Mail-In Powder Diffraction Measurements

Tools

Drill Bits

A #68 wire gauge size Jobber drill bit (diameter = 0.031" = 0.787 mm) can be useful for loading & packing powder inside the standard 11-BM mail-in 0.8 mm Kapton tubes

These small diameter drill bits cost $2 or less, and can easily be purchased online. If you intend to use it frequently, you might consider also purchasing a small pin vise (Starrett makes good ones) to more easily hold the small bit.

Image Gallery

Two views of a sample in position for data-taking, as seen through the "upstream" camera (left) and the video microscope (right). The reticle lines show the nominal extent of the beam. The actual beam edges extend somewhat farther, so these areas should be kept clear of foreign material (glue, clay, wax, etc.). The sample material must be held in place in the beam -- if it is loose in the capillary, it will move when we spin the capillary (we spin at about 5400 r.p.m.). In addition, there must be no lumps of material at the end of the capillary, since this could cause the capillary to bend or break during spinning, and such a lump may also cause a robot malfunction when it attempts to load or unload the sample.