Product Specifications

With OXSAS, you can set up and carry outall your analysis jobs easily and quickly. Andyou can do a lot more. OXSAS is the mostmodern software for X-ray fluorescencespectrometers. It implements state-of-the-art technology and software foundations.This makes it very powerful and easy touse. Your needs will expand in the futureand you expect that your software willprovide you with up-to-date solutions over theyears. OXSAS is a new software platform thatis designed to evolve to meet your needsthroughout your instrument's lifetime.

A new era in analytical software

• Integrated design. Thanks to a properdatabase structure and advancedsoftware functions, OXSAS offers manysophisticated functions that you can applyin just one click. Want to review thespectra of a QuantAS analysis? Justsearch it and hit the show spectra button.

Need to measure standards? OXSASgathers and sets all data needed for you.

• Everything you need is before your eyes.With a large use of very modern softwarecontrols – grids, tabs, Multi DocumentInterface and tree views – all informationfor a specific operation is accessible at a glance.

• OXSAS breaks the limits for datacapacity.

• A new dimension in user-friendliness.Innovative software tools greatly help thecomfort and speed of operation, such as:- Frequently used functions can be left open, a

bar enables to quickly switch among them- Recent analyses are shown in tabs- Instant edition of data sets using fill-down

and increment-down tools• OXSAS is a multi-processing application

with amazing capability and potentials.• OXSAS comprehensive functionality

enables the meeting of all yourrequirements.

OXSASX-Ray Fluorescence Analysis Software

OXSAS is the most modernsoftware for X-ray fluorescencespectrometers from ThermoElectron Corporation. Thisinnovative platform sets a newmilestone in analytics thanks toits many convenient features.Ease of use is what you canexpect from OXSAS, no matterwhat your requirements are. Fromsimple tasks to complex jobs, allare defined easily and performedquickly.

Analyze • Detect • Measure • Control™

e l e m e n t a l a n a l y s i s

Modern, state-of-the-art User Interface for comfortable and powerful operation

Developing expert analyticalmethods

Integrated Analytical AssistantThe editor of methods integrates anAnalytical Assistant which helps definingthe best analytical parameters. You simplydefine the elements you need to analyzefrom a periodic table, their chemical form,their concentration range and additionalinformation related to the preparation of thesample. OXSAS Analytical Assistantproposes, in turn, the best correspondingparameters, suggests the analyticalcorrections and prepares the batch of scansand energy profiles to investigate thepossible spectral interferences.Furthermore, the Analytical Assistant can beused to add elements to an existingmethod. Experienced users can takeadvantage of the speed of the AnalyticalAssistant. They can also use the AdvancedEdition mode for customizing specificparameters.

Advanced analysis featuresYou can include in your method theacquisition of instrument status duringquantitative analysis. Values measured ordefined outside the instrument can also beincluded as manual input values inyour methods.

Comprehensive mathematical formulaecalculate pseudo values based on measuredchannels, status or manual inputs: the userselects the values to include in the formulaefrom the raw intensity up to the finalconcentration.

For some alloy analysis applications,the Type Standardization supplies ultimateaccuracy for specific alloy types against acalibration.

The recalculation of results helps yousave time and operating costs. Without re-analyzing samples, you can verify astandardization, update a type standard,check unknown samples, or include anyvalue obtained by other techniques to applymatrix correction to XRF concentrations.

Defining standards and calibratingyour methodsOXSAS incorporates a comprehensivefunction allowing you to create and updatecalibrations at any time.

Calibration curves are calculated usingthe multi-variable regression (MVR)program. It uses the least squaresregression to find the coefficients of thebest fit curve. Correction for matrix, lineoverlap and background effects can beperformed.

The graphical User Interface is easy,flexible and clear: it displays the curves ofmultiple analytes combined with theirnumerical data, it allows comparing onscreen the calibration among severaldifferent methods, it calculates all basecurves on one click, etc.

Calibration standards are defined usingan effective editor. You can import or exportthem using files in XML or CSV format,which are directly compatible withMicrosoft® Excel for instance.

Product Specifications

All the data you need to produce accurate calibrations, clearly organized

Key features and top benefits• With OXSAS, you can perform rapid

high quality analyses: templateslead you through the analysisoperation

• Simple definition andcomprehensive operation of samplebatches. With support of prioritysamples. Makes unattendedanalyses handy

• Integrated Analytical Assistantguides the creation or extension ofmethods. With best analyticalparameters for rapid and accurateanalyses

• Fast calibration with multipleanalyte curve display, instant basecurve calculation, templates foredition and measurement ofcalibration standards

• Optional standardless analysispackages: UniQuant®, OptiQuant™

and the semi-quantitative QuantAS™

offer additional analysis versatility• Flexible scans with graphical

investigation tools• Multi-purpose analysis display with

wide-ranging optional data. e.g. theanalysis calculation steps help thevalidation of your methods

• Numerous customizable on-lineprocessing functions, with manualor automatic application

• Comprehensive post-treatment ofresults, including export

• Full network and serial transmissioncapabilities

• Real on-line integrated SPC• SCT samples management: gives

the overview of the analyticalcapability of the instrument and ofeach method any time. The SCTsamples status and history allowcoordination of the control andstandardization run with youranalyses workload and plan

• Effective monitoring andmaintenance tools maximizes thesystem uptime

Curve fit correlation displays analyticalinformation such as: Standard Error ofEstimate, Limit of Detection, BackgroundEquivalent Concentration and Sensitivity.And, shows samples excluded fromthe calculations.

Correction models eliminate theinfluence of interfering elements in multi-component matrices and achieve betteraccuracy of analysis. They are:• Line overlap or background correction• Additive correction on intensities or

concentrations• Multiplicative correction on intensities or

concentrations• Multiplicative and additive correction on

concentrations.• Additive and multiplicative correction on

concentrations• COmprehensive LAchance (COLA) using

theoretical alphas determined by theintegrated fundamental parameterprogram NBSGSC. It calculatestheoretical inter-element correctionfactors (alphas) for metals, pressedpowders and fused beads. Alphas arecalculated and used as knowncoefficients in the MVR. This minimizesthe number of standards necessary toproduce calibrations and improves theaccuracy of analysis.

Moreover, a tool enables importing alphascalculated by other packages. Export isavailable too.

Adjusting and validating methodsOXSAS includes useful tools to help usersfine-tuning their methods. The AnalyticalAssistant helps defining scan and energyprofile measurement to check for possibleoverlap and background corrections. Thecalibration standards intensity update helpsrefining intensity corrections, e.g. overlapand background corrections without havingto reanalyze the samples. For quickidentification of calibration problems,

OXSAS can store and display all successivecalculation steps from the raw intensitiesthrough to the final concentrations.

Performing your analyses

Pre-defined parameters simplify yourquantitative analysesOXSAS assists your operators in achievingthe analyses easily and quickly. EachOXSAS task includes a template ofparameters including the sampleidentification, how to perform the analysis,how to display and process their result tomeet the specific requirements for eachsample category. Thanks to thesemechanisms, running complex analysis jobscan be as easy as selecting the matchingtask and completing the predefined identity.

Parameters that can be controlled:• Selection of the default analytical

method. Alternatively, type standardcalibration can be used. If a grade isselected, the analysis result is checkedagainst this target upon completion of theanalysis

• Sample identification with unlimitednumber of fields and up to 255 characterseach. Data types are various:alphanumeric, numeric, auto-incrementing, date & time, fix text andoperator name. Default value andmaximum length can be defined.

• Content and format of the display: e.g.wavelength, grade limits, layout, colorscheme, font details, element precisionand units.

• Manual or automatic processing of theresult at the end of the analysis such aschecking the result against grade limitsand sending it.

Individual quantitative analysesThe analysis screen can be adapted to eachneed. For highest versatility, users shouldkeep all options open to select different

tasks, methods, grades or type standards. Inlaboratories with uniform procedures, onecan hide the unnecessary options for moreclarity and speed of operation.

To save time, the user can start theanalysis first, then fill the sampleidentification.

Flexible batches for all your analysisjobs are quickly set upOXSAS batches enable fast definition andanalysis of sets of samples. Anyrearrangement such as appending samplesto a running batch, inserting prioritysamples, moving groups of samples tochange their sequence, modifying sampledata and measurement parameters is doneeasily and quickly. A batch can beinterrupted and restarted at anytime.

Batches can be prepared in advancewithout limitation. A scheduler enablesstarting predefined batches at deferredtimes. Batch repetition is available too.

Speed functions allows incrementing orcopying the value of an analyticalparameter, an ID field or a sample positionover the batch at one go. Positions can bechosen from a virtual view of the samplemagazine, even by ranges.

Selection of sample positions from agraphical view of the magazine

Setting batches of scan measurementsis also very quick. The scan parameters orthe processing parameters for QuantASanalyses can be adjusted directly from thebatch screen.

All types of analyses and samples canbe mixed in any order in a batch:quantitative, qualitative (scans), semi-quantitative (QuantAS) or standardless(OptiQuant, UniQuant®). The analysis ofcalibration standards, setting-up samples,type standards, control samples can also begrouped in batches.

The recurring measurement of samplessuch as control samples can be saved inlists for later reuse and instant insertion inany running or waiting batch. Lists can alsobe used as templates: they speed up thedefinition of the samples and the selectionof their measurement parameters.

Several functions can define batcheswith minimum or no user input. Thanks tothe built-in templates, most of thedefinitions are automatic. For instance:• Calibration sample measurements• Scans and energy profiles suggested by

the Analytical Assistant for interferenceinvestigation

• Setting-up, control, or type standards thatneed to be measured: e.g. if their validityperiod has expired.

Viewing, editing, validating andprocessing analysis resultsUpon completion of the analysis, the resultis displayed according to the predefinedformat. The user can apply other formats forinstance to check full details, such ascalculation steps and non reportedelements.

Concentration values are displayedwith up to 25 attributes (flags) with userdefinable colors and font styles, e.g. whenvalues are out-of-calibration or above thechecked grade range, etc.

The identity and the concentration ofthe analysis can be edited, if enabled. Aresult can also be recalculated, for instanceusing another calibration.

The result processing such as on-linetransmission and grade checking, isperformed directly after the analysis whenset to automatic. This mode is ideal forbatches. The processing can also be appliedon user action and repeated as necessary.An operator validation can be made mandatory.

Recent analyses are shown in theanalysis screen and are put in tabs next tothe current one. Their access is very quick,e.g. for comparison. The next sample caneven be started before processing thecurrent analysis result.

Fast qualitative analysisTwo forms of digital scanning are

available: step scanning for precisedefinition of peaks and continuous analysis.Multiple scans with different crystals andangular ranges can be defined and groupedper sample.

OXSAS can show all spectra of scangroups simultaneously. Automatic or manualpeak identification and marking worksthroughout the complete group of scans.The user can also search for specificelements. The function displays as manydifferent spectra as required: superimposedaccording to their range or in separatewindows. The color and thickness can betailored for each curve. Information on eachspectrum is displayed in a dedicated grid.

OXSAS allows showing the differenceof multiple spectra. Background curvescalculated with different polynomial can bedisplayed all together.

Other functions comprise zoom, scales,commenting and printing. Backgroundpositions and polynomial, 2θ real values oreven additional lines can be transferredfrom a scan spectrum into your methods tofacilitate their setup.

Product Specifications

You can insert priority samples in batches during their execution.With powerful batch progression monitoring.

Recent analyses are displayed in tabs for easy access

Total elemental analysis

QuantAS™*: Quantitative Analysisusing ScansConcentration levels in liquid or solidsamples can be determined through theuser-friendly optional QuantAS package.Five scans covering the spectrum of 70elements from F to U are performed.Smoothing, background subtraction, peakidentification, overlap and matrixcorrections, calculation of concentrationsand normalization are done automaticallyfor a fast and easy semi-quantitativeanalysis of unknown samples. Variousoptions, like the calculation of anunanalyzed element or compound and Typestandardization are available for ultimateaccuracy.

QuantAS spectra can be viewedsimilarly to scan spectra and the user caninteract with the peak identificationprocedure. Analysis results obtained byQuantAS can be processed just like anyquantitative analysis.

Scan spectra and QuantAS spectra arestored in XML format enabling theirexchange with other applications.

UniQuant®* and OptiQuant™ state-of-the-art standardless analysisThe optional UniQuant®* providesstandardless analysis for up to 79 elementswhen specific standards are not availableand when samples can only be obtained insmall quantities or as irregular shapes.Unknown liquid samples can also beanalyzed very efficiently. Various options,like the calculation of an unanalyzedelement or compound, the sample dilution(if unknown), multi-element mono-layer orthin layers are available for ultimateaccuracy. Moreover, the sample, flux andcalculation information can be transferredto UniQuant® allowing the automatic resultcalculation.

OptiQuant is the optimized standard-less analysis package for use with aSmartGonio™.

The QuantAS, UniQuant® andOptiQuant optional modules are fullycalibrated in the factory, making them readyfor immediate use on user's site.

Instrument Quality Assurance

Integrated SPC-Basic: pro-activecontrol cannot be simplerSPC-Basic performs the routine check of theinstrument. Control samples are measuredand their results are processed with thehelp of Statistical Process Controltechniques. SPC-Basic features: • The interval between control analyses

can be set per sample. A schedulerreminds when the timer is over

• Immediate evaluation by SPC softwareand feedback for any element failing thetests

• 16 test rules supported: automaticdetection of out-of-control states usingcontrol limits, bias, trends, statisticaldistribution check, for example.

• Check of the instrument or of specificmethods using dedicated samples

• Different correction actions can be set upin case of control analysis failure

• SPC-Basic operates as a black box. Itrequires no statistical knowledge.

System standardizationStandardization (drift correction) can beperformed anytime, on operator decision, atscheduled intervals or as a response to acontrol request.

Urgent samples can be insertedbetween Setting-Up Samples (SUS). The new standardization is applied only whenall required SUS have been measured.

Management of SCT samples The SCT manager provides a central pointfor supervision, monitoring and maintenanceof Setting-Up, Control and Type Standardssamples:• Display of the status of each SCT sample,

whether they are good, have beeninvalidated or are out-of-date. Samplesare sorted per type and / or per method

• Check additional information like the nextmeasurement date and time

• Instant batch: schedules the SCT samplesthat require analysis for a selected method

• History: date and status of each SCTsample measurement. Detailed history foreach channel with status, coefficients or errors.

Processing your analysis resultsValuable functions allow you to processanalysis results on-line. You enable them inthe analysis tasks and specify if the usercan interact with them. You define in whichcases automatic operations will executeand their behaviors.

On-line processing can take place uponcompletion of the analysis. Moreover, theuser can apply them later from the recentanalysis view or from the result storagescreen (View Results).

Result processing operations include:

Storage, with full details, if selected.

Printing, to local or network printersdefined in Windows® control panel.

Transmission* (option): results can betransmitted to computers, to serial printersand serial display terminals.

Transfer to SPC: transfer of the analysisresults to SPC (Statistical Process Controlprogram).

(*) OXSAS features, options or otherThermo products marked with an asteriskare described in separate productspecification sheets. Please refer to themfor more details.

Display of spectra with their relevant data such as scanparameters, identified lines and elements

Monitoring the status of SCT samples. Creation in one click of abatch to measure the samples that need it

Grade tests Grade check: compares a result againstpre-defined upper and lower limits of atarget grade, alloy, product or material.Grade limits can be displayed along with theresult.

The user selects the target grade whenidentifying the sample and it is checkedautomatically at the end of the analysis.Manual or automatic grade selection afterthe analysis is available too.

Alternative grade check: in case theanalysis did not match the target grade,OXSAS can successively try a list ofalternative grades.

SPC-Full, full Statistical ProcessControl package* (option): a very usefulcomplement to SPC-Basic. Allows on-linegraphical display, evaluation and printing ofthe control charts and statistical data forcontrol samples, Setting-Up samples, andunknown samples. SPC-Full provides thefollowing additional features:• Comprehensive charting capabilities and

calculation of control limits• Automatic control chart display after

each analysis• Instrument standardization monitoring• On-line transfer of unknown sample

results, with automatic feedback toOXSAS. For monitoring productionprocess, quality control jobs, etc.

SPC-Full allows Quality AssuranceManagers to document permanently theirQuality System, e.g. for audit purposes,study and revision procedures.

SPC-Basic and SPC-Full use SPC-Light™software from Lighthouse System Ltd.

Result storage with advancedquery and post-treatment toolsBy set up, the analysis tasks can save theresults automatically or manually. Moreover,OXSAS makes a provisional backgroundsave of all results and keeps the 1000 mostrecent ones. With this temporary storage,you can recover recent analyses that werenot saved.

Advanced result query filters You can search for specific analysis by dateand / or by time, you can filter within thesample identity fields, the analysisparameters and other information fields.You can even look for specific concentrationranges of selected elements, for analysisflags and further information. You can queryall modified results or only those withspecific reasons. Wildcards are accepted.You can combine together as many filteringcriteria as you need using the logicoperators AND, OR, NOT. Retrieving yourresults is that powerful.

Results post-treatment All on-line functions can be applied andreapplied on stored results: result edition andrecalculation, target and alternative gradecheck, transmission, printing and transfer toSPC. Moreover, the View Results permitexporting results to files compatible forinstance with Microsoft® Office or equivalentproducts. In addition, View Results calculatesstatistics of selected results.

More grade testsView Results enables performing thefollowing additional grade tests:

Grade search: searches the grade that theselected result is best matching and marksthe result accordingly.

Grade sort: check the result against agroup of selected grades and ranks themaccording to the variance.

Modification historyModifications performed on results aretraced and can be viewed within a specificdocking window. This includes the manualedition of sample identity andconcentrations. For each history entry,OXSAS includes the name of the loggeduser, the date and time, the previous andthe new values and the selected reason forchange.

The history shows the reference to theoriginal result for recalculated results.Grade check actions are also logged anddisplayed in the history tree.

Grade check: display of the limits with theresult and function history.

Product Specifications

Query your stored results with advanced filters. View themwith full details and modification history

SPC-Full: Statistical Process Control with full chartingcapabilities

Data communication options*OXSAS can be fitted with powerful andreliable transmission options that cantransmit analysis results via network toapplications running on other computers, todatabase servers, to LIMS, etc. It can alsosend them to your own computer enablingyou to treat them with word processor,spreadsheet or database applications suchas the Microsoft® Office programs.

Transmission over serial lines isavailable, whether you need to communicateto computers, to serial printers or to serialASCII terminals. OXSAS can transmit resultson-line to up to 16 destinations with for eachone a different media and mechanism:

ARLnet*: Package of result transmissionsolutions to computer applications or tofiles via LAN Local Area Network. Includes:• TCP/IP: computer task - to - computer

task transmission• File storage: transmission to files on local

or network disks

ARLserial*: Package of result transmissionsolutions to computers, printers or terminalsover serial lines. Supports thecommunication to:• Computers using the Thermo Compac

protocol.• Printers or visual display terminals using

formatted telegrams.

Software Destination Switch feature isavailable with ARLnet and ARLserial (onlywith TCP/IP and Compac mechanisms). Itautomatically re-routes results to analternative destination if the main one cannot be reached.

Utilities

• Easy learning of OXSAS thanks to on-linecontextual Help that describes theOXSAS functions with useful hints. Manytool tips give explanations directly in thesoftware

• Security and data integrity with useraccounts, password protection andconfigurable access to functions

• Translation or customization of softwaretexts and messages into any languagesupported by Windows® Operating System.

• Database maintenance: data backup andrestore for settings and analyses.

Monitoring, maintenance andservice

Monitoring of the peripheralsMonitoring the peripheral connections toOXSAS such as the instrument, thedestination computers and the printers,makes their set up and troubleshooting veryeasy. Each peripheral has its own screenwhere all exchanged messages are shown.

System Event loggerOXSAS logs system events and user actionsallowing an efficient tracking of theoperation and quick problem fixing.

You can set up your own display lists,files or destinations, where all events oronly selected ones will be dispatched.

A fixed diagnostic log allows systematicinvestigation by Thermo Technical Support.OXSAS comes also with defined logsdedicated to the instrument, calibration andSCT activities.

On-line contextual Help allows easy learning of OXSAS Easy setup and troubleshooting: e.g. with the peripheralcommunication monitoring and the event logger

OXSAS innovative features

• Modern User Interface providingcomfort and fast operation

• Speed functions for edition in grids• Triple navigation style: menus, tree

and icons meet everyonespreference

• Templates for fast sample batchset-up. Deferred start using ascheduler

• Quick method setup with fullyintegrated Analytical Assistant thatrecommends the best measurementand correction parameters

• Calibration: novel intuitive andcomprehensive user interface withmultiple analytes curves display

• Refined fundamental parametersalphas calculation for best accuracy

• Recent analyses view• Result query using advanced

filtering • Setting-up, Control and Type

Standard status monitoring (SCT).One click creation of a batch withall samples requiring analysis

• Easy use and learning thanks to on-line contextual Help and tool tips

• Integrated Microsoft® SQL Serverrelational database

OXSAS standard features

• Triple software navigation• Integrated Microsoft® SQL Server

Desktop Engine relational database whichstores your set up data and analyses

• Quantitative analysis using tasks withanalysis parameter template

• Flexible batch for all types of samplesand analyses, with support of prioritysamples and scheduler

• Integrated Analytical Assistant to set upmethods with measurement andcorrections parameters

• Manual inputs and status. Pseudo valuescomputed on intensities, concentrationsor any calculation step

• Variable counting time on peak andbackground positions

• Mathematical treatments of elementintensities permitting advancedbackground and matrix corrections

• Calibration curve determination usingmulti-variable regression with a range ofcorrection models and integratedtheoretical alphas calculation

• Powerful flexible sample identification• Step scanning and digital continuous

scanning. Scan spectra investigation,including peak identification andbackground subtraction formulae

• Manual and automatic result processing • Flexible result display and printing• Element display with units. Precision:

dynamic (proportional), fixed number ofdecimals or of significant digits

• Result validation and edition• Grade check (target and alternative),

grade search and sort• Concentration result recalculation• Result storage and post-treatment with

powerful database query filters.Statistics. Export to other applications

• Instrument check with on-line integratedSPC-Basic

• Standardization, with history• Type standardization, with history• Management of SCT samples• Instrument alarm monitoring • System event logging• Peripheral device monitoring• On-line contextual help• Text customization and translation• Accounts with password protection• Database maintenance tools

OXSAS options

• QuantAS: semi-quantitative analysispackage

• UniQuant®: standardless analyticalsoftware, full package

• OptiQuant: standardless analyticalsoftware, optimized package for use withSmartGonio.

• ARLnet: LAN network result transmissionpackage

• ARLserial: serial result transmission tocomputers and to ASCII terminals

• SPC-Full: Statistical Process Control, fullgraphical package extension

©2005 Thermo Electron Corporation. All rights reserved. SPC-Light is a trademark of Lighthouse System Ltd. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoftcorp. UniQuant is a registered trademark of Omega Data Systems BV. All product and company names are the property of their respective owners.Specifications, terms and pricing are subject to change. Not all products are available in all countries. Please consult your local sales representative fordetails. This software product specification is valid for OXSAS v.1.0

PS41141_E 11/05C

Product Specifications

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