...
The X-Ray Image Logger (XMSL) takes X-Ray images from whole-round sections and section-halves.
WARNING: This is an X-Ray imaging system, not place your hand under the source. Ensure that you receive the apropriate training before using it.
Procedures
Preparing the Instrument
- Double-click the IMS icon (Figure 1). IMS initializes the instrument, tests instrument comunications, home the pusher arm of the motion control system and verify Dark and Light Calibration images. For more information refer to the XMSL User Guide.
Figure 1.- IMS icon.
2. Prior to imaging cores, especially at the start of an expedition, the user must:
Test the exposure parameters in the Imaging Utility (Review the 'Imaging Utility Section' on the User Guide).
Set the exposure parameters in the Measurement Editor (DAQ > Measurement Editor). Review next section.
Adjust the automatic image processing settings (Image Processing section on the User Guide)
NOTE: Ask the PP technitian to help with these steps.
...
- Select DAQ > Measurement Editor from the IMS panel menu. This window allows the user to view and adjust the XMSL Data Acquisition (DAQ) parameters (Figure 2).
- Interval: Number of centimeters the core will move between each image. This value is hardcoded in the in IMS software and cannot be changed in this window. This interval guarantees image overlap and maximizes system efficiency. Default interval is set at 12 cm.
- Width: Fixed length of the produced image produced. This value is dependent on the detector and hardware setup. Each image is 15 cm in length, but due to projection, we see less than 15 cm of the core section in the imageDefault length is 15 cm.
- Stack: Number of x-radiographs taken at each position. These images are stacked and averaged to produce the final raw image. Twenty 20 images is the standard as stacking . Stacking more images does not appear to improve the image quality further. See the User Guide, 'Image Stacking' section for more explanation.
- Exposure Time: The duration Duration of each exposure in milliseconds.
- kV: X-ray tube voltage. Maximum voltage for the source is 120 kV. Lowering the voltage while maintaining the number of x-rays penetrating the core (longer exposure or higher current) will increase image contrast.
- mA: X-ray tube current. Maximum current for the source is 1 mA. Increasing the current will increase contrast if voltage is kept constant.
Figure 2.- XMSL Measurement Editor Window.
2. Once the parameters are set click 'Accept Changes'. To revert any changes back to the original settings click 'Cancel Changes'.
Making a Measurement
- Place section in the core tray. Make sure the section is oriented blue endcap towards the X-Ray source (Figure 3).
Figure 3.- Correct core position.
2. Click START. The Section Information screen is displayed (Figure 4).
Figure 4.- XMSL Section Information Screen.
3. Select the Core Status (left side of window) that matches the type of core being imaged.
Full= Whole round.
Half= Section half.
- START Copy from SHMSL (Figure 4).
...
4. Place the cursor in the SCAN field and scan the section label. SAMPLE ID and LIMS ID automatically fills. This ID tag contains information on expedition, site, hole, core, section number and length.
Additional entry field options are the LIMS and MANUAL tabs.
Manual: Type in the sample label ID (i.e., 362-U1480A-1H-1-A)
...
, LIMS Text ID (i.e., SHLF7851761) and length of section. Use the whole round
...
ID when imaging whole rounds
...
. Click USE ME to update the IDs and enable the MEASURE button. Any entry will be accepted, but that does not guarantee the data will upload. The Text ID information must match an actual section in order for the
...
data to upload.
...
5. Ensure the section
...
is inside the load
...
track door and that all doors are closed.
...
Green and yellow
...
lights on top of the lead box should be
...
on. If
...
doors are not closed properly
...
green light will not appear and
...
a warning message will pop-up on the screen (Figure 5).
Figure 5.- Warning message indicating that the source is not ready to ramp up.
NOTE: If this message pops-up and both doors are closed, call the Physical Properties technitian.
- Click MEASURE
- The motion control pusher will move until the section breaks the top of core switch beam. The x-ray source will ramp up and a window with the x-ray source status will appear (Figure 6).
...