1. DPP Shell Adjustments Short Procedure
V4.51
April 28, 2005
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2. DPP Calibration Starting Notes
The detector should be cooled down a minimum of two hours prior to calibration.
Make sure no other EDAX applications are running.
The system should be powered up for a minimum of ½ hours prior to calibration.
Check the detector PAO. Make sure the output ramp is between -0.8 V and +0.8 V at all eV/Ch and the Reset pulse is set for 5 µsec. If they are not correct, the Pre Amp adjustments must be made before starting calibration, per DPPInst.PDF (located in c:\EDAX32\Utl\Manuals\ as a hidden file).
To perform all of the adjustments needed for EDS, the DPP Shell program must be used. This is located in the C:\EDAX32\DPP-2 directory. From the Windows Taskbar click on Start, Programs, EDAX Genesis and then DPP-2 Shell. When the application is loaded, the user will have to input the authorization password to use the software.
Only one instance of the DPP-2 Shell may be run at a time.
Go though each step starting at 10 eV/Ch. Do not skip steps or change sequence of steps.
Repeat this procedure for 5 and 20 eV/Ch.
On-line procedure is available in the DPP-2 Shell via, Help, Step by Step Calibration.

3. Make sure PA Source is set for Det 1.
Set up Bit Panel
Click the BIT button on the tool bar for the Detector Panel.
If the system has more than one DPP, make sure Analyzer is set for the correct one.
Make sure PA Source is set for Det 1.

4. Detector Panel settings
Set up Detector Panel
Click the DET button on the tool bar for the Detector Panel. For an ME detector with a 204 Rev 2 Pre Amp:
Detector Panel settings
Detector Type
SiLi 204 R2
Reset Type
Electric
Set the beam conditions as follows.
Beam Conditions
Sample
Cu and Al
Beam ON kV
>20 kV
On the microscope screen, adjust the stage controls so both copper and aluminum can be seen on the same screen. Set it so Copper is about 80% of the image, Aluminum 20%, both peaks about equal height.
Check RMin, RMax and RST for stable readings (70-90%, RST~5 µsec). If erratic, Reboot.

5. Calibration panel settings
Initial All
Set the following on the tool bar.
Select the Cal Panel by the button on the tool bar. Set the following in the panel.
Tool bar settings
Analyzer
DET 1
Amp Time
12.8 µs
Preset
None
Ev/ch
10, (5, 20)
Calibration panel settings
Sample Type
Al Cu
Type
Initial
Amp Time
All
Pause
No Pause
Max Cnts
5000
Itrs 4
Beam Conditions ON
~10,000 cps
Click on Start in the Cal panel. The calibration will set the Amp Time to 12.8 µsec. The peaks should start to grow. The software will attempt to identify the correct peaks and will prompt to confirm. When prompted, set the Green cursors on the correct peaks by clicking on each peak, then the Set button. This will align the correct peaks (Green cursors) with the correct positions (Blue cursors). This step will calculate approximate calibrations for all Amp Times.
In this example, it is set using a Mn (Fe55 source) for Sample.

6. Calibration panel settings
Coarse All
Calibration panel settings
Sample Type
Al Cu
Type
Coarse
Amp Time
All
Pause
No Pause
Max Cnts
5000
Itrs 10
Auto Max Height
Checked
Tool bar settings
Analyzer
DET 1
Amp Time
12.8 µs
Preset
None
Ev/ch
10, (5, 20)
Click on Start in the Cal panel. The calibration will adjust the Al and CuK peaks to their approximate ideal locations for all Amp Times. This may take several minutes to complete.
In this example, it is set using a Mn (Fe55 source) for Sample.
Click here for Alternative Manual Coarse Adjustment

7. Calibration panel settings
Auto Discriminator
Set the Amp Time to 1.6 µs, and then adjust the beam conditions and Cal Panel (select from the tool bar) as follows:
Beam Conditions
Beam
OFF
Calibration panel settings
Drop down selection
Auto Disc
Amp Time
Current
Click on the Start button next to Auto Disc in the Cal panel. Allow it several minutes to finish.
Click here for Alternative Manual Discriminator Adjustment

8. Calibration panel settings
Super High Speed Discriminator Delay
Adjust the beam conditions and Cal Panel (select from the tool bar) as follows
Beam Conditions
Beam
ON >500 cps
Calibration panel settings
Drop down selection
Auto SH Delay
Click on the Start button next to Auto SH Delay. Improper setting may result in spectra artifacts and “holes”. Typical settings around 56.

9. Calibration panel settings
Auto BLR
Tool bar settings
Amp Time
1.6 µs
Preset
None
eV/Ch
10, (5, 20)
Beam Conditions
Beam
ON >500 cps
Calibration panel settings
Drop down selection
Auto BLR
Amp Time
ALL
Click on the Start button next to Auto BLR in the Cal panel. This may take several minutes. Allow it several minutes to finish.
When completed, a table will be created with the best values for the BLR.
Click on Apply to set the BLR values for each Amp Time.
Click for example

10. Calibration panel settings
Fine Calibration
Beam Conditions
Beam
ON >500 cps
Sample
Cu and Al kV
>20 kV
30 % D.T.
Adjust Spot
Tool bar settings
Amp Time
102 µs
Preset
None
eV/Ch
10, (5, 20)
Calibration panel settings
Sample Type
Al Cu
Type
Fine
Amp Time
All
Pause No
Max Cnts
5000
Itrs 15
Auto Max Height
Checked
Check the Auto Max HT box. Select Start and allow the calibration to complete for all Amp Times. At the change of each Amp Time, adjust the spot size or beam conditions to maintain ~30% Dead Time. This may take an hour or more to complete.
In this example, it is set using a Mn (Fe55 source) for Sample

11. Calibration panel settings
Auto BLM
Beam Conditions
Beam
OFF
Tool bar settings
Preset
eV/Ch
None
10, (5, 20)
Calibration panel settings
Drop down selection
Auto BLM
Amp Time
All
Click on the Start button next to Auto BLM. This may take several minutes.
Click here for Alternative Manual BLM Adjustment

12. End of Adjustments
Check in EDS panel that the Discriminator settings are not all at the same value, and are not at maximum settings.
Check that the RMin, and RMax are between 70-90%.
Check that RST is about 5 µsec.
Check Al K and Cu K peak positions at each Amp Time.
Check that with no beam, CPS is between 0-20 cps at all Amp Times.
Check in the CNT panel, that the DT % is within about +/- 5 of Exp DT. Must be collecting spectrum for the CNT panel to work properly.
Back up the c:\edax32\sys\dpp2d1.1.cfg to a backup location after closing the DPP2 Shell.
Print out a copy of the calibration values.
This is the last slide

13. Alternative Manual Coarse Gain Adjustment
After the Initial Calibration at 12.8 µS Amp Time, Select File->Save As…->”Cal.Spc” (or other suitable name).
Select View, then Compare on the menu bar.
Check the Overlay checkbox.
Click on Spectrum B, ->Open button.
Select Cal.Spc (or appropriate name) and Open
Click OK to close Compare Overlay window. The calibrated 12.8 µS Spectra will appear as an outline.
Select the EDS Panel by the button on the tool bar.
Click on the Start button on the Tool bar.
Red Spectra will start collecting. Select the Coarse Gain (CG) control so that the text is Red. (Any of the controls selected turns Red when selected). Adjust the CG slider so that the correct peaks are within 50eV of and keV, as seen in Spectra Overlay. Clear the spectrum and start collecting again after making an adjustment.
Select the next higher Amp Time. Repeat the above CG adjustment. Do this for all Amp Times.

14. Alternative Manual Discriminator Adjustment
Set the Amp Time to 1.6 µs, and then adjust the beam conditions and EDS Panel (select from the tool bar) as follows:
Tool bar settings
Amp time
1.6 µs
Preset
None
eV/Ch
10, (5, 20)
Beam Conditions
Beam
OFF
Disable all Discriminators and the BLM (uncheck box next to each setting).
Enable each Discriminator, one-at-a-time, and set the value to 0. This should give a high number of CPS.
Increase the value to get approximately 1-20 cps. Add 10% to that value.
Repeat for each Discriminator.
A Discriminator is selected when the number changes to RED.

15. Alternative Manual BLM Adjustment
Set the Amp Time to 1.6 µs, and then adjust the beam conditions and EDS Panel (select from the tool bar) as follows:
Beam Conditions
Beam
OFF
Select the BLM adjustment so that the setting number, changes to RED text.
Set the value to 0. This should give a high number of CPS.
Increase the value to get approximately 1-20 cps. Add 10% to that value Repeat for ALL Amp Times.

16. BLR Table

17. Print Calibration Values
Selecting Print here, will print a page of calibration values for archiving and information.