An important point for the quality of all diffraction measurements is
the adjustment and alignment of the diffractometer. For the example of
an x-ray diffractometer for position-sensitive stress measurements, a
simple and precise optical method of positioning the sample relative
to the rotation axes is presented. The adjustment procedure is discuss
ed and analysed in general for all diffractometers with attention bein
g paid to the necessary translations and rotations. The principle, app
lied here, is the elimination of the relative motion of a reference ma
rk on the sample surface, on rotation. This method can be applied to a
ll problems in which a point on the surface of a body has to be brough
t into a definite position relative to a rotating axis. The adjustment
procedure is carried out on the sample to be measured.