What are end conditions within the AVA Schedule?

Each step in the Schedule has one or more end conditions that it must complete before AVA moves on to the next step in the Schedule.

To view or edit the end conditions for a step, click on the step in the Schedule to see the step properties, and then press the down arrow next to ‘End Conditions’ to expand.

There are three types of end conditions:

1. Duration (time period)

All steps will have this as an end condition.  The step needs to have been active for the specified time before it will be completed.

2. Set value

This optional end condition refers to the value set for that specific step, e.g. a circulator is set to achieve a reaction temperature of 50°C, or an overhead stirrer is set to 200 rpm.  If the ‘Duration and set value achieved’ box is ticked in the step properties, then the step will only move on when both the set time has elapsed and the set value of the step has been achieved.  Depending on the type of device, this box may be ticked as default (e.g. it is ticked as default for circulators but not for overhead stirrers).

3. Another sensor value

This alternative optional end condition is used if you want a different measured value (can be a different device) to determine the end of the step (in addition to the time, as always).  In the step properties, if you tick the box ‘Duration and another sensor value reached’, you can specify what you want this to be.