To carry out data collection the User should log into bl96alpha1 using the ccduser id, create a working directory on /data and then type pxgen++.
The Experiment Setup pane allows manual control of the shutter, the distance and the phi rotation. The interface is shown below:
The PX Data Collection pane is used to start the experiment.
| Enter information regarding data directory, image template name etc. | |
| The number of experimental runs can be set using the drop-down menu, which also provides the option of a single snap. |  |
| When you have entered all the required information, click Start in the lower left-hand side of the window. Feedback is provided in the lower portion of the window on phi position, sample-detector (S-D) distance, shutter and progress of data collection. | |
| New image display software is under development, so for now PXGEN++ launches the ADXV display as used with the CCD program. Image display can be turned on and off using the buttons in the top half of this pane. | |
| The Abort button will become active once data collection has started. Data collection will only abort after the current image is completed. | |
| Note that at the end of an experimental run, the program will move the detector back to a safe distance (300 mm) for retrieving your crystal. | |
| For setting detector-specific parameters such as binning, speed, raw data option, dark current options click on the tab Detector Specific Setup within the PX Data Collection Pane. The interface is shown below: | |
If the spots of your image are well separated and easily resolved data collection may be speeded up substantialy by using 2 x 2 binning and Fast ADC. This uses larger pixels (actually a 2 x 2 box of the normal ones) and speeds up the conversion of the images for viewing.
Please remember that the processing parameters for data collected using 2 x 2 binning are slightly different to normal data. Details may be found in the Processing sections.
To reinitialise the CCD: Exit from the data collection program. Go into the Hutch to the detector control crate and exit from the CCD program on the pc. This is done by clicking on the cross in the top right hand corner of the black window. Now restart the program by clicking on the blue Quantum 4 logo and then restart the data collection program on bl96alpha1.
If the PC in the rack has hung it will be necessary to open the small pull-down door above the keyboard and press the reset button. Exit the data collection software first then reset the PC.
Important!! Please wait 20-30 secs after the computer has rebooted to allow the virus scan to finish before starting the Quantum 4 software.
It may also be worth rebooting bl96alpha1. This is done by typing 'shutdown' in a free window. You do not need to log out. The computer will shutdown and reboot automatically. It may prompt you to 'push any button to continue'. This is where you may power off the computer, if needed. The reboot cycle will be complete within a few minutes.