Changing specimen mounts (e.g., wet cell)

Specimen mounts different from the standard disc mount we use may put the specimen at a significantly different $Z$ position, or fill more space between the specimen and the detector. Adjustment of the alignment parameters and interlock settings is needed. This particularly true for the wet cell!. The steps to deal with this are as follows:

• Retract the specimen (Alignment$\rightarrow$Edit Alignment$\rightarrow$ Retract specimen)
• Put the new sample mount onto the stage. Visually inspect that there is enough space first. If not, you have to manually move ZSTG a little further downstream.
• Move the VLM in with (Alignment$\rightarrow$Edit Alignment$\rightarrow$ Detector: Insert VLM) and focus onto the specimen by adjusting the $Z$ detector stage (the ZDET motor). (Move$\rightarrow$Detector).
  If it reports an error (specimen stage not inserted), cheat by recording the specimen in x-ray focus first (Alignment$\rightarrow$Edit Alignment$\rightarrow$ Record specimen in X-ray focus)
• Record the sample in VLM focus (Alignment$\rightarrow$Edit Alignment$\rightarrow$ Record specimen in VLM focus)
• Insert the specimen (Alignment$\rightarrow$Edit Alignment$\rightarrow$ Insert specimen).
• Insert the detector (Alignment$\rightarrow$Edit Alignment$\rightarrow$ Detector: Insert XY)
• Remove the silvery tape that trigger the interlock in $Z$ direction. Refer to Fig. 2.5. Bring the detector closer to the specimen position by moving ZDET (Move$\rightarrow$Detector). Move it to the critical distance (this depends on the kind of detector you are using). Put the silvery tape for the interlock back on in this position. Adjust the silvery tape on the detector stage such that it just triggers the interlock (by moving it back and forth and listening to the beeping of the interlock, you will find this position easily). Since the interlock is active at this position, you will need to override it and move ZDET downstream a bit (by pressing the button labeled D (for downstream) on the Newport motion controller axis labeled $ZDET$) until you can turn the interlock back on and you feel safe to work at the distance.
• Record the detector aligned (Alignment$\rightarrow$Edit Alignment$\rightarrow$ Record Advanced$\rightarrow$Record Detector Aligned: XY)
• Write the alignment file (Alignment$\rightarrow$Write Alignment File) to save the alignment to disk (so you won't have to do it all over when you exit the program).

Figure 2.5: When the detector is in the most upstream position, you want to adjust the tape so that it just triggers the interlock.