June 29th- Day 8

Go to home. Okay!

Since we did not 'go to home' yesterday before shutting down the program, when we turned on everything the computer made the positions of the stages the new 'zero' position. We had to go back and scan the x and y of the detector to find the spot. After that we started scanning the x and y axis for the smallest spot size but were not following the correct procedure. We realized this after a few scans and by the fact that we had been obtaining fairly large spot sizes. We went back to our notes and corrected the procedure we were using. We also increased the power to obtain a higher background ratio. Changing the current would only increase the dead time (Note to self- run at 50kV but make sure dead time is <30% but preferably <10%). The z axis actuator of the detector started acting up and would not go to the correct position. We would have to move the actuator position by a millimeter opposite of the way we were trying to move it and 'go to start' or 'go to home' again. We started scanning again but again were obtaining fairly large spot sizes. To correct this, we adjusted our output focal distance (OFD), removed the pin hole, and scanned in the x axis of the detector. We found the spectrum, so we did not have to use the camera. Then the region of interest (ROI) was set and the pin hole was put back in. We scanned x and y to get everything in position and then started scanning to get spot sizes. Alex suggested scanning in y first because the spot size would change more drastically. We followed the same procedure we used during our training.  Alex said next we should be changing the IFD and take more spot size measurements. We asked him about the new set up he had been working on for us and he told us the optic keeps breaking, so we are going to have to wait until they make another one that survives the treacherous creation process.