Troubleshooting guide

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Problems you may encounter during data collection

 
Note well: this list includes some of the problems you may encounter during data collection, but it does not claim to be exhaustive! In case of doubt, call the CHESS operator, who will contact MacCHESS personnel if necessary. If you find errors, omissions, or confusing instructions in this guide, please inform Marian Szebenyi.
 
  Contents
 

Beam problems
 

Cryosystem problems
 

CCD distance problems
 

Diffraction problems
 

Tape drive problems
 
  Beam problems
 

No counts through collimator: get CHESS operator.
 
 

Low counts through collimator: do table alignment (if counts come back up - continue with experiment, if not - go to step 2);
 
 

 

  get CHESS operator to check X-ray optics.
 
  Cryosystem problems
 

Can't get good crystal freeze: check whether liquid nitrogen dewar is empty;
 
 

 

  check positioning of cooling nozzle - adjust if necessary;
 
 

 

  try momentarily blocking nozzle with your thumb to build pressure, then releasing (this may blow out ice particles that are slowing gas flow);
 
 

 

  get help from MacCHESS operator (CHESS operator will contact him for you);
 
 

Crystal icing up: adjust the "shield" gas flow (regulator for red hose up at the wall) carefully between 5 and 10 L/min. Best be done with the overhead lights switched off, just the fiber optic light on, watching the gas flow against a dark background;
 
      brush frost off crystal periodically;
 
      come back in the winter when the humidity is lower!?
 
     

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  CCD Distance problems
 

Digital distance readout for the CCD is wrong: move the CCD to the downstream stop, push the reset button.
 
  Tape drive (8 mm) problems
 

System does not "see" drive:
"No such device" error:
type "scan_scsi" in any window and try again;
 
      check connections of SCSI cables, check that all SCSI devices are running;
 
      take tape out (if any), turn tape drive off and on;
 
      get help from MacCHESS.
 
 

I/O errors during writing: take tape out, run cleaning tape through;
 
      try a different tape - "Metal" 8 mm tapes often have problems;
 
      if you are putting a large amount on one tape, try splitting it up between two or three tapes.
 
     

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  Diffraction problems
 

Completely blank image -
could be due to:
no beam - wait for new fill, or get CHESS operator to fix problem;
 
      safety shield in front of CCD did not go up - press "garage door open" button on the control panel, get help from MacCHESS if shield fails completely;
 
      software problem: has adxv loaded an image? if it has, the image file name is given in the title bar, check whether the image file is the right size;
 
        check display parameters, particularly upper and lower limits for grayscale;
 
        for ADSC software, check that the "ccd_xform_new_api" process is running;
 
        if not, restart software with "stop_ccd" and "start_ccd";
      detector problem: check for error messages on PC;
 
        get help from MacCHESS.
 
 

Beam stop shadow visible
but no diffraction spots - could be:
diffraction is very weak - try a longer exposure;
      crystal not in the beam - try rotating it 90 degrees and taking another shot. If you see diffraction then, try to center the crystal better. If still nothing, or centering looks good but crystal only diffracts at some positions, could be a problem with video camera cross-hairs or spindle height - get MacCHESS help to fix;
 
      crystal is no good (sorry!) - try another.
 
 

Oscillation image looks
like a still:
check the oscillation range that you entered;

 
      get CHESS operator to check spindle motor.
 
 

Shadows on image: check for cooling nozzle too close;
 
      other equipment blocking part of the X-rays.
 
 

Areas of high background
on image:
check position of beam stop, adjust if necessary;
 
      beam stop is too small, move it forward or get operator to put on a bigger one;
 
      have CHESS operator add shielding.
 
 

Strong discrete spots or
rings on image - could be due to:
ice or salt in or around crystal - change crystal;
      if problem persists with a
new crystal, is probably
due to one of the following:
 
crooked collimator ion chamber - straighten it;
        particles of dust, etc. in collimator - blow out collimator with air;
 
        switch to another collimator.
 
     

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  Marian Szebenyi
 
   

 

Last updated August, 2006

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