Our services are designed to offer flexibility and value. We charge beam time by the day, with a minimum booking time of 1/2 day. This approach can result in effective rates as low as £105/h for a carefully planned 24h session when unattended overnight imaging is possible. The exact price depends on the specifics of the experiment and the sample(s).

Typically, new projects start with a half-day session dedicated to defining the investigation scope and establishing the appropriate imaging protocol. Clients are encouraged to participate in all stages of their project.

For urgent investigations, we offer expedited services at a 25% premium, subject to availability. Please note that this premium is non-refundable and applies to work that displaces prior bookings.

For more information about commercial access to the μ-VIS X-ray Imaging Centre, or to discuss potential projects and request a quote, please contact us.

As of 1st Feb 2023 Research Council FEC hourly rates for University of Southampton researchers are as follows. This rate must be used for costing CT scanning in any grant proposal. All grant applications should be discussed with the centre at the earliest opportunity.

• £ 132.12 per hour for CT scanning and setup by a µ-VIS operator (minimum time slot: 4 hours).
  
  N.B.: before submitting a funding request please always make sure the quoted FEC rate is up-to-date by checking University of Southampton official Research Facilities costing tool (UoS login is required); more information about the new costing tool can be found here (UoS or VPN access only)

For the ongoing success and existence of the centre it is vital that our efforts are recognised. Any publications that come out of projects classified, and thus charged, as 'internal-' or 'external academic' and include data generated using the centre's facilities must acknowledge the centre's contribution using the following phrase: The authors acknowledge the µ-VIS X-ray Imaging Centre at the University of Southampton for provision of tomographic imaging facilities, supported by EPSRC grant EP-H01506X. The centre retains the right to charge researchers at commercial rates for data sets used in academic work without this acknowledgement.

In the interest of stimulating and supporting novel and exploratory projects, and at the centre's discretion, internal researchers can apply for a 'license'. Please consult the µ-VIS wiki for further particulars (internal access only).

Access to data processing and visualisation suite (see here), including several high-performance workstations with multiple 3D image analysis software packages, is included for normal academic usage. Access to the image analysis suite is typically available to users for four weeks after the CT scan.

Results from projects classified as “academic” must be published in the public domain. Members of the µ-VIS team may request co-authorship and collaboration, depending on the level of input required.

For the ongoing success and existence of the centre it is vital that our efforts are recognised. Any publications that come out of projects classified, and thus charged, as 'internal-' or 'external academic' and include data generated using the centre's facilities must acknowledge the centre's contribution using the following phrase: The authors acknowledge the µ-VIS X-ray Imaging Centre at the University of Southampton for provision of tomographic imaging facilities, supported by EPSRC grant EP-H01506X. The centre retains the right to charge researchers at commercial rates for data sets used in academic work without this acknowledgement.

For external academic work the standard day rate is £1321 (with a £660.2 minimum charge per project), however carefully planned experiments can optimise costs, potentially achieving effective rates as low as £55/hour where unattended overnight operation is possible.

Access to data processing and visualisation suite (see here), including several high-performance workstations with multiple 3D image analysis software packages, is included for normal academic usage. Access to the image analysis suite is typically available to users for four weeks after the CT scan.

Where appropriate, the centre may offer additional supporting services, such as:

• feasibility trials,
• detailed experimental planning support, which may include sample mounting/jig design,
• access to data processing and visualisation suite (see here), including several high-performance workstations with multiple 3D image analysis software packages.

Access to the image analysis suite is typically available to users for four weeks after the CT scan.

Further PDRA support for e.g. data analysis may be arranged on request for an additional charge.