturers.

Proven results: a worked GC example

The clearest published evidence comes from a coupling with an Agilent 490 Micro GC. Using a GasMix to dilute the calibration gas, CO₂ was calibrated automatically across seven levels from 5 to 300 ppm:

Metric (CO₂, Agilent 490 Micro GC)	Result
Calibration range	5 to 300 ppm (7 levels, automatic)
Linearity	R² = 0.9999
Detection limit	5 ppm (lowest calibrated point)
Retention-time repeatability	0.16 % RSD (n=20)
Concentration repeatability	2.6 % RSD (n=20, external standard)

Full details are on the Automate Agilent GC calibration page and in the underlying application note. These figures are specific to that setup and compound; they illustrate the method rather than guarantee identical numbers on every analyser.

One certified cylinder, one programmed sequence, and the full calibration curve builds itself, whether the instrument at the other end is a GC or an elemental analyser.

Manual vs. automated multi-point calibration

Criterion	Manual calibration	GasMix + analyser
Concentration levels	One cylinder per level	Full ladder from one certified cylinder
Operator involvement	Present at every step	Unattended once the sequence starts
Run triggering	Manual, timing varies	READY / START handshake, identical each run
Line stabilisation	Judged by the operator	User-set mixing and sampling times
Low-level points	Hard to source as cylinders	Generated by dilution, down to the LOD
Traceability	Depends on manual records	Calibrated MFC control, documented and logged

Set it up with the right diluter

Automated multi-point work needs a diluter with digital I/O and, usually, a stream selector. For automated multi-gas dilution and sequences, AIOLOS III is the natural choice; for compact two-gas dilution, ZEPHYR II; for complex mixtures up to 16+ channels, HURRICANE. The same automation underpins trace-level gas generation and the broader case for accurate, traceable results. Not sure which fits your analyser? Choosing the right gas mixer walks through it, or the Product Finder recommends a configuration.

Frequently asked questions

What does "automated multi-point calibration" mean here?

A dynamic diluter generates each concentration level of a calibration curve from one certified cylinder, and coordinates with the analyser so each level is measured in turn without an operator between points. You program the levels and timings once; the system builds the whole series.

Which analysers can be coupled with a GasMix?

Any instrument that exposes ready and start signals over digital I/O. In the field this includes gas chromatographs such as Agilent and Shimadzu (Micro GC and GC), and elemental or speciation analysers such as PAC Elements and Multitek, as well as other gas analysers, FTIR, PID and monitors with digital I/O.

How does the diluter coordinate with the instrument?

Through a bidirectional READY / START handshake. The diluter holds the target concentration for a user-set mixing time, waits for the analyser to signal READY, then uses a relay to trigger START with a user-selectable sampling time, before stepping to the next level.

What performance has been demonstrated?

In a documented GC coupling (Agilent 490 Micro GC), CO₂ was calibrated from 5 to 300 ppm with a linearity of R² = 0.9999, a 5 ppm detection limit, and repeatability of 0.16 % RSD on retention time and 2.6 % RSD on concentration (n = 20). Results depend on the analyser and compound.

Do I still need certified calibration gas?

Yes. A certified cylinder remains your traceable reference. The diluter extends it: from one higher-concentration standard it generates every intermediate level on demand, so you calibrate across a full range without a separate cylinder per concentration.

Is the automated calibration traceable?

The levels are produced by calibrated mass flow control rather than manual mixing, with documented uncertainty, and the software logs the sequence. Combined with a certified source cylinder, this gives a defensible, traceable multi-point calibration.

Turn calibration into an unattended routine

25+ years specifying gas dilution systems. Tell us your analyser and target compounds, and we will spec the coupling, or start with the Product Finder.