Patent ID: 8559597

Claim:
An x-ray analysis apparatus for illuminating a sample spot with an x-ray beam, comprising; an x-ray tube having a source spot from which a diverging x-ray beam is produced having a characteristic first energy, and bremsstrahlung energy; a first x-ray optic for receiving the diverging x-ray beam and directing the beam toward the sample spot, the first x-ray optic monochromating the beam; a second x-ray optic for receiving the diverging x-ray beam and directing the beam toward the sample spot, the second x-ray optic monochromating the beam to a second energy; and wherein the source spot requires alignment along a transmission axis passing through the sample spot, the apparatus further comprising: a first tubular housing section to which the x-ray tube is attached along a first axis thereof such that the source spot coincides with the first axis, the first housing section further including mating surfaces aligned to the first axis; a second tubular housing section having a second axis coinciding with the transmission axis, and mating surfaces aligned to the second axis; and the first and second x-ray optics attached to the second housing section for receiving the diverging x-ray beam and directing the beam toward the sample spot, the first and second optics requiring alignment along the transmission axis; the first housing section and the second housing section being matable along their respective mating surfaces to thereby align the first and second axes with the transmission axis, thereby aligning source spot, x-ray optics, and sample spot.