Running Your First Scan

A step-by-step guide to running your first scan with the Lumafield Neptune

Fixture your part

Place the object into your fixture material of choice.
Fixturing goals are:

• • Separate the part from the turntable.
  • Fixture with lower-density materials.
  • Hold the part rigid while it rotates.

Attach the fixture to a turntable.

• • Center the part about the central axis of the turntable.
  • See Part Fixturing for further details.

Load your part

• Place the turntable into the collet inside of the Neptune.
• Secure the turntable to the collet with the thumbscrew.
• Ensure there is no unwanted motion by lightly wiggling the turntable.

Position your part 

• With the door open, you can activate the motion stage to position your part roughly.
• Check the following
  
  • Part height puts your desired field of view (FOV) roughly centered on the X-ray aperture.
  • Part rotation appears to keep the desired FOV centered from all angles.
  • Part distance roughly gets the part to the right FOV, and avoids collisions.

Ready for X-rays On

• Close the cabinet door.
• Once the door latches, the X-ray On/Off should turn green.
  • This button is located in the top left of the screen.
  • If not green, please take a look at the Neptune Startup instructions to troubleshoot.
  • Press this button to power on the X-ray system.

Fine-tune positioning & confirm w/ vase

• With the X-rays on, fine-tune the position.
  • More magnification = more resolution.

• Use the verify angles function to simulate a full revolution of CT data capture.
  • If the item leaves the FOV, you will not receive 3D data of that area.
  • Watch for unwanted motion or soft collisions.

Autoscan

• Name your part.
• Position your part (see prior steps).
• Choose material composition.
  • Mono-material if you know your items to be of a single/similar material.
  • Multi-material for assemblies of dissimilar materials (plastic+metal, electronics.)
• Set your desired scan time.
• Press Optimize and Start Scan!