Date: Fri, 2 Sep 94 14:02:13 CDT
Subject: Software Bugs/Modification-Feedback??
From: johnf@ice

SX50 SUN Software Bug Fixes:

Andy Davis is asking that folks immediately call, fax or email him a list
of
any bugs they have found in the (current) version of the Cameca software
(mainly Quantiview). Apparently he will be in France in a few weeks and
wants to make sure all the bugs folks have uncovered get addressed in the
"bug fix" tape that will be distributed sometime thereafter.

------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 94 09:25:45 PDT

From: "Cameca Instruments, Inc. - Andy Davis"

Dear SX 50/Sun User:


By now, all of you should have received a letter outlining Cameca s next
software release to be shipped in 1995 (call me if you have not received
this
notice).

In the meantime Cameca plans to send a "patch" tape, that contains software

bug fixes, since v3.0 release last December. I have advised Cameca not to
send this tape until the U.S./Canada users have a last chance to report
bugs.
Some of you have already reported a few, and these are taken care of as of
this patch tape.

But we might as well review the list one more time and cross-check. So
please send any list you might have accumulated since early 94. And
please
restrict your lists to bugs only. If things go smoothly, I should be
receiving a tape very soon after Cameca Instruments, Inc. submits all of
your
lists.

Please send your lists to me by Sept. 9.

Thanks for your response,

Andy Davis
Cameca Instruments, Inc.
p01592@psilink.com

========================

Date: Fri, 2 Sep 94 10:54:20 PDT

From: pierce@magic.geol.ucsb.edu (Dave Pierce)

Things we've developed here:

*Anneal your filaments to avoid that drift during the first 20 hours of
operation. 1.4 amps in a vacuum evaporator. First attempt about to be
tested. Will report soon.

*Moved PET #3 to reach iron. Best thing since sliced peanutbutter.

*Shuttle plate to do 1" X 3" slides and method of converting X-Y positions
from light microscopt to probe coordinates. Cost: $200.

*Plastic template to locate X-Y positions of analysis sites before
introduction into Cameca. Not real precise, but good enough. Xerox a mm
graph paper onto overhead film and cut to fit. I put a handle on it using
double stickey tape and a cut of file folder. Tested by using a cut-out of
graph paper and viewing on the display to obtain corrected position on the
same graph paper. Cost: 5 cents + time.

[I've also done this and find it _very_ precise, to end up within about 100
microns of desired grains -- johnf]

=============================

Is anyone on the Cameca SX50 list interested in helping get a list server
site to do auto forwarding of messages??? If so, please let me know.
-john fournelle johnf@geology.wisc.edu

=============================

A couple of suggestions for SX50 software modifications/fixes

FROM: John Fournelle Univ of Wisconsin johnf@geology.wisc.edu

WHAT DO _YOU_ THINK??

1) Longer counting times for trace elements. The Cameca software only
permits 999 seconds (16.7 minutes). We need at least 20 minutes if not more
for some
current projects. Andy says Cameca has been informed that this is of
interest
to at least one user (Univ of AZ). We certainly would like to see a
modification to permit longer counting time.

IF ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE IS INTERESTED IN THIS, PLEASE TELL ANDY DAVIS NOW.

2) Another suggestion to make life easier: we have just _finally_ uncovered
the source of a persistent, occasional bombing out of Quantiview
Calibration

(symptoms: you can go thru the calibration, peak and collect counts, but
then
at the last second or two it aborts)

The user (and I admit it, I've probably done it myself) entered the
following
setup
(WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE??)

Crystal: PET
Element: Ca Ka
Time(sec):10
Bkg(sec): Peak/2
Prec.(%): 0.1
Bkg (+): 500
Bkg (-): 500
Slope: none
AutoPHA: off

Give up???

??
??
??
??
??
Of course, you cannot have both background positions the same as it assumes
you have two positions, both positive, but it can't calculate the slope to
project to the peak positon! Of course, the user had typed in 500 for the
low background position, meaning to have -500.

--> Suggestion for Cameca:it would be helpful to have an "error"
message/beep
saying "cannot have both background positions the same".