Portable Particle Size, Shape & Count Analysis: How the Raptor Portable Works

In many industries, particle analysis is a critical part of quality control, process monitoring, and contamination detection.  But traditional particle measurement often requires a lab environment, complex setup, and trained personnel.  That can slow down decision-making — especially when results are needed quickly in the field or at the point of production.

That’s exactly why Vision Analytical developed the Raptor Portable, a rugged, fully-featured portable particle size and shape analyzer that measures particle size, particle shape, and particle concentration using Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA).  Instead of relying on indirect calculations alone, Dynamic Image Analysis captures actual particle images and generates real measurement data that can be used immediately.

Below is a short video that demonstrates how the Raptor Portable works and how easy it is to operate.

Watch the Raptor Portable Overview Video

Video: Raptor Portable overview and operation

What Does the Raptor Portable Measure?

The Raptor Portable is designed to deliver key particle metrics that matter in real-world applications:

  • Particle size distribution

  • Particle shape analysis (morphology)

  • Particle concentration / particle count

  • High-quality particle images for visual confirmation and investigation

Having all four capabilities in one instrument allows operators to do more than simply report a number. They can understand what is happening inside a sample — whether that sample is a fluid, suspension, or particulate material, depending on the configured application.

Why Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA) Matters

Many traditional particle measurement techniques report particle size based on an assumed shape (often spherical). However, in real industrial environments, particles are rarely perfect spheres. Shape can influence everything from product behavior to filter performance to contamination sources.

Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA) solves this by capturing real images of particles as they pass through the measurement zone. These images allow the system to measure each particle directly and classify it based on both size and shape parameters.

This provides two major advantages:

  1. Direct measurement of particle size and particle shape

  2. Visual evidence — operators can see what the particles look like, which supports faster troubleshooting and better decision-making

A Simple Workflow: From Sample to Results

One reason customers appreciate the Raptor Portable is its ease of operation. The workflow is designed to be simple and repeatable, making it suitable for both lab technicians and operators in industrial environments.

A typical analysis workflow looks like this:

  1. Prepare the sample

  2. Load the sample into the instrument

  3. Start the measurement

  4. Review results and particle images

  5. Export or report data as needed

Within minutes, the user can view particle size distribution, shape classifications, concentration results, and thumbnail images that help confirm particle identity or contamination type.

Portable, Rugged, and Built for Real-World Use

The Raptor Portable is enclosed in a ruggedized case with integrated portability features — enabling testing in a wide range of environments. This makes it ideal for situations where traditional lab instruments can’t easily be deployed.

Examples include:

  • Field testing

  • On-site quality control

  • Remote facility sampling

  • Process monitoring

  • Rapid contamination investigation

With portable particle imaging, results can be generated closer to where decisions are made — eliminating delays associated with shipping samples to centralized labs.

Available Measurement Ranges

The Raptor Portable is available in multiple magnification versions to support a wide range of particle types and sizes, including:

  • Standard magnification: ~1 to 300 μm

  • Low magnification: ~20 to 2500 μm

This flexibility allows users to match the system configuration to their specific application, whether they are monitoring fine contaminants or larger particles.

More Than “Pretty Pictures”: Real Decision Support

While high-quality particle images are extremely useful, the Raptor Portable is built to do far more than just capture images. It includes data visualization and analysis tools such as:

  • Distribution plots

  • Correlation plots

  • Classification tools

  • Manufacturing pass/fail capability

  • Particle concentration reporting

The combination of measurement data + particle images helps users make fast, confident decisions — even when particle identification is critical to solving a problem.

Typical Applications for the Raptor Portable

Because it combines portability with real particle imaging, the Raptor Portable is used in a wide variety of industries and workflows, including:

  • General quality control for raw materials

  • Particle contamination monitoring

  • Fluid cleanliness investigation

  • Process troubleshooting

  • Research & development

  • Field-based particle testing

For example, in fluid-related applications, particle images can provide insight into whether contamination is caused by wear debris, fibers, sand, corrosion particles, or other sources — helping maintenance and engineering teams respond quickly.

Learn More or Request a Demo

If you’d like to learn more about portable particle size and shape analysis, or if you’d like a live walkthrough of the system, Vision Analytical can help you determine the right configuration for your application.

👉 Learn more about the Raptor Portable here:
https://particleshape.com/particle-size-shape-count/

👉 Request a quote or demo here:
https://particleshape.com/contact/

CLICK here if you want to learn more about the Raptor Portable particle size and shape analyzer 

CLICK here to learn more about Dynamic Image Analysis

CLICK here to learn why Particle shape is important