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Staff Analysis Only

The Zeiss Xradia Versa 620 XRM is only available for staff analysis now. Below is step-by-step instructions on how to submit samples for scans and request training for processing data. 

Sample Submission

  1. Submit a sample for analysis request on LMACS.
  2. Please include the following information in the request:
    1. Describe the physical dimensions of your material (Length, width and height, or diameter and thickness).
    2. Describe the material type (i.e., life science, material research, additive manufacturing, semiconductor packaging) and composition.
    3. Describe the objectives (features size) and location of region of interest in detail (design maps or related image will be helpful).
    4. If you are submitting similar type of samples that you have scanned previously, please indicate the previous request ID. 
    5. Please indicate if you only need 2D projection instead of 3D tomography.
  3. Example submissions:
    1. Sample name: Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim seed (a type of pepper), dimension ca.  5 x 5 x 5 mm, Life science sample with mainly light elements (C, S, O, N). I am looking for the tomography of whole seed structure and magnified tomography of the germ.
    2. Sample name: 3D printed metal, dimension ca. 30 x 30 x 250 mm, material research sample, mainly Fe and Ni with light element doping. I am looking for the voids in the material (~ 1-10 micron) at the center (10  mm height  x 10 mm diameter cone) of this rod. Comment: 1. the stage has a maximum moving distance 100 mm (without holder), this samples is too tall and will be hard to mount on the stage; 2. this sample made of dense metal is too bulky for the X-ray to penetrate. (Using maximum power, 160 kV 25W, the transmission is ~ 2% over 20 mm steel); 3. 10  mm height  x 10 mm diameter cone field of view (FOV), the pixel resolution is 10 micron. In order to resolve features at 1 micron, the FOV will be ~ 1 x 1 mm or smaller. Solution: cut the material to smaller pieces, i.e.,  <5 x 5 x 5 mm.
    3. Sample name: A lightning cable adaptor, dimension ca. 5 mm x 3 mm x 40 mm (see attached photo), protective case are polymer, chips and capacitor are contains polymer, silicon and thin metal contacts. I am looking for the metal coils in the circled region. Comment: if you have a package that you do not know the design/ internal structure, please schedule time with us to setup the measurement together. 

Sample dimension

  1. 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 <5 x 5 x 5 cm for a single scan.
  2. 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.
  3. Sample cannot change its morphology during the measurement. (i.e., dehydration) This will result a failed reconstruction.
  4. For samples with high aspect ratio (wide or tall), wide-mode, or vertical-stitch will be applied, that may cause longer measurements.

Data Processing

  1. The main data processing software we recommend and use is DragonFly from ORS.
  2. The standard file you will receive is a session (.ORSSession) that contains one or multiple reconstructions. You can download the trial or apply a free non-commercial license (for academic users) on your own PC (check minimum requirements).
  3. You can also  access Dragonfly software using the workstation at ECERF open area (this is a tool on LMACS). Please feel free to apply a Dragonfly software training to get access to the workstation. (SOP)
  4. There are also helpful tutorials to get start on Dragonfly.


File formats

  1. There are also other files available: 2D projection files (.xrm), reconstructed raw files (.txm), projection dataset (.txrm) and recipe file (.rcp). Most of these files are Zeiss proprietary and need special versions of software to open. 
  2. The workstation at nanoFab is the Pro version that can import reconstructed raw files (.txm), but it does not have the deep learning segmentation package. 
  3. If you only need 2D projection, we can convert Zeiss proprietary format (.xrm) files to images formats.
  4. 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. 
  5. The session file with a reconstruction typically has a size ~100 to 1GB depends on the volume of empty space that can be cropped. Reconstructed raw files (.txm) has a typical size 1.8GB for a single scan with binning 2 (standard). That means the PC will be handling 1000 layers of 1000 x 1000 pixel images the same time. 




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