EXP-2 Complete XRF Experimenter’s Kit

No.  This kit contains all of the critical hardware and software required to perform energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF), but it is not a turn-key system. It requires not only assembly but also configuration of the hardware and software, and calibration.

A turn-key system is generally designed to handle a wide range of measurement applications. If a user has a specific application, particularly one that is challenging for turn-key systems, the Amptek XRF Experimenter’s Kit lets the user optimize the entire system for that one application. It is a very powerful tool for specific and challenging measurement applications. But to obtain its advantages, the user must invest the time to fully optimize the hardware, the software, the calibration procedures, and so on.

A turn-key system is designed for an operator with minimal training. The operator turns on the system, takes a measurement, and the system gives the answer. The designers of the turn-key system have already optimized the configuration, calibrated the system, and evaluated its measurement uncertainty. The XRF Experimenter’s Kit requires a user to carry out these steps and to have the knowledge to carry them out. It is possible to use the XRF Experimenter’s Kit to fabricate a prototype of an OEM system, which is simple to use, but this requires development effort.

No.  The XRF Experimenter’s Kit provides everything including radiation shielding. Users must be trained in radiation safety and fully understand the radiation precautions and instructions provided.  As previously stated, the user must supply a Windows XP SP3 or later PC with three (3) available USB ports.

1. The kit comes with instructions to guide you through (a) assembling the hardware, (b) installing the software, (c) selecting a “basic” configuration which permits you to acquire a spectrum, and (d) calibrating the energy scale.
2. The kit comes with a single sample material, a piece of stainless steel 316, to use in initial setup and calibration. You must obtain any other samples necessary.
3. You need to optimize the configuration of the system for your measurement application. There are many parameters to consider: the energy and filtering of the excitation source, geometry of the detector, tube and sample, the parameters of the signal processor (there are a many parameters, though usually only a few are key), and the parameters of the spectrum processing and analysis software.
4. You need to calibrate the energy scale. For accurate results, you also need to calibrate the analysis software using samples of known composition.

Amptek’s complete Experimenter’s Kit has been designed to meet the standards for an “enclosed beam x-ray system” defined by ANSI/HPS N43.2-2001, Radiation Safety for X-ray Diffraction and Fluorescence Analysis Equipment, and by Radiation Safety Requirements for Analytical X-ray Equipment, Part H of Suggested State Regulations for Control of Radiation, published by the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors.

Note that your installation may be subject to federal, state and local regulations, administrative requirements, and other requirements that are different from those of these standards. The Radiation Safety Officer, the person in charge of the installation, and all equipment operators must be familiar with applicable operating procedures and regulations governing the x-ray installation. The user is responsible for verifying that the Experimenter’s Kit meets the standards of his/her institution.

Under the worst case conditions of 50 kV, maximum current and worst case scattering target, the radiation dose is 1 mrem/hr (10 uSv/hr) at about 2 cm from any surface of the XRF Kit.  Under normal condition, the dose is much lower.

As a good resource for radiation safety, we recommend the following site:
https://www.nde-ed.org/NDEEngineering/RadiationSafety/index.xhtml

All dimensions in inches.