Use of the Bartington Instruments MS3 magnetic susceptibility meter

Transcription

1 Use of the Bartington Instruments MS3 magnetic susceptibility meter Draft version Preparation If you are using the computer provided in B9, West Building obtain an account and password on the Department s computer system by sending a request to: meter (top centre); and the USB cable (centre centre): rt@arch.cam.ac.uk If you are using your own laptop download the Bartsoft software from and install it according to the instructions on that web-site. You will require a laptop running some kind of Windows: The software is not suitable for Macs. Assembly All other things being equal you will require only three of the components shown in the picture below: The MS3B sensor (far right); the MS3

2 Assemble the sensor, meter and cable as shown below. Be careful. The connectors are extremely delicate and you will not at any time need to exert any kind of force or twisting motion. The BartSoft software will start: Check the instrument If everything is working correctly Bartsoft will report in the bottom right-hand corner that it has detected the MS3 magnetic susceptibility meter: Log in to the computer and then connect the USB cable to one of the USB ports on the front of the computer. Start the Bartsoft instrumentation software Start the Bartsoft software by clicking on the Start button: Choose Programs: Choose Instrumentation: If it does not report the meter as detected, contact a Computer Officer. Begin a new analysis Got to the File menu and choose New: Choose Bartington Instruments: Choose Bartsoft:

3 The Report Wizard begins. Click Next: drift correction, and enter the weight in grammes of an empty sample container. Then click Next: Choose the appropriate sensor type, in this case MS2B, and click Next: Click Next: Select the USB-connected magnetic susceptibility meter, and click Next: With the exception of position and depth, you may as well tick all the boxes shown below. Then click Next: Specify analysis parameters Assuming that you are weighing your samples, choose Mass Specific, tick the box labelled Apply This section allows you to specify a series of measurements so that for example, the Bartsoft software will prompt you to measure an empty

4 container, then measure as many samples as you desire, and then measure an empty container again. If you are unsure of how to choose an appropriate Measurement period, consult a Geoarchaeologist. Set up your measurement cycle and then click Next: Bartsoft now displays the Report screen and is ready to take measurements. Click the button labelled Start Measurement to begin: Make sure that you have chosen to record Magnetic Susceptibility and choose from SI or CGS units, and then click Finish: Record measurements Note that you can raise the sample carrier by gently lifting the black knob, as shown in the photgraph below. Insert your sample carefully and then gently lower it back into the sensor. When you click the Start Measurement button Bartsoft will prompt you to ensure that there is no sample in the sensor so that it can zero the sensor. Make sure that this is the case then click OK: Bartsoft will next ask you to insert your sample. When you have done so, click OK:

5 Save your Report by going to the File menu and choosing Save As: When the measurement is complete Bartsoft will ask you to remove the sample. When you have done so, click OK: Bartsoft will ask you to enter the sample name or number. When you have doe so, click OK: Finally, Bartsoft will ask you to entrer the mass of the sample including the sample container: Remember that you entered the mass of an empty container during the setup of your report. When you have entered this information, click OK: Save your report somewhere sensible, either on drive V:\ (your personal file space) or on a memory stick. Note that this report is stored in the proprietary Bartsoft format and can be read only by Bartsoft. Depending upon the way in which you set up your measurement cycle, Bartsoft will keep on telling you what to do until the cycle is complete or you click Cancel. However, your measurements can be easily exported tgo Excel for further analysis and graphing by following the instructions below. At the end Bartsoft will display your results:

6 Export report for analysis and archiving Click once on the first row of data: Start Microsoft Excel and click once in the top-left cell. Got to the Edit menu and choose Paste: Hold down the Shift key and click once on the last row of data. Release the Shift key. Your data will appear in Excel. However, if you have chosen to record the Time at which each measurement was made it will be displayed incorrectly. To fix this, followe the instructions below. Go to the Edit menu and choose Copy: Highlight the entire column that contains the Time data:

7 Go to the Format menu and choose Cells: Notes Further information about the operation of the MS3 meter, the Bartsoft software, and environmental magnetic susceptibility is available on-line at: Set the Category to be Time and choose the Type *13:30:55. Then click OK: Support Computer officers can be contacted by sending mail to: The times will be displayed correctly: Save your Excel file. You are now ready to analyse and graph your results. Dis-assemble equipment Close Bartsoft. Safely Remove the USB connection to the MS3 meter in the same way as you would a memory stick or external disc. Dis-assemble the equipment and return it to its box.