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Introduction
This guide is written to help guide scientists and technicians in setting up for and collecting x-radiographs IMS version 10.2. For more detailed information regarding the XMSL- IMS software, image processing, and the XMSL hardware, please refer to the XMSL-IMS User guide.
Launching the IMS X-ray Imager application
The IMS XMSL software can be launched from the Windows Start menu or from the desktop icon (Figure 1).
Figure 1- XMSL Desktop Icon
At launch, the program begins the following initialization process:
- Testing instrument communications
- Homing the pusher arm of the motion control system
- Verifying Dark and Light Calibration images. If the calibration images are not found, the program will ask the user to run a calibration.
After successful initialization, the main IMS-XMSL window will appear (Figure 2).
Figure 2- XMSL IMS Main Window
Preparing For Imaging
Prior to imaging cores, especially at the start of an expedition, the user must:
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The X-Ray Image Logger (XMSL) takes a series of 2-D x-radiographs from either whole-round sections or section-halves. Sections are measured one by one.
WARNING: You are using an imaging system which works with an X-ray generator source. Do not place your hand under the source or bypass any of the security measures. Ensure that you receive the appropriate training before using the instrument; failure to do so can result in physical harm.
Procedures
Preparing the Instrument
- Double-click the IMS icon (Figure 1). IMS initializes the instrument, tests communications, homes the motion control system and verifies the Dark and Light Calibrations. For more information refer to the XMSL User Guide.
Figure 1. IMS icon.
2. Prior to imaging cores the user must:
Test exposure parameters in the Imaging Utility (Instruments> Camera: Imaging Utility Section section in the XMSL User Guide).
Set exposure parameters in the Measurement Editor (
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DAQ
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> Measurement Editor).
Adjust the automatic image processing settings
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(Image Processing
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section in the XMSL User Guide)
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NOTE:
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Once these steps are complete, the user may begin imaging.
Set Exposure Parameters
Prior to collecting x-radiographs on whole rounds or section halves in the XMSL, the user must set the imaging parameters (voltage, exposure, current). For explanation on how to test exposure parameters prior to imaging, see the Image Utility section. For explanation on how to test image processing parameters, see the Image Process Utility section.
To open the Measurement Editor (Figure 3), select DAQ > Measurement Editor from the IMS panel menu. This window allows the user to view and adjust the XMSL DAQ parameters.
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Ask the PP technician to help with these steps.
Set exposure parameters
- Select DAQ > Measurement Editor from the IMS panel menu (Figure 2).
- Interval: Number of centimeters the core will move between each image.
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- This value is hardcoded
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- in IMS software and cannot be changed in this window.
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- This interval guarantees image overlap
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- and maximizes system efficiency. Default interval is set at 12 cm.
- Width:
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- Fixed length of the produced image
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- .
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- This value is dependent on the detector and hardware setup.
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- Default length is 15 cm.
- Stack:
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- Number of x-radiographs
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- taken at each position.
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- These images are stacked and averaged to produce the final raw image.
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- 20 images is the standard
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- . Stacking more images does not
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- improve the image quality further.
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- See the User Guide, 'Image Stacking
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- ' section for more
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- information.
- Exposure Time:
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- Duration of each exposure in milliseconds.
- kV:
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- X-ray tube voltage.
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- 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:
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- X-ray tube current.
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- Maximum current for the source is 1 mA.
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- Increasing the current will increase contrast if voltage is kept constant.
Each of the stacked images is taken with the exposure time, kV, and mA set in this window. To estimate the length of time it takes for each image at specific settings, multiply the exposure time by the number of stacked images.
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Figure 2. XMSL Measurement Editor Window
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Starting Measurements
Sample Information Window
Click START on the IMS panel (Figure 2) to open the sample information window (Figure 4). This is where the user enters the sample ID for a section and initiates the measurement. There are three tabs available on the sample information screen. Each provides a different method for entering the sample ID information.
Sample Entry Tabs
- Scanner: Scan the IODP barcode to enter the sample’s Text ID and Label ID values.
- LIMS: Select expedition, site, hole, core, and section values from a series of list boxes that are populated with data from the LIMS database.
- Manual: Manually enter the sample’s Text ID and Label ID values and a length. The name fields will accept any name, so the user must be careful to enter the name properly. If the name is incorrect a file will be created, but it may not upload properly. User the section ID for whole round images and the section half ID for section half images.
Figure 4- Sample Information Window- Scanner entry (left), LIMS entry (middle), and Manual Entry (right).
Taking X-radiographs
- Select START on the IMS panel (Figure 2) to open the sample information window (Figure 4).
- Enter the Sample ID Information
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2. 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.
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)
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, LIMS Text ID (i.e., SHLF7851761) and length of section. Use the whole round
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ID when imaging whole rounds
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- . 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.
- Select USE ME to update the IDs and enable the MEASURE button.
3. Ensure the Core Status (left side of window) is set to match the type of core being imaged
- Full= Whole round
- Half= Section half
4. Ensure the section half is inside the load end door 5. Ensure that the section is inside the track system (using the first loading door) and that all doors are properly closed.
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Green and yellow
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lights on top of the lead box should
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5. Select MEASURE
be on. If doors aren't properly closed the green light will not appear, and a error message will be displayed on the screen (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Warning message indicating that the source is not ready to ramp up.
NOTE: If both doors are closed properly and this message is displayed, please contact the PP technician.
6. Click MEASURE
7. The motion control pusher will move
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the section
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above the detector.
8. When the section is over the detector, the x-ray source will ramp up and a status window
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will be displayed on the screen (Figure 6). Once
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mA and kV are stable, the window will close and image acquisition will begin.
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User may abort at any time by clicking the
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ABORT button.
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Figure 6. X-Ray status. As the source ramps up, the measured values will update.
WARNING: During X-Ray measurements a flashing red light will be on. DO NOT open the doors during this period. Failure to comply, can result in physical harm.
9. The instrument will move each section down the track system, automatically taking images along section (Figure 7). This continues, until the actuator reaches its limit switch
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Figure 5- X-ray Status Window (left). As the source ramps up, the measured values will update. X-ray system not ready window (right). If the source is not ready to ramp up this window will be displayed. Normally, this indicates that a door is open. If the doors are not open, look at the values in the status displays and refer to the vendor’s manual to determine the issue. As soon as the issue is cleared, this window will close and the x-ray start process will resume.
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6. The Sample ID information window will reappear on the screen (Figure 7).
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and returns to it's home position.
Figure 7. IMS display during imaging.
10. The source ramps down, and a window with the message 'X-RAY OFF' is displayed on the screen (Figure 8). The red light on top of the lead box turns off.
Figure 8. X-Ray OFF status window.
11. XMSL Section Information window is displayed on the screen (Figure 9).
Figure 9. Sample Information Window- Pusher End Sequence View.
11. Open the load door and place the Pusher section (either XMSL whole-round or section-half) onto the track. Close the load door.
12. Click PUSHER END SEQUENCE. The source will ramp up and the motion control system will continue to push the section through the x-ray system.
Figure 7- Sample Information Window- Pusher End Sequence View
NOTE: If the detector grid pattern becomes visible in the images, contact the PP technician, as the detector will have to be recalibrated.
13. When the imaging is complete, IMS will automatically process the raw images and output them to
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the C:\AUX_DATA
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folder. The raw images output to the C:\DATA\IN folder. For more information on IMS image processing, see
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the 'Automatic Image Processing' section in the
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User Guide.
X-Rays OFF
Figure 8 will be displayed when the X-ray Off command is sent to the CP160. The window will be displayed until the kV has been confirmed to be at zero.
You will also see this window flash on during X-Ray START when the CP160 fails to respond to the start command. The X-ray off will reset communications with the CP160 and bring it to a known state which will clear any communication issue.
Figure 8- X-ray Off Status Window
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14. Every thirty minutes both raw and processed images are automatically copied to data1 (CLEVELAND)(S:)\data1\7.3 Petrophysics_XRAY\mirror). Be extremely careful when deleting an image on the X-Ray computer, as any change will be automatically replicated on data1.
ABORT button
- At any time during imaging a user can click the ABORT button to end the imaging process and ramp down the source.
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- A dialog window with different options will appear (Figure
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Return to Load Position: Actuator returns to the home position. User will need to manually remove core
Stop and Do Nothing: Actuator will remain in place. Use this option if the section had jammed in the XMSL or is there is a hardware issue.
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- 10).
Figure 10. Abort by User dialog box.
NOTE: The are also two Emergency Stops on the XMSL track, one for stopping the movement of the track and the other for shut down the X-Ray source.
Credits
Credits for changes to this document are given in the page history.
All improvements to the Quick Start Guides and User Guides are a communal effort, with honorable mention to the group of LOs, ALOs, and technicians who have helped.
Archive Versions
- X-Ray Image Logger Quick Start Guide 397T 2022-09-28
- LMUG-X-rayImageLoggerQuickStartGuide: An exported PDF version of this wiki paga as of 2020-11-07.
X-ray Image Logger QSG - 25022020