3nh NH310 Portable Color Difference Meter

Overview

The 3nh NH310 Portable Color Difference Meter is a high-precision, handheld spectrophotometric instrument engineered for industrial color quality control in manufacturing, R&D, and QC laboratories. It operates on the 8°/diffuse (8/d) measurement geometry—compliant with CIE No. 15 and ISO 7724-1—ensuring metrological consistency with international colorimetric standards. The device integrates a multi-channel silicon photodiode array sensor, a stabilized IC platform, and proprietary spectral calibration algorithms to deliver repeatable ΔE*ab measurements with industry-leading stability. Designed for real-world production environments, the NH310 bridges the performance gap between entry-level handheld meters and benchtop spectrophotometers—offering laboratory-grade accuracy in a field-deployable form factor weighing only 500 g.

Key Features

• Automated white/black tile calibration at startup—eliminates manual recalibration drift and ensures measurement continuity across shifts.
• Ergonomic housing with tactile button layout and balanced center-of-gravity design—reduces operator fatigue during extended use and minimizes hand-induced measurement variance.
• Integrated CMOS camera for visual targeting—enables precise positioning on small or irregular surfaces; minimum target width: 4 mm.
• Dual-illumination guidance system—combines LED ring illumination and optical crosshair projection for rapid, unambiguous sampling alignment (a patented 3nh innovation).
• Triple aperture configuration: standard Φ8 mm and optional Φ4 mm (built-in), plus extendable Φ8 mm probe for concave or recessed surfaces (accessory).
• Five standardized color spaces: CIELAB (L*a*b*), CIELCH, CIEXYZ, CIERGB, CIELUV—supporting comprehensive chromaticity analysis per ISO 11664 series.
• Three selectable illuminants: D65 (daylight), D50 (graphic arts), and A (incandescent)—each implemented via blue-pumped LED excitation with spectral power distribution validated against CIE S 005/E:2015.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The NH310 accommodates flat, curved, textured, and semi-gloss surfaces—including plastics, paints, textiles, ceramics, and coated metals—without requiring sample preparation. Its 8/d optical path suppresses directional reflectance artifacts common in directional geometries (e.g., 45°/0°). Measurement repeatability is ≤0.08 ΔE*ab (30 measurements on certified white tile, SD ≤0.03), and inter-instrument agreement is ≤0.40 ΔE*ab (per ASTM E308-22 Annex A3 protocol). Device firmware and PC software support audit-trail generation and user-access controls aligned with GLP/GMP documentation requirements. Data export formats (CSV, TXT, XML) are compatible with LIMS integration and comply with ISO/IEC 17025 traceability frameworks.

Software & Data Management

The bundled SpectraMagic NX-compatible PC software (v4.x, licensed per unit with unique serial key and password protection) provides full spectral data management:

• Color difference analysis using ΔE*ab, ΔE*CIE94, ΔE*CIE2000, and ΔE*Hunter formulas.
• Cumulative color deviation tracking across batches—critical for statistical process control (SPC) in automotive or packaging industries.
• Comprehensive color library management: up to 8,000 sample records and 100 reference standards per database.
• On-screen color simulation under multiple illuminants—enabling metamerism assessment without physical samples.
• Exportable reports with embedded metadata (timestamp, operator ID, instrument SN, calibration history) meeting FDA 21 CFR Part 11 electronic record requirements when deployed with validated IT infrastructure.

Applications

The NH310 serves as a primary color verification tool in sectors where visual consistency impacts brand integrity and regulatory compliance:

• Automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers—verifying paint, interior trim, and dashboard components against master standards.
• Plastics compounders—monitoring batch-to-batch pigment dispersion uniformity in extrusion and injection molding lines.
• Printing and packaging—validating ink density, substrate whiteness, and label color fidelity per ISO 12647-2.
• Textile dye houses—assessing colorfastness (AATCC TM16, ISO 105-B02) and shade matching across fiber types.
• Food and pharmaceutical packaging—ensuring label legibility and compliance with FDA colorant regulations (21 CFR Parts 73–82).

FAQ

What is the measurement repeatability specification of the NH310?

Repeatability is ≤0.08 ΔE*ab (standard deviation over 30 consecutive measurements on a certified white calibration tile), measured per ISO 13655:2017 Annex B.

Does the NH310 support GLP-compliant data handling?

Yes—the PC software supports user-defined roles, electronic signatures, and immutable audit trails for calibration events, measurement sessions, and report generation.

Can the device measure curved or recessed surfaces?

Standard configuration measures flat and gently curved surfaces; an optional extended Φ8 mm probe enables reliable measurement of concave features down to 15 mm radius of curvature.

How long does a full charge last under typical usage?

A single 8-hour charge delivers ≥3,000 measurements (at 2-second interval, ambient 23°C), exceeding IEC 62368-1 battery endurance benchmarks for portable test equipment.

Is spectral data export available for third-party analysis?

Yes—raw reflectance spectra (360–740 nm, 10 nm intervals) and calculated colorimetric values can be exported in CSV and XML formats for integration with MATLAB, Python (NumPy/Pandas), or enterprise QMS platforms.