Equipment Available on the Beamline :
- Roentec SDD detector for measuring XANES spectra.
- Oxford Cryosystemes Cryostream 700 series for sample cooling.
- Various Dewars for manipulation and transfer of samples.
- Tools and Rigaku pucks for preparation of robot samples.
- Users may borrow tools for sample mounting (magnetic rods, loops, vials etc). These must be returned to beamline staff after the experiment.
Length of loops (IMPORTANT) :
The goniometer is designed to accept SPINE standard loops. For details, check this link - http://www.spineurope.org/page.php?page=protocol_vials .
The range of sample translation on the goniometer allows us to mount loops up to +/-2.0 mm compared to the SPINE standard.
For ACTOR robot users :
The robot is available for use on the beamline, initially only during the day (between 08:00 and 18:00, when full support is available). If you wish to use the robot please discuss with your local contact, preferably before your beamline visit.
The ACTOR robot uses Rigaku pucks, and has a capacity of 60 samples. Pucks are available on the beamline and must be loaded (approximately 5 minutes per puck) prior to experiments. If you need to transfer samples from a different puck format (for example SPINE standard or UniPuck), this has to be performed by hand.
Puck mounting procedure : Samples are introduced into the puck "in their vials" (crystal upwards) with the pincer tool. Vials are "centred" using the "white" mounting tool. Vials are then removed with the pincer tool and the crystal centring verified using the "black" mounting tool. If this procedure is rigourously followed, robot operation is very reliable (no e-stops / collisions).
Samples can be manually retrieved from these pucks (this delicate procedure entails removing them from the puck and putting them back in their vial), manually retrieved from the goniometer, or stored in the Rigaku pucks.
The time between two successive "test" images in "screening" mode (includes sample mounting, centring and image collection) is typically between 3.5 and 4 minutes.
Robot operation is not yet integrated into MXCube - users need to be careful to execute robot commands in the correct sequence (PrepareForRobot.py, followed by "Mount" or "Exchange" or "Dismount", followed by "Dry", followed by sample alignment and data collection in the normal way. Full integration will be achieved in 2011.
Backup :
Data cannot be transferred to or from the beamline by sftp.
Backups can be made on external USB disk via a LINUX station. We have 5 disks that can be temporarily loaned to users for backup. Type "synchrosync" on any LINUX station for data processing - the script prompts for the mount point of your USB disk, the name of any subdirectory and the directory from which you wish to back up. The script works by launching Rsync regularly, and will continue to incrementally back up new or modified files appearing in this directory tree.
You can arrange to connect your laptop to the experimental area network if you have declared this in advance using your user account on SunSET.
Local Contacts / Starting and finishing times :
A standard experiment will be given 3 shifts of beamtime which start at 08:00 am and end at 07:00 am the following day. Between 07:00 am and 08:00 am every day the beamline team perform routine checks to verify the performance and alignment of the beamline.
Unless he or she has warned you in advance, your local contact will be available on the beamline at 08:00 am to help you start your experiment and explain how the beamline functions. Your local contact will be available, either on the beamline or by telephone, between 08:00 and 23:00 the day of your experiment.
For technical or scientific questions outside these working hours, you must refer to the beamline documentation, the SOS "help desk server" or the experimental area co-ordinator (telephone 97 97). If none of these approaches solves your problem, you should stop measuring and go to bed UNLESS your problem could engender damage to beamline equipment - this is the only case in which you may ring your local contact outside the above working hours.
News:
The installation of the PILATUS 6M detector is planned for July 2011. Prior to this date, the detector will be installed, software developed and tested on the PROXIMA 2 beamline.
