Date: Mon, 14 Mar 94 14:09:30 CST
Subject: Re: SX Users Questions
From: johnf@ice

TOM:
Thanks for the message. I just received (as did you, I assume and
everyone else on our list) a very interesting message from Bruce Robinson
in Perth,
who apparently was involved with a user group effort back in 1987. And that
reminded me about the questionaire, so I was just about to write you.

(Maybe we should include Australia ......??)

The questionaire looks very good. I have made 2-3 suggestions and have
highlighted those below with !! in the left margin.

Regarding distribution, here's my suggestion: the quickest, easiest,
and cheapest is email to those who have it. So lets send it out to the
whole list, and request acknowledgement (a simple, yes I got it) from each
lab.
After a reasonable time (say 10 days) for those who haven't
acknowledged receipt, we could do a followup email or fax or phone call.
We could split the list and each try contacting half of the no responds.
At the same time as we send it out electronically, we could mail or fax
it out to those without email.

John
===============================

Western Hemisphere SX-50 User's Group

Initial Questionnaire

This questionnaire is being sent to all SX50 labs in our newly
formed
users group. We plan to compile some of the general information gathered
by
the questionnaire for distribution to all labs. We hope that some User
Group
activities will result from these efforts. For example, a meeting of SX50
users at one of the national meetings, training workshops (with the
participation of CAMECA), and development of new manuals. At the very
least,
by getting more organized we will all have better access to each others
expertise. Hopefully we will all benefit from this group.

1. Official Laboratory Address
Name:
Institution:
Address:




!! Phones: lab office other
FAX:
Email:

2. Name for our User's Group
We need a good name for our group. Please make suggestions!

3. Machine Configuration
Serial Number:
Year installed:
CAMECA installation personnel:

Number of spectrometers and crystals:

Do you have EDS; which manufacturer; level of software integration:

Type of computer:
Hard drive size:
Amount of ram memory:

Which CAMECA software do you use (include version numbers):
Quantiview:
Older, text-based analytical programs:
Visiview:
Others:

What output devices do you have (color printer, Post Script
printer,
etc..):


Is your system connected to a network (if so, what kind):


What other options do you have:


4. Laboratory Personnel
Who is your official lab personnel and what are their capacities
(i.e., faculty, technician, etc...):

5. Lab Use
What is the approximate level of use (high, med., low., none) for
your
instrument in the following areas:

Routine geological materials:

Trace elements in geological materials:

Material sciences (ceramics, metallurgy, etc..)

Qualitative imaging:

Quantitative imaging:

Other applications:

Briefly describe the major types of analytical work that you use
your
SX50 for:






6. Imaging
Briefly describe the types of imaging that you do and the software
that you use for image analysis:






7. User Manuals
Have you developed your own user manuals:

Are you interested in sharing user manuals with other labs:

8. Beam Stability
What do you consider "normal" filament life:

What is your normal filament warm-up procedure:


!! What kind of beam stability do you normally observe (for example,

!! fluctuation and drift measured during a 12 hour tbeam test):

9. Training
What training has CAMECA provided either during or after
installation
of your instrument:


What type(s) of training would you be interested in participating
in
through the users group:

10. Users Group Meeting
What meeting(s) would you be likely to attend an SX-50 Users Group
gathering at:

Fall AGU ___
Spring AGU ___
GSA ___
MAS ___

!!(abbreviations for: American geophysical union, geological society of
america,
!! microbeam analysis society)

What agenda items would you suggest for such a gathering:



11. Off-line Storage of Stage Points for Quantitative Analysis
Do you use an automated off-line process for point storage and
transfer? If so, what system and how do you like it:




12. Carbon Coating
Can you recommend a good thickness monitor (other than the
traditional
visual method using polished brass):


13. CAMECA Service
Please rank CAMECA service in the following categories on a scale
of 1
to 5 (1=poor, 5=excelent):

Response Time ___
Phone Support ___
Technical ability ___
Parts Availability ___
Overall ___

!! How did you initial installation go?
!! __ smooth as silk
!! __ a few problems but worked out ok within reasonable time
!! __ took a couple of years to get things working ok
!! __ never has worked like it should

!! Have you noticed any improvements or worsenings of service over the
!! period of ownership of your SC50?

What specific recommendations for service improvements do you have:


14. Standards
Have you developed any standards that can be distributed to other
labs?

Are there any standards that you need? (please list)

15. Users Group
Are there any requests or suggestions that you would like to make
to
the SX-50 Users Group?




John Fournelle
Electron Microprobe Lab Internet:johnf@geology.wisc.edu
Dept of Geology & Geophysics Telephone: (608) 262-7964
University of Wisconsin Fax: (608) 262-0693
1215 West Dayton Street Amateur radio: WA3BTA/9
Madison, WI 53706 (14.030, 21.030 mHz)