Automation

AugerScan Automation provides a powerful way to run an unattended sequence of acquisitions. It is especially helpful when using indexing and large sample stages to sequence through multiple sample locations or samples, though it can be used to sequence events on a single sample location (such as sputtering between surveys).

Unlike some instrument automation systems, AugerScan does not sequence acquisition parameters themselves as part of the automation, instead relying on acquisition templates (empty acquisitions). This allows you to setup acquisitions as you normally would, and save them for re-use. A flexible auto-naming system ensures acquisitions are saved using a unique name based on the original template.

Additionally, AugerScan Automation keeps a disk log of all activity, so you can easily determine when and if a sequence of events was interrupted (for example, by a power outage), and proceed accordingly.

Using AugerScan Automation consists of two steps – creating an event schedule and running the events in sequence. Each event represents a stage movement, acquisition, or timed system control (such as sputtering). When you are ready, you start the sequence of events, and AugerScan will run the sequence in order until completed.

The Event Schedule

The event schedule displays information related to each event to be automated. For stage events, the position information is displayed. Acquisition events display the acquisition file name, system events show timing information. All events display any comments you have added.

Loading and Saving Events:

Click the save button to save an event schedule for use at a later time. Click load to open a previously saved schedule (which will overwrite any events currently in the schedule).

Note that the event list is stored in an ASCII text format, and can be edited in any text editor, such as Notepad.

Cloning Events

To quickly make a copy of an event, select the event and click the Clone button, and a copy of that event will appear at the end of the schedule.


Removing Events

To remove an event, select the event and click the Remove Button. To remove all the events in the schedule, click the Remove All button.

Re-ordering Events

You can change the order of events by simply clicking and dragging them to the desired location

Adding Events

Stage Events:

To add a stage event, you must first position the stage at the location you want the subsequent events to take place. Once the stage is in position, click the Stage button, and a record of that stage location will be made in the event schedule.

Acquisition Events:

To add an acquisition event, click the Acquisition button. You can then browse to any valid AugerScan file. Any acquisition file can be used, regardless of location, however be careful when selecting acquisitions on networks and removable media – the acquisition file must be accessible when the event schedule is run.

IMPORTANT: Any acquisition event must be empty in order to be acquired. Note that AugerScan does NOT write over the original file, so you can re-use the same acquisition multiple times in the event list.

Sputter Events:

Select the time for the sputter (in minutes) and click the Sputter button.

Neutralizer Events:

To create a neutralizer event, select either the On or Off button

Event Comments

To add/change a comment for specific event, select the event in the Event Schedule and type the comment in the Comment field. For acquisitions, you can include the comment in the saved file name.

Setting Acquisition Save File Names

All acquisitions are saved under a unique name. When you select an acquisition, the default save-file name is displayed in the Save File Name field under the Selected Acquisition Properties. You can change the name for an acquisition (or for all acquisitions in a schedule) by selecting an acquisition, and clicking the Options button. This brings up the Automation Save File Options dialog.

The Save File Options dialog presents you with a list of what to include in the save file name, such as date, time, customer name, etc. You should always choose some information which will be unique to the filename – such as the date and time. The Acquisition Index option is guaranteed to be unique; you should include this even if you choose to leave all other information out.

To apply the Save File Options you select to all events in the schedule (including any events you haven’t yet added), check the “Apply to all Events in this Schedule” checkbox.

To change the directory all acquisitions will be saved in, type a new directory name in the “Save File Directory” field, or click the Browse button to choose a directory.

The save file name is created using the original acquisition name (if selected), followed by any other information you choose to include (separated by dashes), and is automatically appended with the correct extension (.asn)

To include information in the save file name, check the box next to that information in the list. These options are explained in detail below

Date:

The date the acquisition is acquired (NOT the date the schedule is created). The current date will be displayed in the Save File Name display until the schedule is run. The format is mmddyy

Time:

The time the acquisition is acquired (NOT the date the schedule is created). The current time will be displayed in the Save File Name display until the schedule is run. The format is hh:mm, using a 24-hour clock.

Customer ID

This can be any alphanumeric identifier, typically an I.D. you/your company associates with a particular customer. Type this value in the field below the list.

Customer Name:

This can be any alphanumeric identifier, typically a customer name. Type this value in the field below the list.

Sample ID

This can be any alphanumeric identifier, typically an I.D. you are using to track the sample being analyzed. Type this value in the field below the list.

Sample Index

This value is the position of the stage index when the acquisition is taken (indexing stages only).

Sample Comment

This value is the comment associated with the sample at the stage index when the acquisition is taken (indexing stages only). Note that this comment is not the same as the Sample ID and is settable only in the stage dialog.

Sample Angle

The angle of the stage when the acquisition is taken

Comment

The comment associated with this acquisition (set in the main Automation dialog)

Base File Name

The template acquisition used to acquire this data

Acquisition Index

An integer (starting with 1) associated with each acquisition in this automation schedule. This is automatically incremented, so it guarantees a unique acquisition name (for this automation schedule) if no other unique identifiers are used.

Running the Event Schedule

IMPORTANT: It is suggested that you do not use your PC for anything other than running the event schedule while it is running. It may be necessary to turn off any power savers, or automatic anti-virus software while running the schedule. If you need to interrupt an acquisition, use the event schedule controls described below, rather than stopping the acquisition directly. This will ensure the interruption is properly recorded and other events don’t run subsequently.

While the automation controller is running, the event schedule list will update to show progress. Events that are complete will show a red dot next to them.

The Control group contains three buttons for control the even schedule.

To start an event schedule, click the button with the Green Play Arrow icon.

To stop an event schedule at the end of the current event, click the button with the Yellow Circle icon.

To stop an event schedule immediately, click the button with the Red Circle icon. (NOTE: some stages do not support interruption. In this case, if there is an emergency and the stage must be stopped, cut power to the stage first, then click the Stop button to record the event as interrupted.)

After an event schedule is complete, or if it has been interrupted (for example, by a power outage), click the View Log button to see a text file with information up to the last completed event. Since this log is saved to disk, it will be present even if the PC has been rebootetd. Note that the log file is written over each time a new event schedule is run.

Completing an Interrupted Schedule

Though the automation system does not provide a direct way to continue an interrupted schedule, the following simple procedure will allow you to continue a schedule that has been interrupted.

NOTE: BEFORE running the schedule, save it to a file.

If a schedule has been interrupted, click View Log to see the last completed event. The open the schedule file in a text editor (such as Notepad). Delete the event entries for events that have been completed. Then load this file into the Event Schedule and run it by clicking the Play button in the Control group.