{"id":46324,"date":"2026-01-12T21:26:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T21:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alicat.com\/?p=46324"},"modified":"2026-01-12T22:37:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T22:37:31","slug":"diy-gas-mischen-mit-alicat-instrumenten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alicat.com\/de\/articles\/diy-gas-mixing-with-alicat-instruments\/","title":{"rendered":"DIY-Gasmischen mit Alicat-Instrumenten"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2em||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_heading title=”DIY Gas Mixing Setups with Alicat Instruments” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_free_form=”selector h1 {|| text-wrap: pretty;||}” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.alicat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Test-bench.webp” alt=”Test bench” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” module_id=”article-hero-image” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”1.5rem||||false|false” custom_css_free_form=”selector img {|| object-fit: cover;||}” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider color=”#2A3B47″ divider_weight=”2.5px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” height=”0px” custom_margin=”3rem||3rem||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_heading title=”If you were a welder…” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]If you were to crack open a cylinder of Argon and a cylinder of CO2<\/sub>, what are the odds you could eyeball it, and end up with a precise 60% – 40% shielding gas mix for a TIG welder? Slim to none.<\/p>\n

The art of creating precise gas mixtures is the backbone of thousands of industrial and commercial applications, from welding and chemical synthesis to food packaging and semiconductor manufacturing. Yet, it is by no means easy. Small deviations in critical factors like flow, pressure, temperature, or gas properties can destroy a mix and affect results downstream.<\/p>\n

So, continuing our hypothetical, you get yourself some help. A premixed gas cylinder offers convenience at a cost, but requires storage, handling, and doesn’t account for different composition requirements, say a 75% – 25% mix for those unwieldy materials.\u00a0 If you had a way to mix shield gas on-site, you could create your own composition, provided you had a system to accurately control mix ratios in real-time.<\/p>\n

So what’s the right approach?<\/p>\n

Gas mixing isn’t a fixed science; it’s more of an engineering dilemma with many valid solutions that depend heavily on the required accuracy, system complexity, and process variability. In cases where composition needs change with conditions—and a static pre-mix isn\u2019t sufficient, but a fully automated system may be overkill—a DIY approach becomes an attractive middle ground.<\/p>\n

While Alicat®<\/sup> offers complete, automated FusionFlow™ gas blending instruments<\/a>, this article focuses on a flexible alternative: building DIY gas mixing systems using Alicat Scientific’s Laminar DP flow and pressure instruments<\/a> and their compatible software tools.<\/a>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Powerful tools from Alicat, at your fingertips” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Whether mixing a single pair of gases or coordinating a larger multi-channel setup, Alicat mass flow and pressure devices support gas mixing by providing fast, accurate control, wide multigas capability, and straightforward integration with automation systems.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Gas Select\u2122 and COMPOSER \u2122 for changing gases ” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.alicat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AdobeStock_258237314_gasmix.webp” alt=”Gas tanks” align_tablet=”” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”50%” max_width_tablet=”50%” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”1rem||||false|false” custom_padding=”||2rem|2rem|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_main_element=”float: right;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”float: none;” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”float: right;” theme_builder_area=”post_content” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” sticky_enabled=”0″ custom_padding_phone=”|||0rem|false|false” max_height=”270px” custom_padding_tablet=”||2rem|2rem|false|false”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Alicat M\/MC‑Series instruments include Gas Select,<\/a> an internal database of 98 – 130 pre-loaded gases. Users can switch between gases directly from the display or through any supported communication protocol, with no recalibration or K-factors required.<\/p>\n

COMPOSER<\/a> allows users to define custom gas blends with up to five constituents at 0.1 percent resolution. Up to 20 custom gas mixtures can be stored internally, making it easy to move between processes without interrupting work or reconfiguring external software.<\/p>\n

Each selected gas or custom mixture maintains full NIST-traceable accuracy. Alicat’s laminar differential pressure technology automatically adjusts for gas properties, ensuring the calibrated accuracy applies across every pure gas and mixed blend stored on the device.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Connect multiple devices with multi-drop boxes ” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.alicat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/BB9-1.webp” alt=”BB9 Drop Box” align_tablet=”” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”50%” custom_padding=”|2rem|2rem||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|2rem|2rem||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0rem|2rem||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element=”float: left;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”float: none;” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”float: left;” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]To simplify system power management and communications, the BB9, BB8, and BB3 multi-drop boxes<\/a> allow multiple Alicat instruments to share a single power source while communicating with a single PLC or computer. Multiple BBX units can be daisy-chained, enabling coordinated control of up to twenty-six instruments.<\/p>\n

This connectivity is especially valuable in DIY gas-mixing and multi-gas delivery systems, where multiple gas streams must be controlled independently but operate as a coordinated whole.<\/p>\n

In one application, a user built a fuel-cell test stand requiring backpressure control while keeping hydrogen, air, and purge gas flows separated. Although the gas streams were not physically mixed upstream, they were digitally coordinated to maintain precise flow rates, pressure balance, and stable operating conditions at the point of use.<\/p>\n

By connecting multiple mass flow controllers, pressure controllers, and backpressure regulators through a shared BBX network, the user was able to power, monitor, and adjust each device from a single control interface. This approach reduces wiring complexity, simplifies system expansion, and makes it easier to add or reconfigure gas lines as test requirements evolve.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”FlowVision\u2122 MX for multi-channel gas mixing ” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_text_align=”left” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

FlowVision MX<\/a> provides an easy-to-use software platform for coordinating multi-channel gas mixing systems. Users can configure up to ten mass flow controllers, set mixture ratios, and adjust total or individual gas percentages from a single interface.<\/p>\n

The software supports saving and reloading mixtures, logging performance data, and reviewing mixture accuracy over time. Its built-in controls make it easy to script automated sequences or make real-time adjustments during testing.<\/p>\n

FlowVision MX runs on standard Windows systems and integrates directly with Alicat instruments, offering a low-cost way to manage multi-gas setups without custom programming.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Batching, Totalizing, and Alarm Features ” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_text_align=”left” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||2rem|2rem|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||0rem|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|||0rem|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_main_element=”float: right;” custom_css_free_form=”selector figure {|| display: table;|| margin-left: auto;|| margin-right: auto;|| text-align: center;||}||||selector figcaption {|| caption-side: bottom;|| display: table-caption;||}||||selector img {|| margin-bottom: 1rem;||}” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”float: none;” custom_css_main_element_phone=”float: none;” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|tablet” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″ custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_margin_tablet=”1rem||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”1rem||0px||false|false”]<\/p>\n

\"Gas<\/p>
Mass flow meter totalizing gas flow into the high-altitude balloon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”1rem||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Digital flow totalizers for tracking delivered volume<\/h4>\n

Alicat instruments include an integrated digital totalizer<\/a> that records the total amount of gas dispensed since the last reset. Users can view cumulative flow, elapsed time, and peak flow directly on the device or over serial communication, making it simple to\u00a0monitor batch runs or long-duration tests.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In one application, the Flying Apple Space Technologies (FAST) team—a group of Nevada based students and researchers dedicated to high-altitude projects—took this capability into the field. While preparing for a weather balloon launch on the road, the team used a portable Alicat flow meter<\/a> to precisely totalize helium and hydrogen during filling<\/a>. Real-time totalization allowed them to stop the fill at exactly the right moment, preventing overfilling and ensuring a safe launch, without the need for a fixed lab setup, or cumbersome equipment.<\/p>\n

Batch dispensing for precise dosing<\/h4>\n

With batching enabled<\/a>, controllers automatically dispense a defined gas volume at the user’s chosen flow rate and close the valve once the target amount is reached. This supports repeatable dosing steps in gas-mixing sequences, calibration routines, or automated test cycles.<\/p>\n

Analog alarms for real-time safety and process limits<\/h4>\n

Mainline devices can be configured with high or low analog alarms<\/a> that trigger when flow or pressure exceeds defined thresholds. These alarms integrate easily with PLCs or safety interlocks, providing another layer of protection and process control in multi-gas systems.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Using LabVIEW Drivers ” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

LabVIEW provides a graphical programming environment widely used for instrument monitoring, automation, and test development. Alicat offers ready-made virtual instrument drivers<\/a> that let users drop flow or pressure blocks directly into LabVIEW workflows with minimal coding.<\/p>\n

These drivers simplify data acquisition, device configuration, and device commands, making it straightforward to integrate multiple Alicat instruments into existing LabVIEW test stands or research setups.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Simulink Toolbox Integration ” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]JTEC Energy developed slx_ALICAT, a MATLAB\/Simulink toolbox<\/a> that brings Alicat sensing and control capabilities into Simulink’s drag-and-drop environment. The toolbox lets engineers build models, simulate device behavior, and run automated control logic without needing to write code.<\/p>\n

This makes it easy to prototype mixing strategies, configure multi-channel systems, or incorporate Alicat instruments into larger simulation frameworks for testing or real-time control.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Built for flow and mixing Systems” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||2rem|2rem|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||2rem|0rem|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_main_element=”float: right;” custom_css_free_form=”selector figure {|| display: table;|| margin-left: auto;|| margin-right: auto;|| text-align: center;||}||||selector figcaption {|| caption-side: bottom;|| display: table-caption;||}||||selector img {|| margin-bottom: 1rem;||}” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”float: right;” custom_css_main_element_phone=”float: none;” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|desktop” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

\"Mass
Mass flow controller 50 SCCM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Alicat MC Series mass flow controllers simplify DIY gas mixing by combining precise control, wide operating range, and real-time insight into a single device—reducing system complexity while improving accuracy and repeatability.<\/p>\n

Wide control range:<\/strong><\/p>\n