SCXRD and PWXRD Student Training

The BRUKER VENTURE D8, BRUKER APEX II, and RIGAKU ULTIMA IV are available for general use by authorized users including the ISU Faculty, Staff and Students.

NOTE: X-Ray Safety Authorizations expire Feb 28 of each year.  You MUST renew in before end of February of EACH year.

To use single crystal diffractometers independently, you must complete
Chem 575: Diffraction and Crystal Structure or an equivalent course

To obtain access to the lab, please complete each step below. Due to OSHA requirements for operators of x-ray producing equipment, additional documentation is required before using the lab. You will not be granted access to the lab if you have not completed the first three steps.

STEP 1: Obtain a Chemical Services Account. Each user of Chemical Instrumentation Facility has to be in the current Chemical Services database. Complete the Chemical Services Authorization Form, and scan in the completed form and email it to the address stated in the form. 

STEP 2: Obtain X-Ray Safety Authorization. The annual X-Ray Safety Fundamentals and Annual Refresher Training course is available through Workday Learning. The training should take about 30 minutes to complete. All authorized x-ray users must complete the training annually, as it expires February 28th of the following year. Refresher training becomes available in January of each year.   

After completing the instructional portion of the training, complete the exam at the end of the training and submit a screenshot of your certificate to ellern@iastate.edu.  You must pass the exam with a score of at least 80 percent. Any authorized worker failing to complete the training will lose their authorized status to work with X-ray devices/ Radiation producing Devices at ISU. For IT assistance with Workday, contact the Solution Center by phone 515-294-4000 or submit a help request online. 

STEP 3: X-ray/Radiation Producing Device Worker Application. Complete the X-ray/Radiation Producing Device Worker Application. We will receive an email to approve your application once you have completed it. We will not approve the application if you have not completed X-ray Safety Fundamentals training as outlined in Step 2. You must be on campus or use the ISU VPN to complete the X-Ray Device Worker Application. In some cases, visiting scientists or temporary staff may not be automatically in the database. If you receive an error, please email ellern@iastate.edu.

STEP 4: Request key card access. Once you have completed X-Ray Safety Fundamentals and the X-Ray Device Worker Application, you have to submit a request for key card access to 1707 Gilman Hall. 

STEP 5: Request instrument training: Before training you should be familiar with SOPs/ Instrument manuals:

The request for a training appointment should be sent to Arkady Ellern. Training for the Rigaku Ultima IV takes approximately 20 mins and can usually be arranged for within a day or two of making the request.

RWXRD and SCXRD Training Overview

The training course for both systems is fully hands-on and consists of:

  • Basic overview of sample evaluation and mounting.
    • Basic computer commands for the PC and operating system.
  • Training is done under the assumption that the user has a good quality crystal or a uniform powder.
  • After a good sample is found, either a good quality crystal or a standard powder for Rigaku training, the user sets up and collects a data set.

Training for actual data collection consists of:

  • The user is stepped through mounting and aligning the sample on the diffractometer.
  • The turning on, powering up and down, turning off and all safety matters concerning the operation of the X-ray generators are reviewed.