Sample Submission
1. Please follow Submit a sample for analysis page and submit a request on LMACS.
2. In the added item(s):
a. Describe the physical dimensions of your material (Length, width and height, or diameter and thickness).
b. Describe the material composition.
c. Describe the objectives (features size) and location of interest in detail (with design or image(s) will be helpful).
d. If you are submitting repeating samples (i.e., same type of device) with close dimensions, and you are looking for the same area, please indicate previous request ID. Same measurement recipe will be followed.
e. Please indicate if you only need 2D projection instead of 3D tomography.
3. Note:
a. Smaller sample (i.e., powder vs solid) is better because detector and source can be closer to the sample, which will increase the X-ray counts and reduce measurement time. Max size is <10 x 10 x 10 cm.
b. Sample need to be mounted (i.e., poke, glue, tape, clamp) on one of holders, please leave a note if the sample need to be recovered without any damage/mark.
c. Sample cannot change its morphology during the measurement. (i.e., dehydration) This will result failed reconstruction.
d. For samples with high aspect ratio (wide or tall), wide-mode, or vertical-stitch will be applied, that may cause longer measurements.
4. Examples:
a. Sample name:
b. Sample name:
c. Sample name:
Sample Acquisition and File Formats
1. The Acquisition software is Scout-and-Scan software:
a. key parameters: Pixel size; source energy; fan angle; sample, source, and detector location
b. recipe file (.rcp): recorded all the scan(s) parameters, useful for repeating similar samples
c. 2D projection files (optional, .xrm)
d. manual reference file (optional, xrm)
e. projection dataset file (.trxm): series of 2D images at different angles (typical scan is 1601 projections)
f. tomography drift file (.trxm): includes information about sample drift during measurements
g. reconstruction file (.txm): a stacking of 2D reconstructed images. Zeiss proprietary format
2. The Reconstruction software (optional):
a. manual reconstruction is need from time to time
b. import projection dataset file (.txrm) and output reconstruction file (.txm)
3. The Dragonfly Pro software:
a. import reconstruction file (.txm) and output session file (.ORSsession)
4. Notes:
a. Session file (.ORSsession) is the standard file you will receive. It can be imported in any versions of Dragonfly software. (Trial version and non-commercial license available )
b. If you only need 2D projection, we can convert Zeiss proprietary format (.xrm) files to images formats.
c. We can also provided Zeiss proprietary formats (.xrm, .txm) if you have special needs. It can still be loaded in software like Fiji(ImageJ) with plug-in, but with only limited functions. Please discuss your needs with us first.
