Made to order

Microtrac SYNC Particle Size and Shape Analyzer

With every system

Installation & training on-site alignment and size/shape/BLEND onboarding
Method + sample run a size-and-shape measurement on your own powder

Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA), Laser Diffraction (LD), Microtrac Particle Characterization, Particle Size & Shape Analysis

Microtrac SYNC Particle Size and Shape Analyzer

Laser diffraction and dynamic image analysis on the same sample, in the same cell, at the same time — size from 0.01 to 4000 µm and more than 30 shape parameters in a typical 10 to 30 seconds.

Oversize, sphericity and satellites in metal AM powder, alongside the ISO 13320 size distribution
FLOWSYNC wet and TURBOSYNC dry modules, changed in less than 15 seconds
Installation and on-site training included · free test measurement
Configured to order · lead time from 4 weeks

Request a formal quotation →

Prices follow supplier cost and stock availability and are updated regularly. The price you see is today's price — once you order, it's held for 7 days.

Installation + training included Free test measurement

0.01–4000 µm measuring range

2 techniques in one cell

30+ shape parameters

<15 s wet ↔ dry swap

What your process engineer actually checks

Size and shape agree

One SYNC measurement gives an ISO 13320 size distribution and ISO 13322-2 shape data from the same particles — no reconciling two instruments, and the BLEND routine shows exactly where the methods differ.

An applications engineer on the line

0.01–4000 µm

Measuring range

LD + DIA

Two techniques, one cell

5.2 MP · 60 fps

Camera

30+

Shape parameters

Wet & dry

Modules

About this product

Price

Quoted to your configuration

The price depends on the laser configuration — all red, or red and blue — and on the dispersion modules: FLOWSYNC or FLOWSYNC MINI for wet measurement, TURBOSYNC for dry, or both. You receive a formal quotation on our letterhead with configuration, price, payment terms and lead time: the document your purchasing department asks for. Installation and on-site operator training are included in every quotation. Lead time from 4 weeks, depending on the configuration; the quotation gives the date.

What you configure

SYNC analyzer — Tri-Laser diffraction and a 5.2 MP camera with stroboscopic light on one optical bench and one sample cell
Lasers: 3 red, 1 red + 2 blue, or 2 red
FLOWSYNC wet module (200 ml) with in-line variable-power ultrasonic probe, or FLOWSYNC MINI (40 ml)
TURBOSYNC dry module — compressed-air dispersion up to 50 psi (345 kPa), samples from 0.1 cm³
FLEX software with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 security features; full IQ/OQ validation package
Installation and on-site operator training — included in every quotation

Next stepRequest a formal quotation

The test measurement of your powder is free: it is run in Microtrac’s US application lab, you get the size and shape report, and we go through it with you before you decide.

0.01 – 4000 µmMeasuring range, wet and dry

Size and shapeLaser diffraction (ISO 13320) and image analysis (ISO 13322-2) in one analysis

10–30 secondsTypical analysis time

Under 15 secondsTo change from the wet to the dry module

What the SYNC is

The SYNC is a Microtrac particle analyzer that makes a laser diffraction measurement and a dynamic image analysis on the same sample, in the same cell, at the same time. Three lasers and two fixed detector arrays collect scattered light from 0.02° to 165° for the size distribution, while a stroboscopic light and a 5.2 MP camera photograph the same particle stream and record more than 30 size and shape parameters for every imaged particle. You can look at the diffraction result, the image analysis result, or both combined with the patented BLEND routine. The sample is dispersed in liquid in the FLOWSYNC or in air in the TURBOSYNC, and the modules change in less than 15 seconds.

Specifications

Measuring principles	Laser diffraction (ISO 13320) + dynamic image analysis (ISO 13322-2)
Measuring range	0.01 – 4000 µm
Lasers	red 780 nm, blue 405 nm · 3 red, 1 red + 2 blue, or 2 red · class 1
Laser power	red 0.35–2 mW nominal · blue 10 mW nominal
Detection	2 fixed detectors, 151 segments, 0.02° – 165°
Camera	5.2 MP (2560 × 2048 px), up to 60 fps at maximum resolution
Morphology	more than 30 parameters per particle
Precision (CV)	0.7% glass beads D₅₀ 642 µm · 1.0% glass beads D₅₀ 57 µm · 0.6% latex D₅₀ 0.4 µm
Typical analysis time	10–30 seconds
Wet operation	200 ml nominal · 0–65 ml/s with water · inlet max. 50 psig (345 kPa)
Dry operation	max. 50 psi (345 kPa) · min. 3 CFM at 50 psi · clean, dry, oil-free air
Vacuum	at least 80 CFM (38 l/s)
Electrical	90–264 VAC, 50/60 Hz, single phase · approx. 30 VA max.
Environment	5–40 °C · max. 90% RH, non-condensing
Dimensions (H × W × D)	457 × 787 × 305 mm (18 × 31 × 12 in)
Weight	24 kg (53 lb)
Data integrity	FDA 21 CFR Part 11 security features · IQ/OQ package
Installation and training	on site, included in every quotation
Lead time	from 4 weeks, depending on configuration

Download: SYNC brochure (PDF)

What it tells you about a metal powder

Microtrac’s brochure puts it plainly for additive manufacturing: powders must have the right size distribution and be round, and oversize and non-spherical particles have to be caught because they change packing density and flowability. One SYNC measurement gives you:

Size distribution	laser diffraction over 0.01 – 4000 µm, including the fines
Oversize	small amounts of oversized or undersized fractions, detected with the help of the images
Sphericity, aspect ratio, roundness	deviations from spherical, from the same particles
Satellites	small particles fused to large ones, visible in the particle images
Dispersion quality	agglomerates seen directly instead of inferred from the curve

Filters find particles with a given property or combination of properties, and scatter plots show each imaged particle as one point, so a lot that fails a limit can be traced to the particles that caused it.

Wet or dry: the dispersion modules

FLOWSYNC — wet, 200 mlAutomatic filling, de-aerating and circulating, with an in-line ultrasonic probe of variable power for agglomerated material. Works with water, alcohol and organic solvents such as hexane or toluene, and rinses itself between samples.

FLOWSYNC MINI — wet, 40 mlThe same automated wet handling for smaller liquid volumes, with built-in turbulence that keeps all particles moving without an external stirrer.

TURBOSYNC — dryA moving sample tray feeds the powder; air and flow settings up to 50 psi (345 kPa) are tuned from fragile to highly agglomerated material. Samples from 0.1 cm³, or several trays combined into one record; usually 10–40 seconds.

The modules come off the analyzer in a single movement. Cables and hoses stay connected at the back, so the change from wet to dry needs no plugging and unplugging of mechanical or electrical connections.

Where the SYNC stops — and what to take instead

The SYNC measures up to 4000 µm, and its camera records a two-dimensional image of each particle. For size and shape up to 8 mm with sieve-comparable particle width and three dispersion methods, take the CAMSIZER X2+; for coarse material up to 135 mm, the CAMSIZER XL; for length, width and thickness of each particle, the CAMSIZER 3D. If you need size only, a laser diffraction instrument without the camera is enough: the S3500 or, for sub-micron work, the BLUEWAVE.

Make your own powder, measure it, print it

We supply ATO ultrasonic atomizers and our own AO Metal LPBF printers. With a SYNC between them, the size distribution, oversize and sphericity of each atomized batch are checked in your own laboratory before the powder goes into the printer: atomize, measure, print, repeat.

In pictures

Microtrac SYNC combined laser diffraction and image analysis particle analyzer — The SYNC — laser diffraction and dynamic image analysis in one measuring cell.

SYNC combines laser diffraction and dynamic image analysis in one measuring cell — Functional principle — laser diffraction and image analysis on the same particles.

Microtrac SYNC FLOWSYNC wet dispersion module for suspensions — FLOWSYNC — wet module for suspensions and emulsions.

Microtrac SYNC TURBOSYNC dry dispersion module for free-flowing powders — TURBOSYNC — dry module for free-flowing powders. Swaps in under 15 s.

Metal AM powder size and shape analysis on the Microtrac SYNC — Metal AM powder — PSD and sphericity together.

Pigments analyzed for fine particle size and shape on the Microtrac SYNC — Pigments — fine size down to sub-micron, wet dispersion.

Pharmaceutical capsules and granules analyzed on the Microtrac SYNC — Pharmaceutical granules — size and shape for flow and content.

Availability, payment and delivery

Built to orderEach instrument is configured with the lasers and modules for your materials. Lead time is from 4 weeks after a confirmed order, depending on the configuration; the quotation states the date in writing.

How you payAsk for a formal quotation on our letterhead and pay against an invoice. We are registered in SAM.gov as a small business, so federal and university purchasing works the usual way.

What arrivesThe analyzer with the modules you ordered and FLEX software. Installation and on-site operator training are included in every quotation and carried out by Microtrac’s US service engineers.

Why buy it through Additive Plus

Authorized Microtrac resellerQuotation, order and delivery handled by one team in California, used to metal powder work

Installation and training includedSet up on site and your team trained on size, shape and the BLEND view — part of every quotation

Free test measurementSend a sample of your powder and decide with the report in hand

What usually stops people — and the honest answer

“We already have laser diffraction.”The SYNC is a laser diffraction instrument to ISO 13320, so your size history keeps its meaning. It adds the images of the same particles, and BLEND shows where the two methods agree and where they do not.

“We measure wet one day and dry the next.”The FLOWSYNC and TURBOSYNC change in less than 15 seconds, with no cables or hoses to reconnect.

“Do we need the blue lasers?”Blue lasers improve detection in the sub-micron range, including narrow and multi-modal distributions there. If your material has no sub-micron fraction, the red configuration may be enough. Send a sample — the test measurement is free — and the report answers it.

“We are a regulated lab.”FLEX software has password protection, electronic signatures and assignable permissions under FDA 21 CFR Part 11, and a full IQ/OQ validation package is available.

Turning measurements into reports? URIQA, an AI research workspace built by materials scientists, keeps analyzer exports, certificates and papers in one project and drafts reports where every number cites its source.

Ready when you are

Request a formal quotation

Brand	Microtrac
Country of origin	USA
Measuring range	0.01 µm - 4 mm
Measuring principle	Laser Diffraction (ISO 13320); Dynamic Image Analysis (ISO 13322-2)
Precision	Spherical glass beads D50 = 642 microns, precision as CV = 0.7% Spherical glass beads D50 = 57 microns, precision as CV = 1.0% Spherical latex beads D50 = 0.4 microns, precision as CV = 0.6% Depending on sample material and sample preparation
Laser class	Red 780 nm, blue 405 nm Class 1 laser product per CFR 1040.10 & IEC60825-1
Laser power	Red laser 0.35 to 2 mW nominal Blue laser 4-8 mW nominal
Detection system	Two fixed photo-electric detectors with logarithmically spaced segments are placed at correct angles for optimal scattered light detection from 0 to 165 degrees using 151 detector segments.
Data	Volume, number and area distributions as well as percentile and other summary data
Data format	Stored in ODBC format in encrypted Microsoft Access Databases to ensure compatibility with external statistical software applications
Data integrity	Data integrity may be ensured using FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliant security features including password protection, electronic signatures and assignable permissions
Type of analysis	Dry and wet analysis
Measuring time	~ 10 to 30 seconds
Power requirements	AC input: 90 - 264 VAC, 47 - 63 Hz, single phase
Power consumption	25 W nominal, 50 W max., depending on options installed
Temperature	5° to 40° Celsius (50° to 95° Fahrenheit)
Humidity	90% RH, non-condensing maximum
Storage Temperature	-10° to 50° Celsius (14° to 122° Fahrenheit) (dry only)
Standards	Laser Diffraction (ISO 13320) Dynamic Image Analysis (ISO 13322-2) Representation of results of particle size analysis (ISO 9276-6)
Image analysis	5.2 megapixel (2560 x 2048), 22 fps at max resolution
Wet operation	Volume: 200 ml nominal Flow rate: 0 to 65 ml/sec with water Inlet pressure: 50 psig (345 kPa) maximum
Dry operation	100 psi (689 kPa) maximum pressure 5 CFM (8.5 m3/h) at 50 psi (345 kPa) minimum flow rate Free of dry contaminants, moisture and oil
Vacuum	Vacuum must meet or exceed 50 CFM (85 m3/h)
Physical specifications	Case Material: Impact resistant plastic Exterior surfaces are finished with corrosion resistant paint or plating Chemical Compatibility: Class I
Dimensions (W x H x D)	32.3×18.1×19.7in / 820×460×500mm
Weight (Measuring unit)	FlowSync: 43lbs / 19.5kg; TurboSync: 30lbs / 13.6kg; Sync: 50.8lbs / 23.6kg

Download Microtrac SYNC Particle Size and Shape Analyzer brochure

pdf · 2159 KB

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Product videos

What our customers say

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“Harry and team were professional, effective communicators as we set up the order, then they executed quickly and produced an amazing product for us at a very competitive price. Am looking forward to our next print w Additive Plus!”

Luke DunningtonGoogle · Nov 2025

★★★★★

“Great 3D printing service and the resin parts look super smooth and clean. Really happy with how everything turned out!”

Laura SmithGoogle · Sep 2025

★★★★★

“Harry was very professional and helped me out with my 3D printing needs and explained what options I have in terms of filaments such as PEEK. Highly recommended.”

Steven FrancoGoogle · Oct 2026

★★★★★

“I needed a 3D enclosure printed urgently in a specific time period, they did great!”

IvoGoogle · Sep 2026

Common questions

Don't see yours? Email [email protected] — NDA on request, typical reply within 4 hours.

What does the SYNC measure that a laser diffraction analyzer alone does not?

The SYNC adds dynamic image analysis to laser diffraction in the same cell, on the same sample, at the same time. Alongside the ISO 13320 size distribution it records more than 30 size and shape parameters for every imaged particle — width, length, aspect ratio, sphericity, circularity, roundness, solidity, transparency and more — and detects small amounts of oversized or undersized material.

What size range does the SYNC cover?

0.01 to 4000 µm. Three lasers — all red, or red 780 nm with blue 405 nm — and two fixed detectors with 151 segments collect scattered light from 0.02° to 165°. The camera has 5.2 MP and runs at up to 60 frames per second at full resolution.

What is the BLEND routine?

BLEND is Microtrac's patented way of combining the two results. From one measurement you can look at the laser diffraction result alone, the image analysis result alone, or the combination — useful for checking one method against the other and for catching oversize particles that diffraction alone reports poorly.

How does the SYNC switch between wet and dry measurement?

The FLOWSYNC wet module (200 ml, or 40 ml for the FLOWSYNC MINI) and the TURBOSYNC dry module (compressed-air dispersion up to 50 psi, samples from 0.1 cm³) are exchanged in less than 15 seconds. Cables and hoses stay connected at the back of the analyzer.

Which standards does the SYNC meet?

Laser diffraction to ISO 13320 and dynamic image analysis to ISO 13322-2. The FLEX software has password protection, electronic signatures and assignable permissions under FDA 21 CFR Part 11, and a full IQ/OQ validation package is available.

Is the SYNC suitable for metal AM powder QC?

Yes. Microtrac lists metal powders and 3D printing among its fields and describes the additive manufacturing case directly: oversize and deviations from spherical shape change packing density and flowability. The SYNC gives the size distribution and the shape data from the same particles, and its images show satellites — small particles fused to large ones.

What lead time and support come with the SYNC?

The SYNC is configured to order with the lasers and modules your materials need. Lead time is from 4 weeks after a confirmed order, depending on the configuration, and the formal quotation states the date. Installation and on-site operator training by Microtrac's US service engineers are included in every quotation.

How much does a Microtrac SYNC cost?

The price depends on the configuration — the laser set and whether you take the FLOWSYNC, the TURBOSYNC or both. Request a formal quotation and you receive configuration, price, payment terms and lead time on our letterhead. Installation and on-site operator training are included in every quotation.

Can I test my powder before buying?

Yes, and the test measurement is free. Send a representative sample; it is measured in Microtrac's US application lab and you receive the size and shape report, which we go through with you before you decide.

Should I choose red-only or red and blue lasers?

Blue lasers improve detection in the sub-micron range, including narrow and multi-modal distributions there. If your material has no sub-micron fraction, the red configuration may be enough. A free test measurement of your sample is the simplest way to decide.

Place your order, or talk to an engineer first

Order Microtrac SYNC Particle Size and Shape Analyzer direct, or talk to materials engineer

Add to cart

Microtrac SYNC Particle Size and Shape Analyzer

What your process engineer actually checks

Size and shape agree

An applications engineer on the line

What the SYNC is

Specifications

What it tells you about a metal powder

Wet or dry: the dispersion modules

Where the SYNC stops — and what to take instead

Make your own powder, measure it, print it

In pictures

Availability, payment and delivery

Why buy it through Additive Plus

What usually stops people — and the honest answer

Ready when you are

Download Microtrac SYNC Particle Size and Shape Analyzer brochure

Product videos

Other products teams run alongside Microtrac SYNC Particle Size and Shape Analyzer

What our customers say

Common questions

Place your order, or talk to an engineer first