The X-ray facility in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy is defined as an X-ray restricted area. As a result, access to the laboratory is strictly controlled and the process to gain permission to work in the facility is as follows:
Create an account on PPMS – The X-ray facility uses PPMS to manage the booking and charging for equipment in the X-ray laboratory. In order to access the facility you will need an account on PPMS. Instructions on how to register for a PPMS account can be found on the PPMS account creation page.
Complete X-ray user application form – Once you have a PPMS account set up, you will need to complete the X-ray Facility user application form. Instructions on how to access this form are detailed on the gaining permission to access the X-ray facility page.
Receive X-ray lab induction - When you have a completed the user application form, a member of facility Staff will contact you to arrange a suitable date for a laboratory induction. These inductions last around 40 minutes and are usually run at 10 am on Tuesday mornings.
On the arranged date, come to the department reception where you will be met by a member of facility staff. If you already have departmental access, you can make you way down to the X-ray laboratory and ring the doorbell to be let in.
As part of the induction, facility staff will talk to you about your sample and analysis requirements and suggest which instruments will be best for your requirements.
Once you have completed the laboratory induction, your X-ray user application form will be validated by a member of facility staff and a training session on the desired instrument will be arranged and communicated to you.
Instrument training – At the allotted date and time return to the department reception where you will be met by a member of facility staff. If you already have departmental access, please attend the laboratory and ring the doorbell to be let in. You will then be given basic training on the instrument.
Once you have completed the laboratory induction and received your training, your training session will be validated by a member of facility staff. This will allow you novice booking rights for the equipment you have been trained on. Novice rights allow you to book the equipment during normal working hours (08:45 – 17:15).
At the same time, a member of facility staff will email the Facilities Helpdesk to get your University Card updated to allow access to the laboratory.
If you would like training on a second instrument in the X-ray laboratory, talk to a member of facility staff to arrange this.
Video guide to PPMS - Stratocore have produced a video guide on using PPMS. A link to this video together with a list of useful time stamps can be found on the Video guide to PPMS page.