Micro-CT scanning requests, costs and protocol
Still image taken from a micro-CT of the rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes boas
To apply for scanning time:
- Download and complete the micro-CT scanning request form Word (85.0 KB)
- Email the completed form to Farah Ahmed
The duration and cost of scanning are judged on:
- sample size
- specimen dimensions
- constituent materials
- specimen preservation and storage
- regions or features of particular interest
- measurement and analysis
- required data format
Scanning costs
Please contact Dr Farah Ahmed to discuss your project.
Providing specimens for mounting
- Specimens must be in a box clearly labelled with the user’s name and contact details
- All items must be labelled with a reference number
- Wet specimens must be sealed in airtight containers or bags
- Users are responsible for providing specimen mounts (oasis, plastic foam, cardboard or plastic tubing)
Scanning parameters
- Field of view: 250mm diameter, 750mm tall
- Maximum capacity: 30Kg
- Voxels: 3-125µm3
- Scan resolution: 3-5µm or 1/2000th of the specimen’s diameter or height, whichever is the larger value
- Scan duration: 10-60 minutes
- Data is reconstructed over night and can usually be collected on the next working day
Data storage and transfer
- Typical scan size: 8-16GB
- Allow up to 60GB per scan (maximum scan size)
- Scan slices can be exported in DICOM, TIFF, BMP, JPEG or ASCII format
- Data can be collected using external hard drives (NTFS format)
- External hard drives must be formatted prior to use
- Any hard drives, adaptors and cables must be labelled with user’s name and institution