Bruker S1 TRACER User manual

Form 080/01
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BRUKER AXS HANDHELD
S1 TRACER Portable XRF Analyzer
User Manual
June 2008
415 North Quay • Kennewick, WA 99336
509 783 9850

Bruker AXS Handheld Inc S1 TRACER User Manual
Issued: 6/08
Supersedes: New
i
Caution: X-Ray Radiation
Bruker AXS Handheld manufactures an XRF analyzer, designated as the S1
TRACER, which contains an X ray tube. It is registered with the United States
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological
Health. Specific safety requirements are provided for any purchased analyzer
which uses an X ray tube.
The S1 TRACER does not emit radiation when turned off. It is designed with fail
safe circuitry including switches, lamps, and interlocks to minimize the risk of
accidental exposure to the user during operation.
The safety features of the S1 TRACER have been verified by radiation safety
authorities. So long as there is no physical damage to the analyzer, there
should be no danger of exposure to radiation above permissible levels. If the
analyzer is damaged, store it in a secured area and contact Bruker AXS
Handheld at [phone].
All XRF analyzers should be operated only by individuals who have completed
an approved radiation safety training program.
The red LED on the analyzer indicates that the X rays are on. Do not point the
analyzer at any person when the analyzer is activated. While measuring, make
sure that the analyzer is in contact with the sample material and that the entire
aperture, as well as the infrared (IR) sensor, is covered by the material. While
measuring, do not hold the sample material with your hand. eep your eyes
away from the nosepiece of the S1 TRACER while the trigger is pulled.
NOTE: Bruker XRF, Bruker AXS Handheld S1 TRACER, Bruker S1 TRACER and S1
TRACER, as used throughout this manual, refer specifically to the device
manufactured by Bruker AXS Handheld.
●
Note
Most countries and
states regulate the use
of X ray generating
devices such as XRF
analyzers. Regulations
for XRF analyzers vary
by location. Contact
your appropriate
agency for specific
information.

Note
Countries or states
may require
registration and/or
licensing. A fee
payment may be
required. If you are
planning to transport
a Bruker AXS
Handheld XRF analyzer
into another location,
contact the
appropriate authority
in that jurisdiction for
their particular
requirements before
transporting the
analyzer.

Bruker AXS Handheld Inc S1 TRACER User Manual
Issued: 6/08
Supersedes: New
ii
Important Notes for Bruker AXS Handheld XRF Analyzer
Customers
The Bruker S1 TRACER is classified as a portable hand held open beam X ray tube based
analytical X ray device. It is registered (Accession Number 0191097 01) with the United
States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
Specific safety requirements are provided for any purschased analyzer which uses an X ray
tube.
This Bruker S1 TRACER User Manual provides training for Bruker S1 TRACER XRF analyzers.
The following four sections plus Appendix A contain important information on the safe use
of this XRF device. These are:
2. S1 TRACER Operator Radiation Safety Requirements
3. Principal Components of the S1 TRACER
4. Preparing the S1 TRACER for Use
5. Operation/General Purpose Measure
Appendix A. Basic Radiation Safety Information
Section 2. contains operator safety requirements specific to the Bruker S1 TRACER and
Appendix A contains basic radiation safety information.

Bruker AXS Handheld Inc S1 TRACER User Manual
Issued: 6/08
Supersedes: New
iii
Responsi ilities of the Customer
•Before using the S1 TRACER, all users shall read and understand the Operator
Radiation Safety Requirements (Section 2) and Basic Radiation Safety (Appendix A) of
this manual. Because the S1 TRACER produces X ray radiation, the analyzer shall only
be used by trained personnel who have passed the Bruker AXS Handheld Radiation
Safety Examination.
•Damage to a Bruker AXS Handheld analyzer may cause unnecessary radiation
exposure. If a Bruker XRF analyzer is damaged, immediately contact Bruker AXS
Handheld at [phone] or [phone].
•Disassembly of or tampering with any Bruker AXS Handheld XRF analyzer
component, except to replace the batteries or remove the handheld computer
(PDA), voids the warranty and compromises the integrity of the instrument. Harm or
serious injury may result in cases where disassembly or tampering has occurred.
•Comply with all instructions and labels provided with the S1 TRACER and do not
remove labels. Removal of any label will void the warranty.
•Test the S1 TRACER for correct operation of the ON/OFF mechanism every six months
and keep records of the test results. If the analyzer fails this test, call Bruker AXS
Handheld immediately for instructions.
•Maintain a record of S1 TRACER use, installation (if applicable), and any service to
shielding and/or containment mechanisms for two years or until ownership of the
analyzer is transferred or the analyzer is decommissioned.
•Report to the appropriate authority any possible damage to shielding and any loss or
theft of the analyzer. Do not abandon any XRF analyzer.
•Transfer the S1 TRACER only to persons specifically authorized to receive it and report
any transfer to the appropriate regulatory authority 15 to 30 days following the
transfer, if required. Report the transfer of the analyzer to Bruker AXS Handheld at
[phone] or [phone].

Bruker AXS Handheld Inc S1 TRACER User Manual
Issued: 6/08
Supersedes: New
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Caution: X-Ray Radiation.................................................................................................................................................................................. i
Important Notes for Bruker AXS Handheld XRF Analyzer Customers...........................................................................................................................ii
Responsibilities of the Customer .........................................................................................................................................................................................iii
1. S1 TRACER Overview........................................................................................................................................................................................ 1
2. S1 TRACER Operator Radiation Safety Requirements................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1 W HAT IS R ADIATION ? ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.2 X-R AY R ADIATION FROM THE S1 TRACER........................................................................................................................................ 5
2.3 H AND H ELD XRF A NALYZER S AFETY D ESIGN ................................................................................................................................... 6
2.4 S1 TRACER R ADIATION P ROFILE .................................................................................................................................................... 11
2.5 U SING THE S1 TRACER S AFELY ...................................................................................................................................................... 15
2.6 R ADIATION S AFETY T IPS FOR U SING THE XRF A NALYZER ............................................................................................................... 15
2.7 C ORRECT S1 TRACER P OSITIONING ................................................................................................................................................ 18
2.8 I N C ASE OF E MERGENCY ................................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.9 M INOR D AMAGE ............................................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.10 M AJOR D AMAGE ............................................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.11 L OSS OR T HEFT ................................................................................................................................................................................. 19
2.12 L ICENSE /R EGISTRATION R EQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................................................................... 20
2.13 T RANSPORTATION R EQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................................................... 21
3. Principal Components of the S1 TRACER...................................................................................................................................................... 22
3.1 P RINCIPAL S1 TRACER C OMPONENTS ............................................................................................................................................. 22
3.2 P RINCIPAL PDA C OMPONENTS .......................................................................................................................................................... 23
3.3 P RINCIPAL V ACUUM P UMP C OMPONENTS ......................................................................................................................................... 23
3.4 I NCLUDED A CCESSORIES ................................................................................................................................................................... 24
3.5 A DDITIONAL A VAILABLE A CCESSORIES ............................................................................................................................................ 27
3.6 O PERATING C ONDITIONS OF THE S1 TRACER.................................................................................................................................. 27
4. Preparing the S1 TRACER for Use.................................................................................................................................................................. 29
4.1 P OWERING THE S1 TRACER AND PDA ............................................................................................................................................ 29
4.2 V ACUUM C ONFIGURATION ................................................................................................................................................................ 37
4.3 T ESTING C ONFIGURATION ................................................................................................................................................................. 39
4.4 S TARTING THE A NALYZER ................................................................................................................................................................ 42
4.5 A DJUSTING THE PDA B ACKLIGHT ..................................................................................................................................................... 44
5. Operation/General Purpose Measure............................................................................................................................................................... 45
5.1 S TARTING THE B RUKER S1 P ROGRAM ................................................................................................................................................ 45
5.2 S AMPLE P REPARATION ...................................................................................................................................................................... 49
5.3 A NALYZER S ETTINGS C ONFIGURATION ............................................................................................................................................. 49
5.4 A NALYSIS M ODES ............................................................................................................................................................................. 53
5.5 M AKING M EASUREMENTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 56
5.6 V IEWING R ESULTS AND S PECTRA ..................................................................................................................................................... 58
5.7 E DITING I NFORMATION ..................................................................................................................................................................... 59
5.8 S AVING R ESULTS AND S PECTRA ........................................................................................................................................................ 60
5.9 T URNING OFF THE A NALYZER ........................................................................................................................................................... 60
5.10 V IEWING AND E XPORTING S TORED D ATA ......................................................................................................................................... 60
5.11 C HECKING C ALIBRATIONS ................................................................................................................................................................ 63
6. Utilities Menu..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 65
6.1 V IEW R EADINGS ................................................................................................................................................................................ 65
6.2 V IEW E NERGIES ................................................................................................................................................................................. 66

Bruker AXS Handheld Inc S1 TRACER User Manual
Issued: 6/08
Supersedes: New
v
6.3 L IBRARY M AINTENANCE ................................................................................................................................................................... 67
6.4 S YSTEM S ETUP .................................................................................................................................................................................. 72
7. Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 76
7.1 M EASUREMENT WILL NOT START ...................................................................................................................................................... 76
7.2 C AN ’ T FIND THE B RUKER S1 PROGRAM ON THE “S TART ” MENU ........................................................................................................ 76
7.3 T HE B RUKER S1 PROGRAM ON THE PDA WILL NOT START OR “ LOCKS UP ”........................................................................................ 77
7.4 T HE PDA IS DISPLAYING AN INCORRECT DATE AND / OR TIME ............................................................................................................ 78
7.5 T HE VACUUM PUMP WILL NOT REACH 10 T ORR OR LESS ................................................................................................................... 79
7.6 T HE YELLOW LAMP ON THE CONTROL PANEL IS BLINKING ................................................................................................................ 79
7.7 T HE RED LAMP ON THE CONTROL PANEL LOOKS UNEVEN .................................................................................................................. 79
APPENDIX A: BASIC RADIATION SAFETY INFORMATION ................................................................................................................................. 80
A.1 W HAT IS R ADIATION ? ....................................................................................................................................................................... 80
A.2 T HE C OMPOSITION OF M ATTER ......................................................................................................................................................... 81
A.3 E LECTRICAL C HARGE OF THE A TOM ................................................................................................................................................. 83
A.4 T HE S TABILITY OF THE A TOM ........................................................................................................................................................... 84
A.5 R ADIATION T ERMINOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................................... 84
A.6 T YPES OF R ADIATION ........................................................................................................................................................................ 85
A.7 U NITS FOR M EASURING R ADIATION .................................................................................................................................................. 89
A.8 S OURCES OF R ADIATION ................................................................................................................................................................... 91
A.9 B IOLOGICAL E FFECTS OF R ADIATION ................................................................................................................................................ 96
A.10 R ADIATION D OSE L IMITS ................................................................................................................................................................ 100
A.11 M EASURING R ADIATION ................................................................................................................................................................. 102
A.12 R EDUCING E XPOSURE (ALARA C ONCEPT )..................................................................................................................................... 104

Bruker AXS Handheld Inc S1 TRACER User Manual
Issued: 6/08
Supersedes: New
1
1. S1 TRACER Overview
The Bruker S1 TRACER, produced by Bruker AXS Handheld, is a portable, wide range elemental
analyzer intended for a variety of applications, including alloys, environmental analysis, and
hazardous substance detection. It provides a method for chemical analysis or material identification
(sorting) directly for materials of various forms. The S1 TRACER is based on energy dispersive X ray
fluorescence technology (ED XRF) and uses an X ray tube as its excitation source. Tubes may use a
bulk Rhodium (Rh) or Silver (Ag) target, depending on the purchased configuration. The instrument
contains a high resolution, Peltier cooled, Silicon PIN (Si PIN) diode detector.
The S1 TRACER is a fully field portable analyzer with an integrated PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
computer (see Figure 1.1). The removable PDA provides the user interface for operating the
instrument and contains the BrukerS1 analytical program. This program enables the user to select
analytical modes, view spectra, and save data. The display is a color touch screen (TFT), which can be
operated with either a fingertip or the provided stylus. The instrument is factory calibrated for
measurements of:
•Aluminum alloys
•Titanium alloys
•Low alloy steels
•Stainless steels
•Tool steels
•Nickel alloys
•Cobalt alloys
•Copper alloys
Figure 1.1: Portable configuration of the S1 TRACER

Bruker AXS Handheld Inc S1 TRACER User Manual
Issued: 6/08
Supersedes: New
2
The S1 TRACER has an internal mechanism called a filter wheel which inserts various filters into the
primary X ray beam. The filter wheel contains five filter positions; one position contains no filter
material. Selection of a particular filter is completely automatic and depends on the test method
chosen in the BrukerS1 program (as described in section 5.3.4). When the “Method” setting is
changed, the filter wheel can be heard briefly spinning inside of the analyzer. The filter wheel is also
heard shortly after the analyzer power has been turned on. This sound is normal and indicates that
the analyzer is working properly.
In some cases, it may be more convenient to use the S1 TRACER in a stationary, bench top
configuration. Figure 1.2 shows the S1 TRACER in the stand provided. There are grooves in the body
and the handle which slide into the stand.
Figure 1.2: Bench top configuration Figure 1.3: Vacuum configuration