This document is intended to guide scientists and technicians through the use of the Kappabridge KLY-4 Magnetic Susceptibility meter. Two software packages are available for measuring the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility: The AGICO Sufar program and the AMSspin program. Users are encouraged to use the AMSspin software over the AGICO software when possible.
AMSSpin is a Labview program written by Jeff Gee for Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility measurements (Gee et al., AMSSpin: A LabVIEW program for measuring the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility with the Kappabridge KLY-4S, 2008). The code has been modified to meet the needs of IODP. For detailed instructions on the use AMSSpin and the files written by this program, see Gee's manual AMSSpin – A LabVIEW Program for the Kappabridge KLY-4S and KLY-3S. This program is controlled with keyboard keystrokes. Be aware of what menu you are operating in as some keystrokes have multiple uses. The version of AMSSpin used by IODP includes a method for measuring bulk susceptibility only and outputs data to a .csv file as well as the original AMSSpin .asc files.
This is the AMSSpin program from Jeff Gee with updates. The desktop icon is a white box with yellow triangle.
Figure 1. AMSSpin desktop icon. |
There are three menus on the left hand side of the screen. When the program first opens, menu mode is selected (Figure 2).
Figure 2. AMSSpin startup window. |
If the volume (in cc) displayed is not correct, close AMSSpin. Open the SUFAR.SAV file in C:/AMSSpin/data to change the volume in the line shown in the red box in Figure 3. Save the file after changing the volume and reopen AMSSpin.
Figure 3. Changing volume in AMSSpin |
Figure 3. Kappabridge Holder with calibration standard.
If you did not move the Kappabridge, then press R to repeat the sample holder measurement. Repeat the measurement until an acceptable holder measurement is obtained. This may take several tries.
Between any of the measurements the user may:
Selecting bulk (press B) will only complete the bulk susceptibility measurement. If you wish to collect a sample holder measurement for a bulk susceptibility measurement, be sure to press the space bar before pressing B. Otherwise, a bulk susceptibility measurement will be taken with no sample holder measurement. |
Place the sample in the sample holder following the orientation scheme shown on the front of the Kappabridge and press the space bar to initiate the measurement (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Orientations of samples for the AMSSpin measurements. The dark blue arrow is the IODP arrow, which points up hole. Depending on the how the sample is collected, this arrow will be either in the Working-half orientation (Push samples) or in the Archive-half orientation (Extruded samples). |
When the bulk susceptibility measurement is complete, the program will automatically move you to the third menu, Data Mode (Figure 5a).
Figure 5a. Data Mode window of AMSSpin. Figure 5b. Menu Mode of AMSSpin. |
When the holder measurement is being held it will say "OLD" under the Save SH heading at the top of the screen.
To stop the program press the red STOP button. This will move the Kappabridge arm back down and the Kappabridge can be put away.
AMSspin will save the file as a .csv file in the folder the user selects. The default and recommended location for saving the files is C:/Data/IN. All other files generated by AMSspin will be written directly to the C:/AUX_Data folder. The .txt file that is generated by AMSspin can be opened in the Anisoft5 program. When selecting a file to open in Anisoft5, the user must change the file type from .ams to .txt in Anisoft or the files will not be visible.
For AMS mesurements from the AMSSpin program, MUT requires 2 files in order to upload data. The first file is the .csv file which contains the data for the LORE report. The second file is the .txt file which gets saved to C:\aux_data. To complete an upload, place the .csv and the .txt files to be uploaded in the IN folder and select upload. If both of the files are not in the in folder, MUT will have a purple question mark next to the files. MUT will not recognize if the same file has already been uploaded and will upload it again. This will result in duplicate data being uploaded. The Text ID must be the sample name for upload to work.
If you click upload, but do not see your file(s) in LIMS, the file(s) may have an error preventing their upload. Check the folder directory C:/Data/Error to see if your file(s) are there. If so, there is an error associated with the file. The file(s) may also go toC:/Data if they contain errors. To check for errors, right click on the suspect .csv file and open/edit with a text editor such as notepad. Most errors will be associated with a space after the sample name (Figure 6). Delete the space and save. Then move the edited .csv file back to the IN folder and upload.
Figure 6. Example AMSSpin data file with an error that would cause the data to fail to upload into LIMS.
Sufar.exe does not run on the Windows PC operating system. Instead, use DOSbox, which simulates the proper operating environment. To launch Sufar.exe and complete measurements, do the following.
Figure 7. Direct access to DOS Box by clicking on the
DOSBox in SUFAR folder (top) icon on the Desktop or mount the C drive as
described above by clicking on the DOSbox- 0.74 (bottom) icon.
Figure 8. DOSbox.exe with commands for opening Sufar entered
The Sufar program should open, initialize, and be ready for measuring once the main Sufar window is displayed (Figure 9a and b). Sufar.exe is controlled by the F keys of the keyboard and the arrow keys. The mouse will not work within this program. The number pad to the right of the keyboard will also not work for entering any commands.
Figure 9a Sufar.exe startup window
Figure 9b Main Sufar Window
Figure 10. Sufar Auxiliary Menu window
2. Place the calibration standard (found in the bag on the pole next to Kappabridge) into the Kappabridge holder standing upright (Figure 3).
3. Press F3 (Cal) to initiate calibration measurement.
a. The sample holder will move down into the coils and calibration measurement will be completed. The Old and New calibration information will be displayed (Figure 11).
Figure 11 Calibration window when measurement is complete
4. To Save the new calibration information press Return
Figure 12. Empty Kappabridge Holder prepared for holder measurement. Note that the screw (indicated
by white arrow) must be flush with the holder before starting the measurement.
3. Press F4 (Hol)
a. The holder measurement sequence will begin. Do not touch the holder until the display indicates the measurements are completed.
b. Flashing values are 'suspicious' values. They may exceed the allowable range of error as determined by AGICO. Often our standard error value for TSus is suspicious, but still very low.
i. It is possible to get non-suspicious values for the holder, but it often takes multiple attempts. It is recommended that no one walk past the Kappabridge during the holder measurements and that the user remain very still. Do not swivel in the chair or walk around the system.
4. When the measurement is complete, the display will prompt the user to save (Figure 13).
a. To save the data press Y. If you do not wish to save, press N.
Figure 13. Holder Correction window after measurement is complete.
For this measurement, the values are considered suspicious and a warning is given.
1. Place a specimen in the holder in position 1 (Figure 4).
a. The specimen should be centered in the holder and secured using the small screw in the right side of the holder.
b. Use small pieces of foam to help keep the sample secure in the holder.
2. Navigate to the Sulfar Main window (press F10 if in the Auxiliary window). From the Sufar Main window (Figure 9b), press F1 to initiate Ax1 measurement
a. The Kappabridge will move the specimen into the measurement region and spin the specimen.
b. An asterisk will flash above the active measurement during the process. The screen will also display percentage of measurement that is completed (Transferred) and the Range that the Kappabridge is using (Figure 14).
c. When each measurement finishes, the data will be displayed on the screen (Figure 15).
d. Monitor the error percentage values as you measure. If they are high, try to remeasure the sample. This can be done by simply pressing the appropriate F command again while the specimen is in the correct position.
Figure 14' Sufar Display during the AX2 measurement
Figure 15. Sufar display when Ax1 measurement complete
3. Place the specimen in position 2
4. Press the F2 key to initiate the Ax2 measurement. Data will be displayed upon measurement completion.
5. Place the specimen in position 3
6. Press the F3 key to initiate the Ax3 measurement. Data will be displayed upon measurement completion.
7. Press F4 to complete the bulk susceptibility measurement.
a. The sample should be left in the holder in position 3 for this measurement.
b. When the measurement is complete, the data for all 3 axes and the bulk susceptibility measurement will be displayed (Figure 16).
c. Press F5 to evaluate and save the data. If this is the first measurement made Sufar will display Path ? (Figure 17).
Figure 16. Sufar display after Ax1-Ax3 and bulk susceptibility measurements
Figure 17. Sufar window requesting path to save data.
Window is displayed if F5 is pressed and no file has already been selected
8. If you wish to save to the current path, press return
a. If you wish to save to a new path, enter the path now and press return
i. If the path is invalid, you will be prompted again
ii. The program assumes that the C drive is the location c:\Kappabridge\Agico software\KLY4CS\Sufar
9. At the prompt Name of file?, enter a file name that is less than 8 characters with no extension (Figure 18).
a. It is recommended that file names be the Site and Hole i.e. U1508C
b. If the file name is more than 8 characters, the program will not accept the name.
Figure 18. Sufar window prompting user to enter a file name with a maximum of eight characters
10. A new command line is now visible on the screen.
a. If this is a file with existing measurements, the window will display the number of measurements already in the file, and ask for the new specimen name (Figure 19).
b. If this is a new file, the window will only display the prompt asking for the specimen name.
Figure 19. Sufar window prompting user to enter a specimen name or to use the # sign to indicate they wish to put the data in a new file.
11. At the prompt: Specimen name /# enter new file/?, enter the TextID of the sample. Press return
a. TextIDs are required as sample names for upload.
12. The Sufar window now displays the options for entering the orientation scheme you wish to use (Figure 20). Enter 1,2, or 3 and press return.
a. This will likely be number 3, Non-oriented specimen
Figure 20. Sufar window displaying options for entering specimen orientation information
13. The specimen data will now be displayed on the screen for you to evaluate (Figure 21). To leave this window, press ESC (the escape key).
Figure 21. Sufar data evaluation window
14. Sufar will now display: Output to file (Y/N)? (Figure 22).
a. Pressing Y and return saves the data. You may also press return as saving the data is the default action
b. Pressing N and return will result in your data not being saved.
Figure 22. Sufar display asking user to choose to output data to a file and if they wish to print.
15. User is now prompted: Output to printer (Y/N)? (Figure 22). Pressing return will trigger the default response of N (no).
a. Entering Y will result in data being sent to a printer
16. User will be returned to the Main Sufar window (Figure 9b). You may begin the next measurement now by repeating steps one through seven.
a. The saving process will look different after the first measurement is made. The program will only prompt the user for a specimen name (Figure 23).
b. If you wish to change the file that the data is saved to, enter # and press return. The display will now show a prompt for a Path (Figure 17).
Figure 23. Sufar prompt window after initial file has been set
17. When measurements are completed and the user wishes to switch off the software, press F1 to trigger an Ax1 measurement.
18. Then press F8 to stop the measurement
19. Use ctrl + Q to quit the program.
a. Improperly quitting the program may result in the loss of data. The last lines of the .ASC file will not be properly written.
20. Data should now appear in the .ASC file. Check the data file to ensure all data was written properly.
a. Do not complete measurements with the .ASC file open
b. Data will not appear in the .ASC file immediately. Data will be written to the .RAN file and transferred to the .ASC file when the program is closed.
2. Press F1 to initiate Bulk Susceptibility measurements
3. Sufar will prompt the user to decide if new holder measurement is necessary. Enter Y or N and press return (Figure 24).
a. The default response is N.
Figure 19 Prompt Window allowing user to measure the holder before bulk susceptibility measurements
4. User is prompted to select to measure in the current field or k-H Curve. Pressing Return will trigger the default response: current field (Figure 25).
Figure 25. Prompt Window allowing user to select field for bulk susceptibility measurements
5. Place sample in holder in Position 1.
6. Enter the Specimen name at the prompt (Figure 26).
Figure 26. Bulk Susceptibility Measurement Window
7. Use the TextID as the specimen name
8. Press Return to initiate the bulk susceptibility measurement
9. When the measurement is complete, user is prompted for the next specimen. Repeat steps 5 through 7 for all specimens.
10. When measurements are complete, enter Q and press return (Figure 27).
Figure 27 Saving Bulk Susceptibility data
11. User will be prompted to Output the data to a file. Enter Y and press return to save data (Figure 27).
12. User is prompted for the file path. Press return to use default file path (Figure 27).
13. At the Name of File? Prompt, enter a file name under 8 characters in length. Recommended file name is Site and Hole (ex. U1517B). Press return (Figure 27).
14. User is prompted to enter a note. This field can be left blank.
15. User is prompted to output data on a printer. Enter N.
16. Data should now be written to a .ky4 file at the path set by the user. Check to make sure the file has been written.
When done, you can kill the program by hitting F9 and clicking on the X in the upper right corner of the DOS window. To get the Kappabridge arm to return to the down position, start up AMSSpin and then press the red STOP button. This will move the Kappabridge arm back down and the Kappabridge can be put away.
Uploads are completed using the MegaUploadaTron (MUT) application. For Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility measurements generated by the AGICO Sufar program, MUT requires an .asc and a .ran file. To upload bulk susceptibility files, MUT requires the .ky4 file.
To complete an upload, place the files to be uploaded in the IN folder and select upload. MUT will not recognize if the same file has already been uploaded and will upload it again. This will result in duplicate data being uploaded.
The Text ID must be the sample name for upload to work. It is not possible to edit the names after the fact because the names need to be altered in the .ran file.