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Aeris
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Start Up
The mains power switch is on the rear lower right-hand side of the instrument. This can generally be left on. The unit is plugged into the UPS power box and that should remain on at all times. The vendor recommends we leave the entire instrument and Xray key switch on all the time. If restarting is necessary to clear an error there is no need to toggle the key switch. Obviously for dry dock or when it’s totally necessary we can shut everything down, but it’s not good to be turned off and on often.
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Figure 1: Turning on the Aeris XRD. A) Power switch in the back right of the instruments. B) Push the green Power button not he right of the screen to power on the screen. Turn HT key clockwise to start the xRay generator.
Make sure at least one sample holder spot is empty before turning on (to allow the sample changer to zero itself).
Turn the front computer on by pressing the power button on the right side of the screen. Let it initialize. Sample changer arm should move and initialize.
Screen will prompt you to turn the key-switch, turn it clockwise and the "x-rays on" yellow lights around the instrument will light up. The screen goes to sleep when not in use, just move the mouse or touch the screen.
To turn off the instrument, press the power button on the side of the screen, and then toggle the key switch counter-clockwise.
Sample Preparation and Holders
Aeris sample holders cannot be interchanged with the Bruker sample holders. The size is slightly different and they are magnetic which lets the machine to know there is a sample in the slot.
Most common method is backloading. The sample holder is in two parts, the top ring and the base which the top ring clips into and is loaded using the sample table which is the small device with a center platform and three round buttons around it.
Follow the next steps below along with the pictures on the next page figures below to pack and assemble the backloaded sample holders (Figure 2).
1) . Place the top ring upside down on the sample prep table and clip it in by pressing the button on the side. Take care not to scratch the center platform.
2) . Mound the powder up slightly in slightlyin a conical shape.
3.) ) With a blade or glass slide make chopping motions on the powder to help spread it out evenly. Press it down with the cylindrical press.
4.) Scrape off the excess with a blade or glass slide.
5.) Brush away excess powder to so that the outer ring is clean for attaching the sample holder base.
6.) Press and clip the sample holder base into the top ring. It should snap in cleanly and easily.
7.) Turn the entire sample prep table upside down, resting the sample holder base on the countertop, and press the release button on the side to release the completed sample holder. Sample surface should be flat and flush with the edge of the holder. With the brush or kimwipe, clean any powder off the ring surface because that comes in contact with the sample spinner.
Tips:If If the powder sticks to the sample table when you flip it upside down to release, try it again with a piece of weighing paper placed on top of the platform and then clip the top ring in.If If you don’t have enough power to fill the sample holder, after pressing down with the cylindrical press add one of the cardboard spacers so that the cardboard spacer is flush with the ring top and then clip in the holder base. Also note that if there is too much sample the back of the holder will not attach.
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The mains power switch is on the rear lower right-hand side of the instrument. This can generally be left on. The unit is plugged in to the UPS power box and that should remain on at all times.
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Figure 2: Sample preparation for Aeris backloading sample holders.
Importing a new measurement program
Open an existing file on the XRD computer to edit or rename by clicking OPEN and navigate to C:/ PANalytical/XRDMP Creator/, or open the XRDMP creator and open and previous parameter file. Make any needed edits to the start and end angles and click Save As and rename for the current expedition. Save the creator parameter file onto a USB drive. The USB can then be inserted into the side of the Aeris screen. To set up a new measurement parameter file see the Advanced Aeris User Guide.
Click on the Menu button and select Advanced Mode. The password is panalytical.
Click on Menu again and select Data Management.Then click Import Programs.
Source should auto populate as the USB drive. Select the program, click Import Program.
Remove the USB drive and click Menu to return to Measurement screen.
See advanced User Guide for recommended measurement program settingsAnchor _GoBack _GoBack
Running a sample and uploading data
Place sample into one of the six slots on the sample changer. Be careful not to touch the center arm that comes in and out of the shutter door.
Click on the MENU button
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in the top left of the screen and go to Measurement.
The 6 circles along the top of the screen correspond to the six sample slots. Click on an active one to get started. (You can't click on one that is empty). (Figure 3).
Select the appropriate measurement program in the dropdown.
Use the barcode scanner (on the right side of the Aeris) to scan the sample
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ID label into the sample
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ID field, or type it in with the keyboard. The file name will auto populate. Add any comments as necessary such as clay separation, heated, standard, test.
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Tips:
- Once a sample is added to the Queue you cannot cancel it. If you decide there is a mistake and you don't want to run a sample that has already been added to the queue, simply remove the sample from the sample changer. When the instrument gets to the empty slot it will show a warning that no sample is present and skip to the next sample. Then you can place a sample back in the slot, click on the corresponding circle, and enter the new information.
- You cannot enter any sample information into a slot that doesn't have a sample holder placed in it. The sensor must sense a sample holder and then you will be able to add information and add it to the queue.
If instrument is in manual mode: Due to the malfunctioning sample changer, the Aeris has been placed into "manual mode" by the service reps. You can bypass the sample changer and run one sample at a time by placing it gently on the center arm and then filling out the measurement fields on the screen as described above. The arm swings out of the chamber whenever the screen is activated, take care not to bump it. In this state, the screen permanently shows 1 active error "Motion control error on the sample changer gripper axis". You cannot "add to queue", you must wait for the sample to finished to run another one.
NOTE: If you are running clay samples you will end up with multiple runs that have the same sample info if you do not add extra info in the sample name. To make sure you can differentiate this in the database you must add extra text beforethe TextID so that it looks like the examples below. Do this step on the Aeris touch screen so that it gets included in the metadata of the file. MUT will recognize the files written this way as long as there is a .xrdml and .jpeg with matching file names. There is a character limit on the Aeris so you may shorten the extra text to something like heat, or glyc. U1565A_1R1_3_4_clay_WDGE11053881.xrdml, U1565A_1R1_3_4_heated_WDGE11053881.xrdml, U1565A_1R1_3_4_glycolated_WDGE11053881.xrdml
Uploading Data (confirm the info below and update as necessary)
When the scan is finished, the data file automatically transfers to the XRD lab computer and can be found in C:/
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Data/In
Upload files to the database through MUT. Two file types, xrdml and Jpeg, are uploaded per sample. File name must be
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in the following format to be recognized by MUT and uploaded U1536B_5H3_79_81_CYL19622183
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Measurement programs are created in 
on the XRD instrument computer.
1.) Open an existing file to edit or rename by clicking OPEN and navigate to C:/ PANalytical/XRDMP Creator/ . Make edits to the start and end angles and click Save As and rename for the current expedition. Save the creator file onto a USB drive. The USB can then be inserted into the side of the Aeris screen.
2.) Click on the Menu button 
and select Advanced Mode. The password is panalytical
3.) Click on Menu again and select Data Management. Then click Import Programs.
4.) Source should auto populate as the USB drive. Select the program, click Import Program button.
5.) Remove the USB drive and click Menu button to return to Measurement screen.
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After uploading, MUT will transfer the files to C:/Data/Archive. Organize the archived files by site and hole. At the end of expedition copy these into DATA 1 which is used as a database backup (speak to programmer if you cannot find DATA1).
As noted above: If you are running clay samples you will end up with multiple runs that have the same sample info. To make sure we can differentiate this in the database you must add extra text beforethe TextID so that it looks like the examples below. Do this step on the Aeris touch screen so that it gets included in the metadata of the file. MUT will recognize the files written this way as long as there is a .xrdml and .jpeg with matching file names. There is a character limit on the Aeris so you may shorten the extra text to something like heat, or glyc.
U1565A_1R1_3_4_clay_WDGE11053881.xrdml
Viewing and Analyzing Scans
Double click on any .xrdml file and the diffractogram will open in Data Viewer on the XRD PC (Figure 3). This can be a quick and easy way to print and save the raw image. You can double click on more files and view the scans on top of each other. Click on the page icon
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(circled Figure 3), to view the complete report of parameters used in the scan. Scientists may want this information for their methods.
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Figure 3. Data Viewer and scan parameters for a sample.
For peak identification and advanced processing use HighScore software. 
. See the HighScore Quick Start Guide.
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Run the Si reference disk at least at the beginning, middle, and end of every expedition. This tracks intensity and diminishes as the x-ray tube gets older. Run it using the measurement program Aeris provided predefined creator program “Silicon (Cu Tube)”. You need to unlock the cover and insert the ni filter.
The Aeris is provided with its own corundum standard. It is a round white disk. It should be kept in its sample holder to avoid getting scratched and damaged. Both corundum and the Si disk can be used to verify that the actual peaks align with theoretical peak angles. If there is drifting on the xaxis see the Advanced User Guide for instructions on calibrating the x-offset, this should be uncommon with the Aeris optics system.
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Check the cooling fluid level weekly. You can view and access the reservoir by opening the left rear panel. If the level is approaching the minimum limit then you must add more deionized water from the Barnstead dispenser in the chemistry lab.
1.) Use a 6mm allen key to remove both the vent plug and fill plug.
2.) Use the gooseneck refilling bottle to slowly add water into the fill plug up to the high mark. Do not overfill. Aeris does not need a lot of water.
3.) Replace the fill plug and vent plug. Replace the side panel.
Error codes: Some error codes can be cleared by turning off and back on the front computer. Press the power button on the side of the screen, and then turn the key switch counterclockwise. Wait a minute and Press the power button to turn back on and then when prompted, turn the key switch.Keyboard and mouse are wireless and run on batteries. If not working check the batteries and that the Bluetooth dongle is still in the Aeris, on the right hand side next to the network connections HighScore is available via a Remote Desktop onboard. IP address is 165.91.150.141. PC is called PCV0001, user name is 'daq', password is 'daq'.