Berkeley Day 34: What Wonderful Toys
http://www.arf.fsu.edu/equipmentRMXRD.cfm
If I could get everyone with an x-ray diffraction (XRD) unit to have one of these lovely units, life would be so much easier. No radiation leakage from the case of this beauty which means no need for dosimetry. This is a 110V table top unit that is replacing a behemoth from the 1960's that takes up a quarter of the room with major water and electrical hookups. While being table top is awesome, it introduces some non-radiological problems the new owner hadn't considered until I pointed them out today. I love bullet points:
If I could get everyone with an x-ray diffraction (XRD) unit to have one of these lovely units, life would be so much easier. No radiation leakage from the case of this beauty which means no need for dosimetry. This is a 110V table top unit that is replacing a behemoth from the 1960's that takes up a quarter of the room with major water and electrical hookups. While being table top is awesome, it introduces some non-radiological problems the new owner hadn't considered until I pointed them out today. I love bullet points:
- A small unit like this only weighs about 100lbs. This means that one particularly strong frat boy or two hoodlum geeks could walk off with it. No one is used to thinking of an research x-ray unit that can be doesn't need a forklift.
- In addition to bolting it down to keep people from walking off with it, I pointed out that a unit like this would dance off the table in an earthquake. "I suspect that would put a bit of a dent in the grant money if that happened, wouldn't it?" I asked. The professor looked a bit pale and nodded vigorously, "You have no idea. I'll have my lab contact secure this equipment today."
- Even though it is tiny enough to be put on a cart and plugged in anywhere, moving it requires a fresh license with the state. I told them not to get creative with arranging rooms, at least not in the XRD respect.
- A fully computer controlled unit is awesome from the data analysis side of the equation. But when I told them computer security and software were now part of their safety check, that means that they now have to involve IT to make sure everything works for inspections. No one wants to make IT a part of their ongoing research.