As stated in the previous status update, moving to the new piece of software to control the MD2 hardware is a necessary step in implementing shutter-less vector scans (kinematic scans) and taking full advantage of the speed of the PILATUS-6MF.  As a first step, during the May shutdown, shutter-less continuous vector scans became a reality.  It is now possible to perform continuous vector scans on 24-ID-C beamline without closing the shutter while the MD2 moves the crystal to a new position.

The 2013-1 run is in progress. On the surface, the NE-CAT beamlines look the same to the casual user. However, during the January shutdown, the control software for the MD2 underwent a major change. In collaboration with LS-CAT (Keith Briester), Malcolm has implemented a new software that controls the MD2 microdiffractometer by communicating directly to the Delta-Tau PMAC system (PMAC - Programmable Multi-Axis Controller) rather than through a COM server connected to the MD2 software provided by Maatel.

NIH Site Visit

On November 8^th, the site-visit for NE-CAT's P41 grant application to NIGMS took place.  Reviewers were presented with short talks on our three Technology Research and Development (TR&D) Projects, PIs of the Driving Biomedical Projects for each of our TR&Ds spoke on the importance of NE-CAT to their research, and the reviewers were given a tour of the facility.