Operating Instructions

NDJ Series Digital Viscometer

Please read operating manual before installation and operation.

Drawell International Technology Limited

Shanghai Drawell Scientific Instrument Co.,Ltd

Add : Suite 1506,Lane581 XiuChuan Rd.,PuDong New Area,Shanghai,China

Tel: 0086 21 50966080
Fax: 0086 21 50966080
Web : www.drawell.com.cn
Email : [email protected]

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1. Main Technical Parameters

Model NDJ-5S NDJ-8S

Measuring Range
20～100K 20～2M
（mPa·s）
Rotating Speed
6，12，30，60 0.3, 0.6, 1.5，3，6，12, 30, 60
(RPM)

Spindles (Code L1,L2,L3,L4) are equipped with the product

Spindles
Spindle (Code L0) is an option

Accuracy ±1% full scale range in use

Return Capacity ±0.5% full scale range in use

Power Power adapter(input:100～240V/50～60Hz,output: DC 12V/1A)

：K=1,000 M=1,000,000

2. Basic Structure and Operation Principle

As shown in the following diagram, point A, spring, point B, axis and spindle rotate at a
constant speed driven by the step motor. If the spindle is not resisted by liquid, Point A is in the same
position with the pointer B. On the contrary, if the spindle is resisted by viscous liquid, the spring
produces the torque and will repel or balance with the viscous resistance for reaching the balance at
large. At this moment, by transmitting the angle difference between point A and Point B measured
by the photoelectrical load cell to 16-bit microprocessor for data processing, the viscosity (mPa·s)
will be displayed on LCD screen.

3. Components

Apparatus to be equipped
3.1 digital viscosity meter 1 pce
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3.2 ascending and falling rack 1 set
3.3 protective frame of spindle 1 pce
3.4 power adapter 1 pce
3.5 standard spindle (equipped according to the model) 1 set
3.6 spanner 1 pce
3.7 Seat and leveling feet 1 set

Options:
3.8 Extreme low viscometer adapter (with one spindle L0)
3.9 Small sample adapter (with spindle 21, 27, 28 and 29 each)
3.10 Temperature-controlled heater (with spindle 21, 27, 28 and 29 each)
3.11RTD temperature probe
3.12 RS232 standard output interface
3.13 Specially used printer

4. Installation (Please refer to the Main Installing Chart)

4.1 Take out the seat, ascending and descending rack, viscometer, spindle support and guard leg
from the box and make sure no components is missing; If you purchase options, make sure no
option is missing. The mental equipment case and other packages should be kept in good
condition. In case there is some problems with the viscometer and should be returned to our
company for maintenance, please package the viscometer and spindles with the referred specified
equipment case properly before delivery. (There is no need to return the ascending and
descending rack and the seat.)
4.2 Screw the ascending and descending rack in the screw hole of the seat according to the diagram
and then screw down the nut with the wrench.
4.3 By running the knob of the ascending and descending rack, check the agility and self-locking
capacity of the ascending and descending rack. If you find it too loosing or too tight, you can
adjust the bolt on the back of the ascending and descending rack with the screw driver to make
sure that it can either ascend or descend. It is preferable to screw it down more tightened so as to
prevent the viscometer from going down after being installed.
4.4 Install the viscometer on the ascending and descending rack and make it tight with the bolt. The
bolt that is unscrewed under the apparatus and remove and place the cap properly for next use.
The cap plays a role in protecting the joint screw. Therefore, the joint screw should be covered
by the cap when the viscometer is not in use for a long period of time or during the
transportation.
4.5 By adjusting 2 leveling feet to make sure that the bubble is in the middle of the viscometer on the
top. To avoid the slippery of the seat on the working desk, you can place three rubber pieces
under three feet.
4.6 If RTD temperature probe is available, please connect it to the interface accordingly.
4.7 Make sure that the AC power switch at the rear of the viscometer is in the OFF position. Connect
the power cord to the socket on the back panel of the instrument and plug it into the appropriate
AC line (110～240V 50～60Hz ).

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5. Function of keys

Reset Reset the application program. Then terminate the step motor and
the viscometer is in stand-by state.

Print
Switch between printing and timing function. Set, confirm and start or
Timing cancel the printing function.

Selection of the motor rotating speed

Speed

Select the desired spindle, and then set the spindle code with this key.
Spindle The maximum range measured by this spindle under the current
rotating speed will be displayed in this process.

Run Start the motor to measure. And the viscometer is in working state.

6. Description of screen display

Select the spindle and set the appropriate spindle code as well as the rotating speed, then
press the “Run” key. This will result in the following screen display:

24.5 ℃60.0 RPM 52.1%

SP L1
5 2.1 mPa·S

“24.5℃” stands for the temperature measured by RTD temperature probe

at ℃; “SP L1” stands for spindle Code.L1;
“60.0 RPM” stands for the current rotating speed at 60 revolutions per minute;
Before pressing the “Run” key, the screen will display 100, it is the maximum viscosity
measured by spindle L1 at the speed of 60 RPM.
After pressing the “Run” key, the screen will display “52.1 mPa·s” and “52.1 %”:
“52.1 mPa·s” stands for the viscosity measured at mPa·s
“52.1 %” stands for the mark of percentage meter, or called torque. The mark of the
percentage meter between 20% and 90% is regarded as normal figures (for spindle Code.L0 the
range is between 10% and 90%). The viscometer will alarm if it is beyond this range. As a result,
the user should change the rotating speed or the spindle.

7. Operation Steps (For items (1) and (2) please refer to the main installing chart)

7.1 Make sure that the set-up steps have been finished.

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7.2 Install the guard leg of spindle on the viscometer (revolving clockwise for installing and
anticlockwise for uninstalling with top-view method)
7.3 Lift the motor shaft slightly with left hand and hold it firmly, then hold the upper part of the
spindle with right hand and screw clockwise (from a top view) the spindle and the motor shaft to
fix it.
7.4 Switch on the viscometer by pressing the button on the left side of the rear, then the screen
flashes, the mainframe is on standby and the step motor does not work.
7.5 Input the spindle code, the displayed spindle code will be changed once the “Spindle” key is
pressed and the code is circulated among L1→L2→L3→L4→L0.The input is over when the
selected spindle code is displayed.
7.6 Selecting the rotating speed: the displayed speed of the spindle will be changed once the “Speed”
key is pressed and it is circulated among the speed level specified (e.g. 6.0→12.0→30.0→60.0).
The selection of the rotating speed is over when the speed of the selected spindle is displayed.
7.7 By revolving the knob of the ascending and descending rack, the viscometer will go down slowly
and the spindle will be immersed into the liquid that will be measured until the mark of the
spindle is in the same level with the liquid. And then adjust the position of the viscometer to the
horizontal level.
7.8 By pressing the “Run” key, the step motor start to work, then you can measure the viscosity and
the torque of the spindle under the current rotating speed. If the liquid is non-Newtonian, the
figures will change slowly.
7.9 In the course of measurement, if you need to change the spindle, you can press the “Reset” key.
At this moment, the motor stops and the viscometer is on standby. After the spindle is changed,
you can continue to measure with the procedures from 7.5 to 7.8 mentioned above.
7.10 Pressing “Print/Timing” key to perform printing or timing measurement function.
7.10.1 Setting the time interval for printing
You should select the time interval for printing firstly. After press the “Print/Timing” key , S ： 00
： 05 will be displayed. The time interval for printing will be changed once you press the
“Print/Timing” key. 00：05→00：10→00：20→00：30→01：00→01：30→02：00→05：00→
will be circulated.
S ： 00 ： 05 stands for printing every 5 seconds, 00 ： 10 stands for printing every 10
seconds, ……05：00 stands for printing every 5 seconds. The rest result can be known by this
way.
When the time interval for printing on the screen is desired, the selection of the time interval
for printing is over.
After the printer is connected, press the “Print/Timing” key to start the printing. “on” will be
printed out and the printing will be performed at the interval time set. To stop printing, press the
“Print/Timing” key again, “off” will printed out and the printing stops.
7.10.2 Setting timing measurement
The timing measurement function has been added to series viscometers since the spindle,
rotating speed and measurement time should be selected in measuring the “non Newton liquid”.
The operator can set different measurement time according to the properties of the samples. The
detailed procedure is given as follows:
Switch on the power of the viscometer, press the “Print/Timing” key before it comes into
the measurement state. Do not release the “Print/Timing” key until the LCD display has changed

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 from “P:00:00” to “T:00:00”. Once press the “Print/Timing” key, the display will circulate
among
“T:00:00→T:00:10→T:00:30→T:01:00→T:02:00→T:03:00→T:04:00→T:05:00→T:10:00→T:1
5:00→T:20:00→T:00:00”. It should be noted that “T:00:00” stands for no timing;“T:00:10”
stands for ten-second measurement; “T:05:00” stands for five-minute measurement and so on.
When the measurement time is displayed, it means that the setting has been completed
automatically.
Since the timing measurement has been selected and set, when the measurement time
reaches a certain value for each measurement, the viscometer meter will stop measuring. And the
LCD screen will display the current viscosity and be locked as well. This function provides the
operators the convenience to record, compare and analyze the progress and result of the “non
Newton liquid” measurement.
In case that this function has to be cancelled, set the measurement time to “T:00:00” in the
same procedures above.

8. Cautions

8.1 Be careful in installing and uninstalling the spindle. When installed and uninstalled, you should
operate by uplifting the joint bolt slightly. Do not do it forcibly. The spindle should be placed
vertically. And so as to protect it from being bended, it is important to prevent it from receiving a
horizontal force.
8.2 Do not place the installed viscometer upside down or on side of it especially when spindle is
installed.
8.3 Keep the screw thread and the side that connects the joint bolt with the spindle clean. The
purpose of doing this is to prevent the rotating spindle from shaking, so as to ensure the accuracy
of the measurement.
8.4 Hold the viscometer in your hand when rising and falling in case that the structure of ascending
and descending rack is too loose.
8.5 Input the new spindle code if the spindle has been exchanged. The used spindle should be
cleaned promptly and then put it back on the rack that collects spindles. To prevent the
viscometer from being damaged, do not clean the spindle that is still on the viscometer and has
not been uninstalled.
8.6 When the liquid has been removed, the spindle as well as the guard leg should be cleaned and
wiped up to avoid the inaccuracy of the measurement caused by the interblended liquid.
8.7 Each viscometer has been equipped with its specified spindle. Do not interblend different
spindles to use on viscometers of different types.
8.8 Do not dismantle and adjust the spare parts inside the viscometer mainframe.
8.9 When removing or transporting the viscometer, the joint screw should be covered by the cap and
the bolt should be screwed down and be placed in the specified box.
8.10 To prevent the installed spindle from being damaged, do not circumrotate it for long time when
there is no liquid.
8.11 Since most samples to be measured are “ non Newton liquid” and their viscosity values vary
with the shear speed and the time, therefore, it is normal that their checking results vary when
using different spindles and rotating speed. You can regulate the spindle, the rotating speed and

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 the time to measure the non Newton liquid according to it characteristic. . For measure time
setting, please refer to 7.10.2 above.

9. How to reduce the inaccuracy of the measurement

9.1 Use the basin with constant temperature to precisely control the temperature of the liquid to be
measured.
9.2 Make sure that the spindle and the protective frame have been cleaning before starting the
measurement.
9.3 Before starting the measurement, make sure that the spindle is placed in the center of the vessel
and the liquid surface mark of the spindle level off the surface of liquid to be measured.
9.4 Soak the spindle in the measured liquid for more than 10 minutes to get the same temperature for
both, and then you can start the measurement.
9.5 Stop the motor at the time when high speed measurement is switched to low speed measurement
by pressing the reset key. Set the value for low-speed measurement but do not start the
measurement at this moment. In case of the inaccuracy caused by the circumvolved inertia of the
liquid, wait until the liquid surface turns out to be stationary, and then press the “Run” key.
9.6 When measuring the low viscosity of the liquid, spindle Code.L1 should be selected, while
measuring the high viscosity of the liquid, spindle Code.L4 should be chosen to do the
measurement.
9.7 The measuring time for the viscosity measured at low speed is relatively longer.
9.8 During the measurement, to ascend or descend the viscometer, or to switch the spindle or the
measured liquid will affect the horizontal situation of the viscometer. Therefore, it is necessary to
check or adjust the level of the viscometer promptly.
9.9 Detect the viscometer by using standard viscosity liquid regularly or when necessary. The
purpose of doing this is to follow up its performance and working condition from time to time.
(To select the proper standard viscosity liquid, please refer to the range of the viscosity
commonly-measured liquid.)

10. Sampling measurement for unknown viscosity

How to measure the liquid or sample with unknown viscosity range is a challenge to lab
operator. In this case, please perform the measurement according to the following principles and
methods.
10.1 The general principle for measurement: For the sample with high viscosity, you should choose
the small size spindle (Code L3 and L4) and slow rotating speed. For the sample with low
viscosity, you should choose the large size spindle (Code L1 and L2) and fast rotating speed.
10.2 You should estimate the viscosity range of the sample to be measured. According to the
principle, you should choose the spindle first and then choose the rotating speed. For example,
when the spindle L1 is rotating at the speed of 60RPM，the full capacity displayed on the screen
is 1000 mPa.s. And when the rotating speed is changed into 6RPM, the full capacity is 100mPa.s
that is reduced 10 fold.
10.3 In the case that you can not estimate the viscosity of the sample to be measured, you should try
the spindle from small size to large size and the rotating speed from slow to fast. Then judge

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 whether the choices of spindle and rotating speed are appropriate by the torque.
10.4 When the sample is measured, the torque should between 20% and 90%. The viscosity
measured within this range is the correct value. For Code L0 spindle, this torque range is
between 10% and 90%. If it is not within this range, the viscometer will alarm, reminding the
user to change the rotating speed and spindle. When is spindle is changed, the new spindle code
should be input to the viscometer immediately, otherwise the measurement will be effected.

11. Frequent problems and trouble shooting:

Facts Possible Reasons Solutions

Put some rubber pieces under
The level bulb can NOT
The slope of the working desk is large the seat to adjust the horizontal
be adjusted to the center
level
Protective frame is not installed See Item 9.2
The spindle used and the code displayed are not See the main installing chart
coherent and Part 5
The viscometer is not adjusted to horizontal
level; or the level is changed due to other See Items 7.7 and 9.8
operations.
the surface of liquid is under the liquid surface
The value is NOT See Item 9.3
accurate in measuring mark of the spindle
the Newton liquid Spindle is not installed properly See Item 8.3
The spindle is not cleaned after last
See Item 8.6
measurement
The spindle does not match the viscometer See Item 8.7
The sample temperature varies in Measurement See Item 9.1 and Item 9.4
Mechanical parts of the viscometer is aging or
See Item 9.9
damaged
No display of temp RTD temperature probe is not equipped See Part 3
RTD temperature probe is damaged Change a new one
Display of temp is
The probe and the viscometer is not connected
abnormal Connect them again
properly
Measurement stops Measurement time of the timing function is
See Item 7.10.2
automatically activated.
Exceed the measurement range (Torque should
Viscometer alarm be within 20% and 90%. For spindle code L0, Change the speed or spindle
the range is from 10% to 90%.)
The sample measured is non Newton liquid See Item 7.10.2 and Item 8.11
Value always varies in The sample temperature varies in Measurement See Item 9.1 and Item 9.4
measurement Mechanical parts of the viscometer is aging or
See Item 9.9
damaged
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1. Spindle Handling: Install and uninstall the spindle carefully, lifting the joint bolt gently and
ensuring vertical placement to prevent bending and avoid horizontal forces.

2. Viscometer Care: Avoid placing the viscometer upside down or on its side with the spindle
installed; keep the screw thread and joint bolt clean for measurement accuracy, and hold the
viscometer while moving to prevent loose rack issues.

3. Maintenance: Input the new spindle code if exchanged, promptly clean used spindles, and refrain
from cleaning an installed spindle to prevent damage.

4. Liquid Removal: After removing liquid, clean the spindle and guard leg promptly to avoid
measurement inaccuracies.

5. Specificity and Transport: Use the specified spindle for each viscometer without interchange,
avoid dismantling viscometer mainframe parts, and cover the joint screw while screwing down the
bolt during removal or transport.

6. Spindle Operation: Refrain from prolonged circumrotation of the installed spindle without liquid
to prevent damage.

7. Non-Newtonian Liquids: Acknowledge viscosity variation in non-Newtonian liquids; adjust spindle,

speed, and time according to characteristics, referencing section 7.10.2 for measurement time
settings.
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Drawell International Technology Limited
Shanghai Drawell Scientific Instrument Co.,Ltd

Add : Suite 1506,Lane581 XiuChuan Rd.,PuDong New Area,Shanghai,China

Tel: 0086 21 50966080
Fax: 0086 21 50966080
Web : www.drawell.com.cn
Email : [email protected]