Interactive X-ray laboratory automation utilizing multiuser basic

Automation of X-ray laboratory instruments has been achieved by combining commercially available automation hardware, X-ray units of various manufacturers, and a PDP-11 minicomputer. The automation provides simultaneous on-line control of up to ten separate X-ray instruments through user programs written in Lab-Basic which is the 1-8 User Basic software enlarged by the incorporation of three of additional capabilities, viz., routines to control automation hardware, commands making the programming easier, and mass-storage facility. The interactive nature of the hardware and of the software was dictated by the diverse types of analyses required in a general-purpose X-ray laboratory. The automation system provides the versatility needed for the various X-ray procedures by allowing the user to plan, debug, and execute the measurement, data reduction, and data presentation. Analytical procedures automated so far include the measurement of residual stress by X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis of catalysts by X-ray fluorescence, and quantitative phase analysis of ceramic catalyst support material by X-ray diffraction. Extension to other methods is contemplated.