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Click Add sensor on the Sensors page to open the sensor creation dialog.
Add sensor dialog showing name, type, x unit, y unit, catalog/custom toggle, and custom fields

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Fields

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Name

A label for this specific instrument in your lab. Use something that identifies it uniquely among your equipment (e.g., “Lab FTIR Unit A”, “Warehouse NIR #2”). Required.

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Description

Optional notes: room location, setup configuration, who manages it. Shown in the sensor list as a subtitle.

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Type

The spectroscopy technique used by this instrument.

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X unit

The unit used for the wavelength/wavenumber axis of your spectra.

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Y unit

The unit used for the intensity axis of your spectra.
If you’re not sure which Y unit your instrument outputs, check your instrument software or the header of your exported CSV file.

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Catalog vs. custom

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From catalog

Catalog sensors have a built-in importer. When you upload spectra, Chemolytic knows the raw file format produced by that instrument and parses it automatically. No manual formatting needed. Select your manufacturer first, then select your model from the filtered list. Type, units, and other fields are pre-filled.
Add sensor dialog with From catalog selected, showing manufacturer and model dropdowns

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Custom

Custom sensors do not have a built-in importer. To upload spectra for a custom sensor, your files must follow the Chemolytic standard CSV format. See Uploading spectra for the required format. Switch to Custom and enter:
  • Manufacturer: the company that made the instrument (e.g., “Acme Corp”)
  • Model: the instrument model name (e.g., “XR-500”)
Add sensor dialog with Custom selected, showing manufacturer and model text inputs
If your sensor is not in the catalog, contact us at support@chemolytic.com with the manufacturer name, model, and a few raw file examples from the instrument. We’ll add a dedicated importer as quickly as possible.

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Custom fields

You can attach arbitrary metadata to a sensor as key-value pairs. Click + Add field to add one. Common uses: Custom fields are visible in the sensor detail panel and are for your reference only. They do not affect data processing.

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After adding

Click Add sensor. The sensor appears in the list immediately. No spectra are linked yet. The x-axis calibration (point count and range) will be set automatically when you upload the first spectrum. See Uploading spectra for the next step.