Tanya Dax, NIST Center for Neutron Research

Sample Mounting Hardware at NCNR

As-Needed Designs

can be made from a variety of 

materials: Aluminum, Copper, Titanium, 

Vanadium, Boron Nitride, Sapphire 

...How soon? How Many? What level of 

detail?

Specialized Options, 

kept in other locations

 Annular

DCS Long, in a variety of annulus sizes

HFBS/NSE Short

 Flat Plate

SANS Titanium and Aluminum cells 

NSE Titanium flat cells 

 Ultra-Low Temperature

More Oxygen-free copper hardware

Contact any Sample Environment member

 High Pressure Cells

Contact Juscelino Leao

 Gas Loading Lids and Rings

Contact Juscelino Leao or Craig Brown

Crystal Mounting Accessories

Aluminum -Powder

 The 3 smaller sizes differ only in the cylinder 

diameters; flanges are otherwise identical

 12.3cc flange pattern accommodates the larger 

diameter O-ring groove

 Standard lids follow the bottom-loading CCR 

attachment pattern: lids have a plug and flange 

pattern to match the appropriate can inner 

diameter

 Alternate lids are available for #5/16-18 threaded 

post attachment

 Aluminum 6061-T6

Part # Volume Cylinder ID Cylinder OD

014-1261 1.6cc 0.250” 0.270”

014-1262 3.1cc 0.350” 0.370”

014-1263 6.3cc 0.500” 0.520”

014-1264 12.3cc 0.700” 0.720”

Crystal Sample Cans

 Same O-ring groove design as the powder cans

 Small Single Crystal: can is designed to attach to 

a #5/16-18 threaded post and the bottomloading CCR, and samples mount to a #10-32 

threaded hole in the lid 

 Large Single Crystal: can is only designed to 

attach to a #5/16-18 threaded post, samples 

mount to a #10-32 threaded hole in the lid 

 Brookhaven (BNL): can follows the bottomloading CCR attachment pattern, and can also 

adapt to a #5/16-18 threaded post; Samples 

mount to the rocker accessories below

 Aluminum 6061-T6

The film and rocker holders mount directly to the sample stick on a 

#5/16-18 thread post. A film holder can secure silicon wafers or 

aluminum disks. The sample is not enclosed in a can.

The rocker and tee are often used together to hold a saw or disk at a specified 

angle. Use the rocker in a Brookhaven crystal can lid or a rocker holder. 

Super Sample PIN: 

Use for very fine adjustment of a 

crystal along multiple axes. This is 

achieved by compressing or pushing 

apart different sections of the PIN, 

with small turns of several #1-64 brass 

screws. 

(4:1 detail)

The saw is a versatile piece. 

Secure the sample using foil or 

wire, and bend the saw along 

the notches until the sample is in 

position.

Copper -Powder

 Oxygen-free Copper for ultra-low temperature

 Limited quantities of each size

 Lids are NOT compatible with any other type

 Lids are #5/16-18 externally threaded post

 Copper thread adapters are also available

Vanadium -Powder

 Flange is Titanium, electron welded to the 

cylinder

 All sizes differ only in the cylinder diameters; 

flanges are otherwise identical

 Dimensions vary slightly from Aluminum, but the 

bottom-load lids for Aluminum cans fit

 Original lids have #5/16-18 externally or internally 

threaded post, and appropriate diameter plug 

for the size cylinder

 Cans are sequentially numbered, barcoded, and 

tracked by Craig Brown

Part # Volume Cylinder ID Cylinder OD

(A) 014-0542 1.5cc 0.238” 0.250”

(B) 014-0574 4.0cc 0.363” 0.375”

(C) 014-0177 5.5cc 0.426” 0.438”

(D) 014-0575 7.0cc 0.488” 0.500”

(E) 014-0540 11.5cc 0.613” 0.625”

Neutron Shielding Materials

 Borated Aluminum

Acceptable for high temperature environments (and 

low); Metal sheet is brittle unless annealed, wear 

Kevlar gloves; Difficult to shape, but can be 

machined from 0.5” plate

 Cadmium

Easily cut and flexible to shield mounting hardware; 

Heavy metal; wear gloves, don’t make dust or 

machine; Health and safety hazard above 400 Kelvin, 

do not heat

 Boroflex

Rubber-like flexible sheet which contains boron; Easily 

cut, but not does not hold shapes, difficult to attach

 Boron Nitride

Brittle, but machinable solid; Porous, tends to absorb 

skin oils and humidity

 Gadolinium Oxide

Powder, when mixed with GE Varnish, makes a paste; 

When mixed with a solvent, makes a thin paint that 

dries to a flaky layer; Use caution

 Gadolinium Foil

Flexible metal foil, somewhat easy to shape and 

attach; Releases flammable gas when in contact with 

water

Part # Volume Cylinder ID Cylinder OD Length

014-1226 3.83cc 0.370” 0.410” 2.50

014-1227 1.63cc 0.370” 0.410” 1.25

014-1228 0.95cc 0.185” 0.225” 2.38

014-1229 0.40cc 0.185” 0.225” 1.25

Acknowledgements

This poster summarizes decades of 

work for our facility users by engineers 

at the NCNR. Thanks for original design 

and drafting by John Bailey, Mercedes 

Castelo, Allen Heald, Edward Kunkel, 

Jim Larock, Colin Wrenn, and 

Lawrence Wroten. 

The BNL cans and rockers were 

originally designed by M.C. Taylor, 

Brookhaven National Laboratory. 

This work utilized facilities supported in 

part by the National Science 

Foundation under Agreement No. 

DMR-1508249.