OM0004

OPERATION MANUAL FOR GEOLABSOFT SOFTWARE WINDOWS VERSION

Bartington Instruments Ltd 10 Thorney Leys Business Park Witney OXON OX28 4GG England Tel: +44 1993 706565 Fax: +44 1993 774813

Specifications may be subject to slight alteration without prior notice. This system is not qualified for use in explosive atmospheres or life support systems. Consult Bartington Instruments for advice. The copyright of this document is the property of Bartington Instruments Ltd. The document is supplied on the condition that it is to be treated commercially confidential and it may not therefore be disclosed to any third party without the written authorisation of the Managing Directors of Bartington Instruments.

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CONTENTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Introduction Software installation Assembly and switch-on Communications High temperature scan Low temperature scan Graphics tools Saving files File format

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1. INTRODUCTION GeoLabsoft provides a Windows based semi-automated data logger for the Bartington Instruments susceptibility versus temperature system (MS2 /T), providing the user with a graph and tabulated data. The program records magnetic susceptibility at selected temperature intervals and prompts the user when manual operations are required. Graphs and tables may be printed from current or saved files. An inverse susceptibility plot and zoom facility are included. The software runs on Windows95/98/2000/NT4SP6/XP The temperature is monitored using a Tracker200 temperature indicator. This has buttons on the front panel for setting the measurement and control parameters. The instrument has been pre-set and, under normal circumstances, the user should not touch these buttons. The software modifies the settings of the thermocouple selection via the RS232 interface to match the thermocouple in use. The operation manual for the Tracker200 is supplied for faultfinding purposes.

2. SOFTWARE INSTALLATION If a previous version of GeoLabsoft for Windows is already installed then it must be removed, using the installation disk or the standard Install/Remove program found in the Windows Control Panel, before installing the latest version. The program is provided on CD-ROM. With no other programs running insert the CDROM and wait for the installation program to start. If installation does not start use the file manager or similar to locate the file setup.exe on the disk and start it with a double click. The program will guide the user through the installation. A full installation is recommended. The program is normally installed in the folder c:\Program files\Bartington\ and data files are stored in a sub directory in this folder. When installation is complete, the computer should be switched off and restarted to finish the installation.

3. ASSEMBLY AND SWITCH-ON The following describes setting up the full system for high and low temperature operation. Connect the M2W sensor to the MS2 meter, the MS2 meter rear panel RS232 output and the MS2WF furnace to the appropriate connections on the MS2WFP power supply and the MS2WFP power supply to the computer using the labelled cables supplied. Connect the water pipes for cooling the MS2W sensor, as shown in the MS2 operation manual OM0408, and fill the water container. For safe operation keep the water pipes away from the MS2WFP power supply unit.

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Before power is applied to the MS2WFP power supply ensure the switches are set to HOLD and RESET. Setting the switch to RESET causes the aiming temperature of the furnace to 0C and prevents power being applied to the furnace. Using a screwdriver, set the switch on the rear panel of the MS2 Meter to position B (X/T) for compatibility with the temperature meter serial format. Connect the mains adaptor to the MS2 Meter and apply power to charge the battery. Charging should be continuous during the operation of the X/T system. Connect mains power to the MS2WFP power supply. Switch on the MS2 meter and set the range to x1. Set the thermocouple selection switch on the side of the MS2WF furnace to the internal S type. Switch on the power and water pump from the front panel of the MS2WFP power supply. At switch-on the temperature meter will indicate the temperature after about 10 seconds. Ensure water flows through the system and check for leaks. An alarm will sound if the water-flow is interrupted when the pump is switched on. In order to heat the furnace the water pump must be switched on and water must be flowing through the flow sensor. A spare water pump is provided but if necessary, water may from a tap may be used and run to waste. A flow of 2l/minute is required. The water pump should be turned off when the furnace is not being used to extend its life.

4. COMMUNICATIONS Before starting the GeoLabsoft program the user must ensure the MS2 is switched omn and the M/Z toggle switch is set to the centre off position. Measurements must not be triggered manually whilst the GeoLabsoft program is running. If the toggle switch or the manual push button is used then an additional value will be sent to the RS232 buffer in the computer and the magnetic susceptibility values will then not be in synchronism with the temperature readings. If the manual controls are used to measure the magnetic susceptibility while the program is running the program must be closed and re-started to clear the buffer. Start the GeoLabsoft program. From the menu select Tools - Communications and a screen will be presented allowing the communications parameters to be set and tested. In the table to the right select the communications port number to which the MS2WFP cable is connected. With the MS2 meter rear switch set to position B, set the RS232 communication parameters as follows: 1200 baud 8 data bits No parity 2 stop bits The communications uses no hardware or software handshaking and the input connector on the power supply links RTS to CTS and DTR to DSR.

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Test the communications using the buttons on the left of the window. Under Susceptibility Measurement the Zero button should cause the MS2 Meter to show a colon and then set the display to zero. The Measure button should cause the meter to show a colon and take a measurement, the result should then appear in the Status window. The Temperature Measurement Read button should cause the temperature reading to appear in the Status window as an integer. The MS2 meter, when operated with the MS2W sensor, has a response time of 1.9 seconds for both the zero and measurement functions. The zero action produces no output but requires the full response time before it is ready to receive another command. The measure function produces a result on the serial output at the end of the response time. If the MS2 meter has been operated manually it is possible that a false value may have been placed in the RS232 input buffer of the computer and may be appear as a false value on the first test. To correct this close the GeoLabsoft program and restart it. If the communications do not function correctly, check the cables, turn the MS2 meter off and on again, close the Geolabsoft program, re-open it and repeat the test. If a laptop computer is used it will be necessary to turn off all power saving features to avoid the RS232 port being shut down while waiting for a response from the MS2 meter. There may be two power save features, one controlled by the the computer hardware and another under Windows control. If problems persist the system should be connected to a desktop computer to check the operation. When communication has been established, check a few readings against the indicated values on the meters and then close the Communications window.

5. HIGH TEMPERATURE SCAN A high temperature scan collects magnetic susceptibility readings from a sample while the temperature is ramped from some low value to a maximum value and then down again to a lower temperature. Switch the MS2 Meter on and set to the x1 range and either SI or CGS units. It is adviseable to leave the MS2 meter running for a few minutes with the water flowing through the sensor to allow the temperatures to stabilise to minimise drift. Start the program and from the menu select Scan - Setup. Select the S thermocouple and set the Starting, Maximum and End temperatures as required. Starting Temperature is the temperature at which the first magnetic susceptibility reading will be taken during a rising temperature ramp. Maximum Temperature is the temperature at which the last reading will be taken during the rising temperature ramp. It is also the temperature at which the first reading will be taken during the falling temperature ramp. This number will only be accepted if it is higher than the Starting temperature.

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End Temperature is the temperature at which the last reading will be taken during the falling temperature ramp. This number must be lower than the Maximum Temperature. Temperature Interval defines the interval between each magnetic susceptibility measurement. When finished press OK. From the menu select Scan - StartScan. A Status window will then appear with the parameters of the scan, the measurement results and messages to the operator. The messages in the status window will guide the operator through the necessary checks and prompt the removal of the sample while the meter is zeroed and the replacement of the sample for the measurement scan. The operator can elect to Continue or Abort the operation at each stage. The operator will be prompted to start the temperature ramp and a new window with a Magnetic Susceptibility/Temperature graph and tabulated results will then be shown. At this point the MS2WFP power supply switches should be set to start the temperature ramp as follows: a) The dial should be set to correspond to the ramp rate required. This is best established by experiment but the slower the ramp the lower the temperature gradient will be across the sample and the better the results. A position of 2.00 is suggested as a starting point. b) The left-hand switch should be switched from HOLD to UP c) The right-hand switch should be switched from RESET to RAMP The temperature ramp begins from any previously set point, which may be well below room temperature. When reset, the ramp will be initiated from 0 C. The right hand switch should therefore be set to the the RESET position before the start of each sequence to start the ramp at 0C and avoid a long delay before the ramp reaches room temperature. When the ramp reaches the temperature of the sample the furnace current and temperature will start to rise. The program will monitor the temperature of the sample and advise the operator if the temperature is above or below the Start temperature. When the temperature reaches the Start temperature a magnetic susceptibility reading will be initiated. Readings will then be recorded at the temperature intervals selected. When the temperature reaches the required High temperature, readings will be halted, an intermittent bleep will sound to alert the operator and the status display will indicate that the ramp should be reversed for the falling temperature scan. The bleep will stop when acknowledged by the operator. At this point the temperature ramp control on the MS2W/FP should be switched from UP to DOWN and, after some overshoot, the temperature will begin to fall. During the

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overshoot no measurements will be recorded but when the temperature returns to the selected High temperature the measurements for the falling ramp will begin. When the End temperature is reached, the operator will be prompted to remove the sample, a final background reading will be taken and the complete graph of magnetic susceptibility over the selected temperature range will be redrawn with the drift-corrected values. At this point the temperature control should be reset by setting the switches on the MS2WFP to HOLD and RESET. The data may be printed and saved. If the temperature rises or falls too quickly, or if a jump occurs in the displayed temperature due to the thermocouple linearising characteristic, it is possible that a reading associated with one or more temperatures will be missed. If this happens then a * character will be inserted in the data until drift correction is applied when any missed points will replaced with interpolated values. At any time the user can quit the experiment using the Abort button and can save all data received to that point. If the operator wishes to terminate the up ramp and start the down ramp before reaching the High temperature, then pressing the Reverse Scan button will adjust the High temperature to the current temperature and cause the up ramp recording to end. The program will then continue with the down ramp from the new High temperature. 6. LOW TEMPERATURE SCAN For a low temperature scan the MS2W sensor is moved away from the furnace. The sample is fixed to the end of the external type T thermocouple with "Plasticine" modelling clay and insulated as far as possible to reduce the warming rate. The sample is first cooled in liquid nitrogen or other coolant and then placed in the sensor and allowed to warm to room temperature whilst the measurements are taken. In the Scan - Setup window, selecting the type T low temperature thermocouple produces a single slope sequence with Starting Temperature and High Temperature points only. The operation is similar to the up ramp of a high temperature scan. The Starting temperature should be set slightly above the coolant temperature and the High Temperature should be set just below room temperature. The sample is placed in the sensor when the program prompts the start of the heating ramp. 7. GRAPHICS TOOLS During the measurement sequence the results are shown in graphic and tabular form. At the end of the measurement sequence a number of tools are available for examining the data. From the Tools menu the susceptibility and 1/susceptibility functions allow switching between the views of susceptibility and 1/susceptibility against temperature. The 1/susceptibility plot can be useful for determining the intercept of the graph for accurate determination of temperatures. A zoom facility is also included and is actuated by clicking in the graphic area and defining a box with the mouse. The zoom facility can be switched off by clicking the right hand mouse button in the graphics area and selecting Show All. Clicking the right hand mouse button also allows 1/susceptibility to be switched on or off.

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8. SAVING FILES At the end of the measurement sequence when the measurements have been corrected for drift, the program allows files to be saved with a default file extension of .GLB. Previously saved files can be opened for examination or printing. 9. FILE FORMAT The data format of a file for a high temperature scan is shown below. The columns represent rising temperature, associated magnetic susceptibility, falling temperature and associated magnetic susceptibility. The Starting temperature was 30C, the High temperature was 500C and the temperature interval was 1C Show Title: 1 Graph Title: Susceptibility Measurement File date: 17/07/2003 File time: 14:15:50 No of Data Points: 471 470 30 53 500 3 31 53 499 2 32 54 498 2 33 54 497 3 34 54 496 2 35 54 495 2 36 53 494 3 37 53 493 3 38 53 492 3 39 53 491 3 40 53 490 3 41 53 489 3 42 53 488 2 43 53 487 3 44 53 486 2 45 54 485 3 46 53 484 2 47 53 483 3 48 53 482 3 49 53 481 2 50 54 480 3 51 53 479 3 52 53 478 2 53 53 477 2 54 54 476 2 55 54 475 3 56 53 474 2 Etc.

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