Millisecond Response Time Flow Meters: The Key to Fast and Accurate MEK Solvent Dispensing

In today’s manufacturing world, speed and precision go hand in hand. Many assembly lines now run at such high speeds that even a fraction of a second makes a difference. Recently, one of our customers came to us with a tough challenge: they needed to measure the flow of MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) solvent while assembling plastic parts.
The tricky part? Each application lasted just 100 to 300 milliseconds – that’s less than the blink of an eye – and the solvent volume ranged from 0.01ml to 0.75ml at about 20 psi pressure. The question was simple: could any flow meter actually “see” and measure something happening so fast?

Why This Was Such a Challenge

MEK is a volatile solvent that requires careful handling. Measuring such tiny amounts in such short bursts is already difficult, but doing it reliably and repeatedly in an automated process is even harder.
Most traditional flow meters just aren’t built for this. They either react too slowly, need more flow to be accurate, or can’t cope well with solvents like MEK. For our customer, guessing wasn’t an option – they needed certainty, every single cycle.

Why We Chose a Coriolis Mass Flow Meter

This is where modern Coriolis mass flow meters shine. Unlike mechanical meters with gears or pistons, a Coriolis meter measures mass flow directly, using the Coriolis effect. That means it doesn’t care about the liquid’s pressure, temperature, or viscosity – it just measures the actual mass going through.
More importantly, the latest Coriolis technology reacts incredibly fast. Some models can pick up flow changes in just a few milliseconds. For our customer, we selected the SH-CMF-FE Micro Coriolis Mass Flow Meter, which has a response time of less than 0.1 seconds in flow meter mode and under 0.2 seconds in flow control mode. That’s fast enough to capture those 100–300 ms bursts of MEK with ease.

What Makes This Work

Here’s why the Coriolis solution fits so well:
• Instant response – detects flow changes almost immediately
• Accurate with solvents – ±0.25% accuracy, even with volatile liquids like MEK
• Chemical resistance – 316L stainless steel parts stand up to MEK
• Wide range – handles both very small and larger flow rates, turndown ratio for coriolis flow meter reach to 100:1.
• Overbuilt for safety – designed for pressures far higher than 20 psi
This meant our customer could finally measure exactly how much solvent was being dispensed every single shot – down to the millisecond.

Why Other Meters Weren’t Enough

We also looked at alternatives, but they all had drawbacks:

• Positive displacement meters (like oval gear): precise for steady flow, but their moving parts just can’t keep up with millisecond bursts. They also add extra pressure drop and MEK can be tough on seals.
• Other volumetric sensors: turbine flow meter, differential pressure, or thermal sensors all work fine in slower applications, but they simply don’t have the reaction speed needed here.
In short, the Coriolis was the only technology that could meet the demand.

The Bigger Picture

This project is a good example of how assembly automation is changing. Dispensing cycles are now measured in milliseconds, volumes in fractions of a milliliter, and quality requirements are stricter than ever. Flow meters in these systems aren’t just “measuring devices” anymore – they’re part of the real-time control loop that ensures consistent product quality.

Looking Ahead

As production lines keep getting faster, the need for millisecond-response flow measurement will only grow. What used to be “nice to have” is quickly becoming a requirement. Our customer’s success with the SH-CMF-FE Coriolis meter shows that it’s not only possible but practical to achieve reliable measurement in these ultra-fast applications.

Conclusion

Measuring 0.01ml of MEK in 100 milliseconds sounds nearly impossible – but with the right technology, it’s not. By moving beyond conventional flow meters and using a fast-response Coriolis solution, our customer now has precise, reliable control over their dispensing process.
This isn’t just about one project. It’s a glimpse into the future of manufacturing, where milliseconds matter, and advanced flow meters make the difference between “good enough” and truly exceptional.
Below is a close look of our micro Coriolis flow meter.