DXL Operation Manual - PowerPoint Presentation

DXL Operation Manual

Running Order How it works Your DXL parts and AccessoriesDXL radiation Safety Using your DXL Analyser Using your Analyser with your PC Advanced Settings Supervisor Examination

How XRF Works

How does XRF work?   Each of the elements present in a sample produces a unique set of characteristic x-rays that is a "fingerprint" for that specific element.  XRF analysers determine the chemistry of a sample by measuring the spectrum of the characteristic x-ray emitted by the different elements in the sampl e when it is illuminated by x-rays.  These x-rays are emitted either from a miniaturized x-ray tube, or from a small, sealed capsule of radioactive material.

How does XRF work? A fluorescent x-ray is created when an x-ray of sufficient energy strikes an atom in the sample, dislodging an electron from one of the atom's inner orbital shells. The atom regains stability, filling the vacancy left in the inner orbital shell with an electron from one of the atom's higher energy orbital shells. The electron drops to the lower energy state by releasing a fluorescent x-ray, and the energy of this x-ray is equal to the specific difference in energy between two quantum states of the electron.

XRF at work Atomic Level Process of Fluorescence Production

XRF at work When a sample is measured using XRF, each element present in the sample emits its own unique fluorescent x-ray energy spectrum.  By simultaneously measuring the fluorescent x-rays emitted by the different elements in the sample, the XL2 can rapidly determine those elements present in the sample and their relative concentrations - in other words, the elemental chemistry of the sample.

Excitation Source Macro Level X-Ray Production

Technical Illustration of a NITON Analyzer DSP converts analog pulses to digital; sends to CPU. Digitized value represents original energy of characteristic X-Ray. Over measuring time, each element’s energy accumulated into a series of element/energy channels. Spectrum contains qualitative and quantitative information from the sample

Detector Si PIN Detector

Your DXL parts and accessories

DXL Battery and charger DXL Battery DXL Battery Charger

DXL Accessories Cont Prolene Windows USB Cable Small Spot Locator Rear Dust Cover Battery Cover Stylus

DXL Accessories Cont Software CD Quick Start Guide

DXL radiation Safety

Overview The Thermo Scientific Model Niton DXL series analyser contains an x-ray tube which emits radiation into a shielded sample chamber.  The x-ray tube emits radiation only when a sample is being measured.  During this time, indicator lights surrounding the analyser light up to alert personnel that the x-ray tube is on.  The shielded sample chamber is designed to reduce radiation dose rates to less than 2.5 micro Sieverts (or equivalently 0.25 millirem) per hour at a 5 centimetre distance from any point along the surface of the analyser .  The sample chamber is also designed with an interlock system so that the x-ray tube cannot be energized unless the sample chamber door is closed.  The purpose of this interlock system is to prevent a person from placing any part of their body into the primary, unshielded x-ray beam.   With the shielded and interlocked sample chamber, the Thermo Scientific Model Niton DXL series analyser can be operated safely with minimal programmatic and administrative controls.  The following list summarizes the key safe use guidelines that all operators should be made aware of:  

Overview Cont • Operators should be provided basic radiation safety information.  Consult with your local radiation Protection Advisor (RPA) to determine the specific operator training requirements for your needs.  At a minimum, operators should read and understand the safety information in this manual. • Where required by RPA, obtain authorization to use this analytical device.  Authorization is typically granted in the form of a registration, license, certificate, or permit.  Your local authority can be a valuable resource for safe use guidelines.   • Do not attempt to override interlocks or in any way interfere with their proper operation. • The DXL analyser incorporates engineering controls that are designed to prevent access to the sample chamber during a measurement.  Never place a part of your body in the sample chamber if the "X-RAY ON" indicator lights are on. • Maintain the analyser in accordance with the instructions in this User's Guide.   • High voltage and high intensity x-ray beam hazards exist inside the instrument.  Do not attempt to disassemble or service your analyser beyond the maintenance instructions described in this Resource Guide.  Never remove parts or components except as described in this Resource Guide.  Service must be performed at an authorized service centre.   • Use caution when lifting or moving the analyser to prevent strains or back injuries.

Time, Distance and Shielding Radiation Protection Basics Reasonable effort should always be made to maintain exposure to radiation as far below dose limits as is practical. This is known as the ALARA (As Low as Reasonably Achievable) principle. For any given source of radiation, three factors will help minimize your radiation exposure: Time, Distance, and Shielding.Time  The longer you are exposed to a source of radiation the longer the radiation is able to interact in your body and the greater the dose you receive. Dose increases in direct proportion to length of exposure. Distance   Intensity of radiation becomes weaker as it spreads out from a source since the same amount of radiation becomes spread over a larger area. Based on geometry alone, dose increases and decreases with an inverse-squared relation to your distance from the source of radiation (additional dose rate reduction comes from air attenuation). For example, the radiation dose one foot from a source is nine times greater than the dose three feet from the source. Shielding   Shielding is any material that is placed between you and the radiation source. The more material between you and the source, or the denser the material, the less you will be exposed to that radiation. The sample chamber of the Thermo Scientific Model Niton DXL series analyser incorporates various forms of shielding.

Radiation Dose Rates The Niton DXL Series analyser is designed to limit the radiation dose rate to no more than 2.5 micro Sieverts per hour at a 5 cm distance from any point along the surface of the instrument under worst case operating conditions. Worst-case operating conditions are as follows:• X-ray tube voltage at its maximum of 45 tube kilovolts; • X-ray tube current at its maximum of 0.1 tube milliamps; • An attenuated primary x-ray beam - i.e. no sample present, or; • A solid plastic sample present to maximize scatter radiation. The dose rates shown in the following table were measured while the analyser was operating under these worst-case conditions. Each measured value represents the maximum dose rate measured over the general area described. A Thermo Scientific Model MicroRem LE dose rate meter (SN:9049 calibrated 3/29/2012) was used to perform these measurements. The measured values listed are net above background. The background at the time and location of measurement was 0.1 μSv per hour. The dose rate meter has an estimated minimum detection limit of 0.1 μSv per hour. The measurements were performed on August 17, 2012.

Storage and Transportation StorageRegulations in some jurisdictions may require that you store your analyser in a secured area to prevent access, use, and/or removal by unauthorized individuals. Storage requirements may vary by location, particularly with regard to storage at temporary job sites or away from your primary storage location such as hotels and motels and in vehicles. You should contact your local Radiation Control Authority to identify the specific storage requirements in your jurisdiction. Transportation Transport of lithium ion batteries is regulated by most transport authorities.  End-users should obtain additional information and training regarding the local requirements for transport of lithium ion batteries, as appropriate for the specific transport modes that may be used.  In particular, for air transport, most jurisdictions have adopted the regulatory guidance published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).  These IATA regulations provide instructions for the safe transport of lithium ion batteries by air in Packing Instructions 965 (for batteries packed alone) and Packing Instruction 966 (for batteries packed with equipment).  You will find additional information about lithium ion battery safety and transportation in the   Start up Operations and Standard Maintenance Sections of this Resource guide .   It is recommended that you ship the Niton DXL in its original shipping container and foam to protect the sensitive measuring equipment inside the analyser.  

Using your DXL Analyser

Inspecting your analyser

Battery Installation and Charging Unscrew the captive screw on the battery door and remove the door. Grasp the cloth tag on the bottom of your analyzer’s battery and firmly pull the battery out into your hand.

Battery Installation and Charging Cont Place the old battery aside and slide the new battery into the cavity in the rear of the analyser . The battery is keyed, and will only insert fully one way. If it bottoms before it is fully inserted, remove the battery, turn it over top to bottom, and reinsert it. Press in until the battery clicks into place. Replace the battery door and screw in the captive screw.

Recharging The Battery Pack The battery pack is normally trickle charged in the analyser when the analyser is plugged in, but it is faster to use the battery recharger - especially if you normally use battery power a lot. Fully recharging a depleted battery pack in the charger takes approximately 2 hours. 1 .    Remove the battery pack from the analyser . 2.    Place the battery pack upside down into the charger. The battery pack is keyed, and will only fit into the charger fully one way. If your battery pack is resting on the back of the charger rather than sliding all the way to the bottom, remove the battery pack, turn it around, and re-insert it into the charger. 3.   The red light blinks when the charger needs a calibration. The red light is steadily on when the charger has a fault. 4. The blue light blinks when the charger is running a calibration. The blue light is steadily on when the calibration is complete. 5. The green light blinks when the charger is charging a battery. The green light is steadily on when the charging is complete.

Inspecting your analyser The LED Power and Safety Indicators The LED Power Indicators are located surrounding the Power and Trigger Buttons on the Control Panel. These LED Lights are on whenever your analyser is powered on.   The LED Safety Indicators are located on the sides of your analyser , just above the Carrying Handles; on the rear of your analyser , just above the Port Cover; and surrounding the Cover Release Button near the top edge of the Control Panel where it meets the Cover. These LED lights are on whenever a sample is being analysed or whenever a System Check is in progress. The Control Panel The control panel is located on the analyser’s front housing, directly below the Touch Screen. The control panel consists of a Power Button and a larger Trigger Button. Using the touch screen you may navigate through all of the analyser’s screens and menus. The Trigger Button to the right of the Power Button is used to initiate readings. The Power Button both controls the power to the analyser and serves as an "escape" button. When the Power Button is pushed and immediately released, it functions as an "escape", and brings you back to the Main Menu from the current screen in the menu system.

Replacing the Measurement Window CAUTION: Take every precaution to prevent damage to the solid beryllium surface of the tube and detector behind the analysis window.  Both the x-ray tube and detector are located directly behind the analysis window and each has a small surface of solid beryllium or beryllium oxide.  Beryllium-containing materials, in solid form and as finished parts, present no particular health hazard.  However, exposure to the dust or fumes from beryllium metal or metal oxides has the potential to cause serious health effects.   WARNING: Before you begin, cut off power to your analyser!   WARNING: In the event that there is known or suspected damage to the solid beryllium surface of the tube or detector, the following precautions are recommended.  Use latex or other disposable gloves for any handling or clean up of visible beryllium fragments or contamination.  Collect fragments into a thick plastic bag, seal the bag tightly with adhesive tape, and affix a label clearly indicating “Danger Beryllium”.  If there has been any inadvertent contact with skin, thoroughly wash affected skin area with soap and water before eating, drinking, or smoking. Contact your health and safety staff and/or Thermo Fisher Scientific customer support for further instruction if needed. Dispose of beryllium waste in accordance with all federal, state or local regulations. Remove the old Measurement Window from the bracket. Clean the Window area thoroughly, using a clean, guaranteed lint-free cloth and isopropyl alcohol. Measurement Window is Kapton - P/N 187-4280 CAUTION! Do not use fingers to press window into place! Use a smooth, hard surface such as back of tweezers.

Start up procedure To turn on the analyzer, depress the On/off/escape button on the control panel until the Touch Screen comes on. On startup, the screen will show by a Start Screen which will automatically count down from 4 to 0 in increments of one second. When the start up is complete, the Start Screen will be replaced by the Logon Screen. Tap anywhere on this screen to continue. The Logon Screen will be replaced by a Warning Screen, advising you that this analyser produces radiation when the lights are flashing. You must acknowledge this warning by selecting the Yes button before logging on. Selecting the No button will return you to the Logon Screen.   Select your 4 digit security code, followed by the Enter button. The default password is 1-2-3-4

Start up procedure After you have completed the log on procedure, the word "USER" will appear on the bottom of the screen, then the Main Menu will appear. Note that security codes are editable. This will be covered in ‘advanced settings’. There we can change passwords and set User Privileges. Please Note - Your analyser will need to set the temperature of the detector to -25ºC before it can be used. If you attempt to use the analyser before this procedure the instrument will display the warning ‘Please wait, cooling detector’. This procedure will take no longer than 60 seconds once logged in and will remain stable until the analyser is powered down.

System check Every DXL analyser will have the ‘system check’ function. This function is an internal check to maintain the instruments fundamental parameters calibration, check tube output and detector resolution.This is an important operation to perform as over time the instruments detector can suffer from electronic drift slightly shifting the calibration curve. Running the ‘system check’ can keep the instruments calibration curve in line which will continue to provide the best possible results from the analyser.

System check Select the System Check Icon on the Main Menu to perform a system check. We recommend that you perform a system check once every working day, as part of your normal start up procedure. Click yes to continue the system check. Please make sure at this time there is nothing on the front of the instrument that could affect the reading. If however there is an error message we advice you to call Niton UK Service on 01256 397860 or email service@nitonuk.co.uk If you attempt to initiate a system check while the cover is open, a Safety Message will be displayed informing you the "Lid is open", and you will return to the Main Menu. While performing the system check, your screen will show a progress bar indicating the progress of the check. When it is done, the screen will show a 100% completion.

Calibrating the Touch Screen Select the Calibrate Touch Screen icon to re-calibrate the analyser's touch screen display. This procedure establishes the display boundaries for the touch screen interface.

Analyze mode and tools From the main menu select analyze to go in to the testing mode for the instrument. From this mode you will be able to perform various tasks including taking an analysis, adding data and set averaging. The Tools Menu enables you to perform common data-related tasks such as printing and averaging readings. Select a task from the menu to initiate that task. The options available can vary depending on the selected mode. The Tools Menu can be accessed in two ways, and the options are different depending on the way you access it. The main Tools Menu is accessed by selecting the Analyze Icon from the Main Menu, then selecting the Tools button from the slide down window on the Ready to Analyze screen.

AuDIT The AuDIT algorithm determines whether or not a surface is plated. AuDIT can detect plating as thick as 8mm. Since most plating is in the 2-3mm range, this can usually detect plated objects. Heavily plated objects with a plating greater than 8mm thick will read as Gold Plate Not Detected. AuDIT can be toggled on or off from your Tools Menu. This toggle is only available in Precious Metals Mode. Selecting the AuDIT:Off button will turn AuDIT on, and change the button to " AuDIT:On ". Selecting the AuDIT:On button will turn AuDIT off, and change the button to " AuDIT:Off ". AuDIT uses four separate tests run automatically to determine whether or not a sample is plated. 1. The first test is an iterative comparison of X-ray intensity signatures. This finds most examples of plating. 2. Nickel is often used as a pre-plate, and high proportions of Ni in a reading are a good indicator of plating. 3. Plating's often have a low Karat value when averaged with the substrate, so Karat values of less than 9 are flags indicating plating. 4. A Karat rating that is not one of the standard Karat percentages - within 0.5 karat of 9kt, 10kt, 14kt, 18kt, 22kt, or 24kt (referred to as Out of Plumb) - also strongly indicate that this is a plating. X-ray Intensity Hi Ni Low Karat Non-Std. Karat Rating Only if the sample passes all four tests is it labelled Gold Plate Not Detected". This does not mean that there is no plating, but that the presence or absence of plating cannot be determined by the analyser .

AuDIT Additional Methods of Plating Detection Analyze the item in several different areasVariance of more than 1-2% in Au content can be a positive indication that an item is plated . Look for identifying marks (hallmarks) Compare to your results. Discrepancies may indicate that an item is plated. Note: You may come across some Italian jewellery that has 18k gold plating over 14k gold. This is hallmarked as 14k or 585, but will likely show 16-17k on XRF . “Smell” the item A metallic, copper-like smell (similar to copper-based coins such as USA pennies) indicates the possible presence of a copper substrate under gold plating . Use a strong magnet A magnetic draw on the item may indicate a magnetic substrate under gold plating (gold alloys are not magnetic ). As a final and last resort… analyze a spot, perform a deep file or grind, and then analyze the same spot again. A reduced gold content (more than 1-2%) indicates a thinning of the gold plating layer.

AuDIT Messages If AuDIT is not enabled, a white on black message stating "AuDIT Disabled" will display on the Results Screen while in Precious Metals Mode. If AuDIT detects what looks like gold plating on the material, a black on red message stating "Gold Plate Probable" will display on the Results Screen. If AuDIT detects what may be gold plate, but isn't sure, a black on yellow message stating "Gold Plate Suspect" will display on the Results Screen. If AuDIT detects what is either unplated gold or very thickly plated gold, a black on white message stating "Gold Plate Not Detected" will display on the Results Screen. If AuDIT finds too much Nickel in the sample, a black on yellow message stating "High Ni Content" will display on the Results Screen. When AuDIT finds a Karat rating less than 8.5 in the sample, a black on yellow message stating "Low Karat" will display on the results Screen. When AuDIT finds a Karat rating other than the standard Karats, a black on yellow message stating "Non-Standard Karat" will display on the results Screen.

Using your analyser PREPARATORY TASKS 1.Turn the analyser on. Follow the screen instructions and “Log On” as the operator using either the default password or a custom one as designated by the user in an NDU file. See advanced settings for details. 2. Wait five (5) minutes before using the analyser , allowing the instrument electronics to stabilize. 3. Verify that the date is set properly for data tracking purposes . See advanced settings for details. 4 . (Optional) Connect the analyser to a computer via the included USB cable. 5 . During analysis and detector calibrations, it is important to ensure that the analyser is not exposed to strong electromagnetic fields, including those produced by computer monitors, hard drives, mobile telephones, walkie talkies, etc. Keep a minimum two (2) feet (0.7 meters) distance between the analyser and electronic devices . 6. From the Main Menu, select System Check icon then the "Yes" button. 6.1 . System Check calibrates the detector and verifies it is operating to specifications. After starting the process, no further user interaction is required during this operation. When the instrument is finished performing the check, the unit will show “ System OK ”. If the analyser shows any other message displaying a fault contact Niton UK.

Using your analyser TAKING A MEASUREMENT Open the lid using the push button on the front of the lid. Place the item to be tested over the measurement window and close the lid. Use the camera to line up the item. Press the start/stop button to start the test and again to finish the test once you are happy with the result. Once the test is finished you can open the lid and take out the item. Opening the lid whilst the test is ongoing will end the test. GENERAL TESTING PROTOCOL The analyser will often display a correct alloy identification and accurate chemistry result before the above specified time interval.  If the accuracy meets the user’s requirements, it is not necessary to measure for the full time. Longer measurements might be necessary if low concentrations of alloy elements must be determined. INSTRUMENT QC Measure the supplied calibration check sample AT LEAST once a shift. If correct, continue work. If incorrect, redo System Check and re-take the past 2 hours of results. UNDERSIZED OR NON-CONTACT SAMPLES (samples that do not make contact with or that do not fully cover the measurement aperture) For samples that do not fully cover the measurement aperture, increase the testing time by increasing the time in inverse proportion to the decrease in percentage of aperture covered. For example: a ring only covers ½ of the aperture, so increase the measurement time by two (e.g., from 10 to 20 seconds per filter for chemistry).

Averaging Forward   Enables you to average different readings together from this analysis forward. Select the Avg Forward button to initiate future sample averaging. Avg Forward will set up an automatic personal averaging protocol to be followed until your analyser is shut down, or this feature is disabled. To begin, select the number of readings you want to average from the virtual numeric keypad. Your analyser will calculate an average reading after that number of tests, and continue this pattern until stopped. For example, if you select 3 on the virtual keypad, the analyser will automatically calculate, average, and store a reading for every three tests you take, storing the individual readings along the way. The range number is selected using a virtual numeric keypad on your analyser similar to the keypad used for login. Select the digits in the range number from the keypad, then select the E button to enter the number. The C button will clear all, and the “<“ button will clear the last digit entered. The average will automatically be displayed.

Avg Back (Alt)   Enables you to average different readings together from this analysis backward. Select the Avg Back option to initiate backwards sample averaging. Avg Back will take the number of readings you select and average their analytical results. The range is counted from the last reading backward by the number of readings selected. If your last reading was #15, selecting 3 would average readings #13, 14, and 15. The average is calculated, displayed, and stored into memory as the next sequential reading number, in this case, #16. The range number is selected using a virtual numeric keypad on your analyser similar to the keypad used for login. Select the digits in the range number from the keypad, then select the E button to enter the number. The C button will clear all, and the “<“ button will clear the last digit entered. The average will automatically be displayed.

Data management Viewing Data Use the Data Screen to view previously taken test result readings. When the View Data icon is selected, the Results screen of your most recent test is shown on the Touch Screen. Using the buttons on the control panel, you may view different readings or additional data for individual readings. Your analyser will display the standard screen analysis. Selecting the Complete List icon will display a complete scrolling elemental chemistry listing. Each press of the Down Button scrolls the screen down to the next element. You can also use the scroll bar along the right side to scroll or page through the elements. Scrolling Down Through the Complete Listing of Elements Selecting the Left Arrow icon (<--) on your analyser's touch screen will display the previous reading, or if the first reading is currently displayed, the last reading. Selecting the Right Arrow icon (-->) on your analyser's touch screen will display the next reading, or if the last reading is currently displayed, the first reading in memory. Your analyser can store up to 10,000 readings. You can also look at the complete x-ray spectra for each reading stored in the analyser's memory.

Erasing Data Select the Erase Readings icon to erase all accumulated test readings from your analyser . Selecting the Erase Readings icon will bring up a confirmation screen asking you “Are you sure?” with options to select “YES” or “NO”. Selecting the Yes Button will erase all test reading data from your analyser . Selecting the No Button will return you to the Erase Menu. Note - We recommend that you download all your readings into an NDT file for recording purposes before erasing all data.

Using Your Analyser With Your PC

PC Requirements We recommend the following system configuration for Niton Data Transfer (NDT )   Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Processor 133 MHz   Operating System Windows 98, Millennium Edition, 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7 Windows XP Memory 64 MB 128 MB Free Disk Space 10 MB   The installation program installs NDT and NDTr. You may install the files in any directory on your PC. 

Installing NDT 1.    Close all the programs that you have open on your PC. 2.    Insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive. If the installation program starts automatically, follow the instructions on the screen. If the installation program does not start, go to the next step. 3.    Double-click My Computer. 4.    Double-click the Compact Disc icon: 5.    Double-click the Setup Application icon. 6.    Follow the instructions on the screen.

Starting NDT Software 1.    Click the Start button.2.    Select Programs. 3.    Select Thermo Niton. 4.    Click NDT.

Connecting the XRF Analyser to Your PC     1.    Insert the Standard USB connector on the USB cable into a USB port on your computer. 2.    Open the Port Cover on the XRF Analyser . 3.    Turn on the analyser and insert the mini USB connector on the USB cable into the USB port. 4.    Upon initial installation, insert the NDT disk located behind the foam in your case. Follow the prompts and install the USB driver located on the disk.

Connecting the XRF Analyser to Your PC (cont) The USB cable 1. Insert the NDT CD and close out any dialogue box that pops up. The driver is located on this disk.    2. Click on “Control Panel” and locate the “Device Manager”. If it is not available direct under “Control Panel”, look under “System and Security” then “System”. 3. Open “Device Manager” 4. Plug in instrument using the USB cable provided 5. Message will appear “Device Driver Software Not Successfully Installed”

Connecting the XRF Analyser to Your PC (cont) 6. In “Device Manager”, “Unknown Device” will appear under “Other Devices” 7. Right click on “Unknown Devices”; select “Update Driver Software” 8. Click on “Browse My Computer for Driver Software”

Connecting the XRF Analyser to Your PC (cont) 9. Click “Browse” button; select CD drive or the location of the driver if you are not installing from the NDT CD (recommended). 10. Click “OK” 11. Click “Next” 12. A Security Dialog Box will appear. Select “Install This Driver Software Anyway?” 13. Driver will install; close out. 14.     Insert the Standard USB connector on the USB cable into a USB port on your computer.

Downloading Data To download data you have collected offline: 1.     Make sure that the XRF Analyser is connected to your computer. 2.     Turn on the XRF Analyser . Note - Wait at least 30 seconds after turning on the XRF Analyser to begin downloading files. The System Start screens do not allow downloading. 3.     Start the Niton Data Transfer program (NDT) from your PC. 4.     Click the Download button. The Download dialog box will open.

Downloading Data (cont) 5.     In the Download dialog box, Select the Test button to test the serial connection to the Analyser. 6.     You should get a pop-up window informing you that the connection tested successfully. If the test fails, there is a problem with your serial port setup. Press ‘settings’ to set the correct com port and try again

Downloading Data (cont) 7.     In the Download dialog box, click the Connect button. 8.     Click the Query Readings button. This will return a list of all current readings on your analyser . The list appears in the large white box in the Download dialog box.

Downloading Data (cont) 9.     Select the readings that you want to download. There are two ways to do this.

Downloading Data (cont) a.     Click the boxes next to each of the reading numbers to select or de-select individual readings. You can select a range of readings by pressing the shift key, then selecting the first and last reading in the range. All readings from the first reading selected to the last will then be selected. b.    When the readings are downloaded, the available modes are also downloaded. Click the boxes on the left to select or de-select all the readings of a specific available type. You can also use the Shift-Click method of selecting a range of readings as described above.

Downloading Data (cont) 10.     The download generates a data file containing the selected readings. To save the file for later use: a.     Enter the path for the file in the Destination Folder field. You can use the ... button to browse. b.     Enter a name for the file in the File Name field. Caution: - Some characters are not allowed in the file name. Characters such as the "#" sign will cause an error. Niton recommends using only alphanumeric characters "-", "_" and the space character when naming a file.

Downloading Data (cont) c.     Click the Download button. When the progress bar shows that all the readings are downloaded, click the Done button. You should now see the readings you selected for download displayed, one reading per horizontal line. The data has been saved to the folder and filename you indicated prior to downloading.

Downloading Data (cont) Error Messages while Downloading Error Message Action Couldn't open \\.\COM7 Error Code: 2 Select another COM port. The port \\.\COM2 is in use Select another COM port. Please Open the Port Click the Connect button. Hardware Not Responding or Hardware Not Ready Turn on the XRF Analyser .   If you are using a serial cable, check that the cable is inserted snugly.   If you are using a serial cable, select the other COM port.   If you are using the wireless USB adapter, connect the serial port. See the "Installing and Using Bluetooth" manual for complete instructions on setting up the Bluetooth adapter to work with your analyser .   Check that the spare battery is fully charged. The Serial Port connection failed: RFCOMM connection failed Check that the battery is fully charged. Error Message Action WARNING: 38400 baud rate not supported. This indicates a potential problem. Test the serial port. If there is a problem connecting, switch baud rate on both the analyser and the NDT software to 115200. Incorrect Data in reading # XXX. Reading will be skipped. Error code: BOUNDARY_ERROR1. This indicates a version mismatch between your instrument code and the NDT code running on your computer. Use a version of NDT that matches the version number of the software on your analyser. Incorrect Data in reading # XXX. Reading will be skipped. Error code: BOUNDARY_ERROR2. This indicates a version mismatch between your instrument code and the NDT code running on your computer. Use a version of NDT that matches the version number of the software on your analyser. Incorrect Data in reading # XXX. Reading will be skipped. Error code: BOUNDARY_ERROR3. This indicates a version mismatch between your instrument code and the NDT code running on your computer. Use a version of NDT that matches the version number of the software on your analyser. WARNING: 115200 baud rate not supported. This indicates a potential problem. Test the serial port. If there is a problem connecting, switch baud rate on both the analyser and the NDT software to 38400. SH4 Successfully Communicating Result: SUCCESS; Indicates normal working connection

Creating and Using Reports Niton Data Transfer creates a new report whenever you download data. To open an existing report 1.    Click the Open button to open the 2.    Click the name of the report to highlight it. 3.    Click the Open button. ‘Open Existing Report’ dialog box.

Creating and Using Reports (cont)   4.    The report is presented with one line per measurement. The report doesn't all fit onto one screen, but you can scroll right if the fields you are interested in are not visible. If they are still not visible read the following section on changing visible columns. You can copy readings from one report file and paste them into another file, or into a new file. Select the readings you want to copy, using the shift or control keys as appropriate.

Creating and Using Reports (cont) Right click on the selected files, and select Copy Readings (Binary) from the Pop-up Menu.   Open a destination report file to transfer the readings into.

Creating and Using Reports (cont)   Right-click on any of the readings, and select Paste Readings (Binary) from the Pop-up Menu.

Creating and Using Reports (cont)   The new readings will be highlighted in colour to distinguish them from the readings already in place.

Creating and Using Reports (cont)   If you paste readings from yet another report file, they will be displayed in another colour . Each group of readings copied in will have a different colour .

Creating and Using Reports (cont)   The colour distinctions will disappear when you save the file.

Creating and Using Reports (cont)   The original information is still there, though, and can be retrieved by right clicking on a reading and selecting Report Properties.

Creating and Using Reports (cont)   Each analyser whose readings have been pasted into the Compound Report will have a separate tab in properties. The tab for the analyser which was used to take the reading you highlighted will be displayed on top. You cannot upload a compound file into an analyser . Compound files are for data correlation only.

Configuring Reports for Printing   1.    Select ‘Customize’  from the ‘Tools’ Menu. 2.    Select the ‘Report Print’ tab. This brings up the Report Customization window . Select the ‘certificate print’ tab to change the certificate layout.

Customizing the Report   Like the Certificate Print option, the Report Print option adds company information, company logo, headers, and footers to a standard report printout. The data input into the various report fields is arbitrary - you can put anything you want to into any of the fields. For example, you can type test location into the company address field. The names given to the fields do not limit the data placed into the fields. The Company Fields Font Size Selector controls the size of the font used in the Company Name, Address, and Location fields. The Headers &  Footers Font Size Selector controls the size of the font used in the Header and Footer. The report will print every optional field selected in the Print Options Checklist.

Customizing the Report   3.     Click the boxes next to each of the column headings to add or remove each column from the report. To use the Customize Report dialog box to add and remove columns: 1.    Click the View Menu. 2.    Click Customize Report...

Customizing the Report   When a checked box is selected, the check is removed and the box becomes empty. If you want, you can click the boxes in the Selection area to select or de-select a group of headings.

Customizing the Report   If you want the changes to apply to all the reports, click the box next to Apply Global. If this box does not have a check mark, the changes only apply to the report that is currently open. Click the OK Button. The columns appear in the order in which they are listed in the Customize Report Dialog Box. If you change the position of the columns, and then use the Customize Report Dialog Box, the columns return to their original positions. To change the position of a column, click and drag the column heading. A shadow of the heading will appear, indicating where the heading will be placed.

Report Properties   The report properties are: •     Analyzer Serial Number •     Report File Name •     File Version •     Report Download Date •     Total Readings in the Report Viewing the Report Properties To view the report properties, click the Report Properties button, or select Properties from the View Menu.

Advanced Settings

Creating Passwords   1.      Select the File menu 2.     Select “New” then “New Password File”. Your screen should look like this:

Creating Passwords (cont)   3.     Create a unique security key, then select the OK Button This step is optional. You can tick the ‘ Disable User File Security ’ box to skip this part.

Creating Passwords (cont)   4.     Your screen should look like this:

Creating Passwords (cont)   5.     Right click, then select “New User”

Creating Passwords (cont)   6.     Enter a user name and password, then select the privileges assigned to this user. Selecting the Check All check box will result in enabling all features.

Creating Passwords (cont)   Warning: it is recommended that only users at the highest level have access to the “Safety” feature. This should be unchecked for all other operators.

Creating Passwords (cont)   You are now ready to upload your password file to the analyser. If you wish to add more user passwords simply follow steps 5 to 7. 7.     Select the Update Button

Creating Passwords (cont)   8.     Be sure the analyser is switched on; connect the analyser using USB or serial connection. 9.     Select the Upload icon.

Creating Passwords (cont)   10.     Your screen should look like this: 11.     Select the Settings Button and choose the comm port that your analyser is connect to. 12.     Select the Connect Button, then the Upload Button. 13.     Upon completion, you will receive a “File Upload Successfully Completed” message. 14.     Click the OK Button; save your password file at this time by selecting the File icon then “Save As. 15.     Restart your analyser ; your password file should be successfully installed.

Changing Precision (Sigma Value) Sigma is the symbol used for Standard Deviation, a measure of how much a set of numbers deviates from the mean. For example, each of the three data sets {0, 0, 14, and 14}, {0, 6, 8, and 14} and {6, 6, 8, 8} has a mean of 7. Their standard deviations are 7, 5, and 1, respectively. The third set has a much smaller standard deviation than the other two because its values are all close to 7. In a loose sense, the standard deviation tells us how far from the mean the data points tend to be. The number of standard deviations between the process mean and the nearest specification limit is given in sigmas . As process standard deviation goes up, or the mean of the process moves away from the center of the tolerance, the sigma number goes down, because fewer standard deviations will then fit between the mean and the nearest specification limit.

Changing Precision (Sigma Value) (cont) Confidence Intervals Confidence intervals assume that the data are from an approximately normally distributed population - generally, sums of many independent, identically distributed random variables tend towards the normal distribution as a limit. Using this assumption, about 68 % of the values must be within 1 standard deviation of the mean, about 95 % of the values must be within two standard deviations, about 99.7 % must lie within 3 standard deviations, and about 99.99% of the values must lie within 4 standard deviations. The greater the sigma value of the test, the more confident you can be that the sample is as it appears, but the more difficult and time consuming the testing must be to verify this. That's why it's important to use the most appropriate sigma value for the test. By adjusting the sigma value for each type of test, you can optimize the process for your needs.

Changing Precision (Sigma Value) (cont) Adjusting the Sigma Values The sigma values are listed in the column headed s. The default value is 2 sigma. You can change this value by selecting the down arrow next to the value, which opens up a drop-down menu from which you can select the desired sigma value by clicking on it. When you have changed the sigma values to the appropriate number, select the Save button to save these settings for use. Select the Close button to return to the previous screen without saving any changes.

Sorting the Element Display . Select the Sort Element Display icon to configure sorting criteria used for analysis display. Selecting the Sort Element Display icon opens up the Sort Criteria Screen. Select the mode you wish to change, and the Sorting Options Screen will appear (next slide).

Sorting the Element Display (cont) . On the left of the display are elements, each with its currently selected display option beside it to the right. The element list is ranked by importance, with the most important element on top, and each one lower down of less importance than the one above it. By selecting an element and using the arrow buttons to the right of the list, you can change its ranking. Use the Top Arrow Button to move an element one rank closer to the top with each click. Use the Bottom Arrow Button to move an element one rank closer to the bottom with each click.

Sorting the Element Display (cont) . Display Options The Display Options Drop Down Menu, allows you to change the display status of any element to one of three states: • Normal - The standard state. Element displays only when the elemental value is greater than the limit of detection.     • Always - Always display the results for this element. Use this state for elements critical to all of your analyses.     • Never - Never display the results for this element. Use this state for elements which are unimportant to your work. This makes your instrument display less complex.

Display Units Select the Display Settings icon to choose between Karats and mg/g displays when taking readings, to set the max measurement time, and to change the number of digits in the Karat rating for the reading. The Set Display Units Menu Path The Set Display Units Screen Select the downward pointing triangle next to the Units field to choose either the Karat or the mg/g display for the reading. Select the central Max Reading Time button to set the maximum reading time before the reading is terminated. This defaults to 1000 seconds. The Max Reading Time virtual keypad works similarly to all virtual keypads, with the "C" button clearing the field, the "<" button backspacing over the last digit, and the "E" button entering the new time. Select the downward pointing triangle next to the Karat Display Digits field to choose either the 2 digit Karat Display (X.Y) or the single digit Karat Display (X). When you have changed the display units to the appropriate values, select the Save button to save these settings for use. Select the Close button to return to the previous screen without saving any changes.

Pseudo-Elements Pseudo-Elements are constructs you can create which will be treated like elements in analysis, showing up in analysis as if they were actual elements. In setting up a Pseudo Element, you must name it with at least 3 characters and at most 6 characters - except you cannot use * (asterisk) and space. You may create up to 15 pseudo-elements, but you may not have more than 64 displayed values. You can set up equations with the following operands: Add You can Add detected levels of elements or Pseudo Elements together or to a constant. For example: sum applicable elements for FAC Analysis - (FAC = Cr+Cu+Mo ), or sum elements for Residual Element Application - (REA = Cr+Ni+Cu ). Subtract You can Subtract detected levels of elements or Pseudo Elements from each other or a constant. For example: find the level of clinker material C2S in cement - (C2S = (2.87*SiO2)-(0.754*Ca3SiO5)) Multiply You can Multiply detected levels of elements or Pseudo Elements by a constant. For example: Convert elemental data to oxide form - ( CaO = Ca*1.4). Divide You can Divide detected levels of elements or Pseudo Elements by a constant. For example: Convert Au concentration to Karat% - (Karat = ((Au/100)*24)) Parentheses You can use parentheses to stack order of calculation, as in the Karat and C2S examples above.

Pseudo-Elements The Pseudo Elements Screen enables you to Create, Edit, Save, and Delete Pseudo Elements. Below is a Pseudo Element for correction of the gold readings due to Rh flashing which causes attenuation of the gold signal. The correction is based on assumptions that Rh plating will lower the gold signal by a percentage of its displayed value, which will only work for low Rh concentrations (<5%). We will call it Au-Rh. To set up a new Pseudo Element, select the New Button. To Edit an existing Pseudo Element, select the Edit Button. To access the library of saved Pseudo Elements, select the Library Button . To Delete an existing Pseudo Element, select the Delete Button. To Close the window and return to the previous screen, select the Close Button.

Pseudo-Elements 1. Select the Keyboard Button to bring up the Virtual Keyboard . 2. Type in the name you chose to call your Pseudo Element. 3. Select Enter. 4. Select the inverted triangle button to open the Drop-Down Menu. 5. Select the element you want to add to the equation. It will appear in the Current Element window. 6. Select the Add Button to add the Current Element to the equation. 7. Using the Virtual Numeric Keypad integral to the editor, type in the other parts of the equation. If other elements are required, they can be added as needed from the drop-down list. 8. When the equation is complete, select the Close Button. 9. The Pseudo Element will show up in the Mode Editor Window. The Finished Pseudo Element in the Mode Editor Window

Pseudo-Elements Edit Select the Pseudo Element you want to edit from the Mode Editor window, then select the Edit Button. This will open up the Pseudo Element Equation Editor with the selected Pseudo Element pre-loaded. Delete 1. Select the Pseudo Element you want to delete from the Mode Editor window. 3. Select the Close Button to return to the previous screen. 2. Select the Delete Button. Library The Library allows you to easily access your stored Pseudo Elements. To add a Pseudo Element to your library, select the Library Button. This will display those Pseudo Elements which are not currently in your library. Select the Pseudo Element you wish to add. Select the Add Button. Your new Pseudo Element will display in your results screen.