Hardware for automation of computer tomography sample changing
An X-ray tomography sample changing hardware including a support bracket configured to attach to an X-ray tomography support; a mounting arm attached to the support bracket, the mounting arm having a beam, at least one slot formed in the beam, the at least one slot including a mouth configured to receive a sample stage; the sample stage including a body having an axis with an upper portion and a lower portion axially opposite the upper portion; the lower portion configured to mate with a receiver on a sample manipulator for an X-ray tomography machine; and multiple chambers formed in the body and aligned axially between the upper portion and the lower portion, each of the multiple chambers including a mounting feature configured to support a part within each of the multiple chambers.
1 . An X-ray tomography sample changing hardware comprising:
a support bracket configured to attach to an X-ray tomography support;
a mounting arm attached to the support bracket, the mounting arm having a beam, at least one slot formed in the beam, the at least one slot including a mouth configured to receive a sample stage, wherein at least two slots are arrayed along the beam of the mounting arm in a spaced apart fashion configured to allow for space between the sample stages supported on the mounting arm;
the sample stage including a body having an axis with an upper portion and a lower portion axially opposite the upper portion; the lower portion configured to mate with a receiver on a sample manipulator for an X-ray tomography machine; and
multiple chambers formed in the body and aligned axially between the upper portion and the lower portion, each of the multiple chambers including a mounting feature configured to support a part within each of the multiple chambers.
2 . The X-ray tomography sample changing hardware according to claim 1 , wherein the body of the sample stage includes walls formed in the body; the walls supporting shelves defining each of the multiple chambers.
3 . The X-ray tomography sample changing hardware according to claim 1 , wherein the multiple sample chambers are oriented axially and configured for vertical stacking of each part in the sample stage.
4 . The X-ray tomography sample changing hardware according to claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the sample stage includes dual flanges extending radially from a shaft formed in the body proximate the lower portion, the shaft including a diameter sized to be insertable into/removeable from the mouth of the slot, the dual flanges being sized larger than the mouth of the slot, the dual flanges configured to nest in a concave surface of the slot.
5 . The X-ray tomography sample changing hardware according to claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes a coupling configured to mate with the receiver of the sample manipulator.
6 . The X-ray tomography sample changing hardware according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting feature is selected from the group consisting of slots, grooves, notches, hollows, pins, hooks, and latches.
7 . An X-ray tomography sample changing hardware comprising:
an X-ray scanner proximate a scanner support;
a sample manipulator in operative communication with the X-ray scanner; the sample manipulator including a receiver mounted on a turntable secured to a sled mounted on a table;
a support bracket configured to attach to the scanner support;
a mounting arm attached to the support bracket, the mounting arm having a beam, at least one slot formed in the beam, the at least one slot including a mouth configured to receive a sample stage, wherein at least two slots are arrayed along the beam of the mounting arm in a spaced apart fashion configured to allow for space between the sample stages supported on the mounting arm;
the sample stage including a body having an axis with an upper portion and a lower portion axially opposite the upper portion; the lower portion configured to mate with the receiver on the sample manipulator; and
multiple chambers formed in the body and aligned axially between the upper portion and the lower portion, each of the multiple chambers including a mounting feature configured to support a part within each of the multiple chambers.
8 . The X-ray tomography sample changing hardware according to claim 7 , wherein the mounting feature is selected from the group consisting of slots, grooves, notches, hollows, pins, hooks, and latches.
9 . The X-ray tomography sample changing hardware according to claim 7 , wherein the lower portion includes a coupling configured to mate with the receiver of the sample manipulator.
10 . The X-ray tomography sample changing hardware according to claim 7 , wherein the lower portion of the sample stage includes at least one flange extending radially from a shaft formed in the body proximate the lower portion, the shaft including a diameter sized to be insertable into/removeable from the mouth of the slot, the at least one flange being sized larger than the mouth of the slot, the at least one flange configured to nest in a concave surface of the slot.
11 . The X-ray tomography sample changing hardware according to claim 7 , wherein the body of the sample stage includes a wall formed in the body; the wall supporting shelves defining each of the multiple chambers.
12 . The X-ray tomography sample changing hardware according to claim 7 , wherein the multiple sample chambers are oriented axially and configured for vertical stacking of each part in the sample stage.
13 . A process for supporting a part in an X-ray tomography sample changing hardware comprising:
attaching a support bracket an X-ray tomography scanner support;
attaching a mounting arm to the support bracket, the mounting arm having a beam, at least one slot formed in the beam, the at least one slot including a mouth configured to receive a sample stage, wherein at least two slots are arrayed along the beam of the mounting arm in a spaced apart fashion configured to allow for space between the sample stages supported on the mounting arm;
the sample stage including a body having an axis with an upper portion and a lower portion axially opposite the upper portion;
mating the lower portion with a receiver on a sample manipulator for an X-ray tomography machine;
forming multiple chambers in the body; and
aligning the multiple chambers axially between the upper portion and the lower portion.
14 . The process of claim 13 , further comprising:
supporting a part within at least one of the multiple chambers employing a mounting feature.
15 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the body of the sample stage includes walls formed in the body; and
defining each of the multiple chambers by employing shelves formed between the walls.
16 . The process of claim 13 , further comprising:
orienting the multiple sample chambers axially; and
configuring the multiple chambers for vertical stacking of each part in the sample stage.
17 . The process of claim 13 , further comprising:
forming the mounting feature to accept a variety of part geometries, wherein the mounting feature is selected from the group consisting of slots, grooves, notches, hollows, pins, hooks, and latches.
18 . The process of claim 13 , further comprising:
extending at least one flange radially from a shaft formed in the body proximate the lower portion, the shaft including a diameter sized to be insertable into/removeable from the mouth of the slot, the at least one flange being sized larger than the mouth of the slot, the at least one flange configured to nest in a concave surface of the slot.
19 . The process of claim 18 , further comprising:
forming a coupling in the lower portion; the coupling configured to mate with the receiver of the sample manipulator.