Various sample-mounting devices are described for use with a commercial flat-crystal X-ray fluorescence spectrometer having conventional (i.e., not inverted) geometry: (1) a sample drawer with two sample “spinners,” one for rotation of flat samples in their own plane, the other for rotation of cylindrical or filamentary samples about an axis normal to the plane defined by the directions of the primary and secondary X-ray beams; (2) rotatable mounting stages for filter paper disks and various very small samples; (3) a sample drawer for selected area operation with pinhole or slit apertures in the primary beam or pinhole apertures in the secondary beam; (4) a liquid cell with 0.00025-in. Mylar window (the cell is inexpensive, easily filled and rinsed, and usable 20-50 times before the window must be replaced); (5) three types of cell for powder samples (one has a 0.00025-in, Mylar window and is filled through a port in the top; the other types are open on both sides and are filled by placing them on glass plates and introducing the powder from the back; one of these back-loading cells permits rotation of the powder sample); (6) rotatable stages for briquetted powder samples; (7) mounting devices for wire samples on small spools (one of these devices permits rotation of the spool).

These devices were designed and made at the X-ray laboratory of the RCA plant at Harrison, N. J., and have been used there successfully with a wide variety of samples for several years.