X-ray Laboratory Dos and Don’ts

Primary users will be trained by the Technical Director in the proper use of the X-ray instrumentation and given safety guidelines for laboratory access.  General guidelines are posted below:

 

DO

 

Wear your dosimeter when you are in the 436C X-ray Crystallography Core Laboratory.

 

Always check the light tower and look at both data collection computers to check for active data collection before entering the X-ray enclosure.  Stop all data collection processes before entering and remember to restart them when finished in the enclosure.

 

Make a practice of never crossing the path of the X-ray beam (from collimator to detector) with your hands or any other part of your body.

 

Be mindful of the location of the emergency stop button (it can be activated if you bump into it) and do use it if necessary.

 

Check the helium tank by the lab entrance for a supply of 500 psi or above.

 

Check the helium gauge located below the detectors on the front black panel of the generator.  It should show 30-45 psi.

 

Check the cold stream heater level on the X-Stream Controller.  The number should stay consistently below 15.

 

Turn off the goniometer heater after you remove your crystal.

 

Make a record of your data collection in the X-ray Core Laboratory Log Book.

 

Always be aware of the light on the safety tower.

 

BACK UP YOUR DATA!

 

 

DON’T

 

DON’T ENTER THE X-RAY ENCLOSURE WHEN THE AMBER SAFETY LIGHT IS ON.

 

Don’t touch any controls or switches (including X-ray shutter switches) on the instruments.

 

Don’t bump the collimators or beam stops.

 

Don’t bump the cameras.  Please notify Nick or Alex if this has occurred.

 

Don’t touch the black cover screen on the detector face.

 

Don’t move or adjust the cryostreams.  Please ask Nick or Alex if you have any questions or you would like to collect room temperature data.

 

Don’t install software on the data collection computers.

 

Don’t use the data collection computers for other purposes when data is being acquired.

 

Don’t move the detector 2 theta setting.  See Nick or Alex for adjustment.

 

Please notify Nick (7-6971) or Alex (7-3781) of any questions or problems.

X-ray Crystallography Core Laboratory

Department of Biochemistry

Director: P. John Hart, Ph.D.  Faculty Web Site