BL31-FaXToR, hard X-ray micro-tomography and radiography at ALBA: current status and ongoing improvements

BL31-FaXToR is the only hard-X-ray micro-tomography and radiography beamline at the third-generation ALBA synchrotron * **. It enables 3D imaging with sub-second temporal resolution under either monochromatic or white-beam conditions. The beamline features a dual-detection system enabling high speed or high resolution acquisitions. For high speed data acquisitions of the detector utilizes multiple frame grabbers and an IBM Storage Scale clustered file system. The goal of the high speed detector is to provide live reconstructions during scans with minimal latency ***. The Detectors are managed through a REST client or LImA device server. The control system is based on Tango and Sardana, providing an efficient, distributed Python environment with full user access to hardware via both graphical and command-line interfaces. The synchronization elements also include a voice coil actuated fast shutter capable of 10 ms openings and a periodic chopper, which introduced new challenges for Sardana requiring the implementation of multiple synchronizations in time and position domain. The experimental GUI was developed using Taurus and LavuE. This paper outlines the BL31-FaXToR control system architecture, presents implementation examples, and discusses upcoming planned features.