unc biomolecular x-ray crystallography facility

X-Ray Safety Course:

UNC Biomolecular X-ray Crystallography Facility

Before you enter the X-ray lab, put your body and ring badge on,

EVEN IF THE X-RAYS ARE NOT ON. Badges are kept in a box,

appropriately labeled “BADGES” outside the lab

Do NOT enter the X-ray lab, if the Safety Interlock Keypad is

in Bypass mode, indicated by a RED light in the upper left

corner, as shown below. A flashing red light on the

generator tabletop and an audible alarm also indicate Bypass

mode.

You should also see a sign posted on the door if any of the

safety devices have been disabled, another indication to not

enter the lab until checking with the Facility Manager

If the computer screen for the detector indicates that someone

else is using the instrument, again, DO NOT ENTER the

LAB

It is only appropriate to enter the lab if the Safety Interlock is in On mode,

as indicated by a GREEN light in upper right corner of the keypad. In this

mode, if any of the doors into the lab are opened, BOTH shutters will

close immediately

Door closed Door open

Once you open the door when the keypad is in safety mode, the

shutter will not open until you CLOSE THE DOOR and then punch in

the correct code (you will receive the code when you are trained)

Once you are in the lab, check whether the generator is

running at Full power - on the Rigaku Micromax 007HF this

is Tube Voltage = 40 kW, Tube current = 30 mA. On the

older RU-H3R, it is 50 kW, 100 mA. If it is NOT, ask the

Facility Manager to help you

The X-ray On indicator light is a RED light, displayed outside

the door to show that X-rays are being produced, NOT

necessarily that the shutter is open and X-rays are coming out

onto the sample.

The shutter open indicator lights are yellow, located inside

the lab near the center of the generator tabletop, there is one

for the LEFT port (CCD detector and Actor) and one for the

RIGHT port (R-Axis IV++)

Light off, shutter closed Light on, shutter open, RIGHT port

If you have not entered the lab with the safety interlock in BYPASS,

You should never see the shutter lights ON when you are inside the lab

When you mount your crystal by hand, you should know

where the direct beam is, even though the shutter should

NEVER be open when you are mounting your crystal

NEVER EVER PUT YOUR FINGERS (or any other

part of your body) IN THE PATH OF THE DIRECT

BEAM (RED ARROW) IF THE SHUTTER IS OPEN

Now, HAPPY STRUCTURE SOLVING!!!

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