29 July 2026

Oxford Instruments enhances AZtecHKL EBSD software with human expertise and artificial intelligence 

Oxford Instruments presents the ultimate evolution of the AZtecHKL data acquisition software for Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) experiments in scanning electron microscopes.

AZtecHKL leverages the rich technical knowledge of Oxford Instruments scientists in Tailored Workflow – a new service that optimises system configuration for researchers with recurring requirements. This licensed option ensures that users of all experience levels get the highest performance from their instruments and streamlines complex experiments with a custom step-by-step navigator.

As described by Dominik Zimmer, Director of Specialisation at Oxford Instruments, “Tailored Workflow makes the most sophisticated EBSD analysis accessible for both established users and those new to the technique. It makes every user a power user and every result the best achievable for a particular experiment.”

Also new to AZtecHKL is EBSD Shadow Masking, which uses artificial intelligence to suppress dynamic EBSP shadows that interfere with EBSD band detection. This feature is particularly valuable for fracture surface investigation, failure analysis, and focused ion beam trench analysis.

“Tailored Workflow fine tunes parameters for your system and your samples to deliver optimal, consistent EBSD acquisition more quickly and readily,” says EBSD Product Manager, Mark Coleman. “EBSD Shadow Masking reveals details that provide valuable insight and can help you draw conclusions with greater confidence.”

Additionally, two features previously available for other SEM methods are now also available for EBSD in AZtecHKL: Batch Export saves a large amount of data, including from AutoPhaseMap, in preferred file formats and sizes, and HTML Project Report automatically generates a report with all data from a session, while maintaining the project structure for easier sharing.

Combined, these advances alleviate the challenges of EBSD measurement setup, control, data acquisition, interpretation, and reporting, while substantially assisting in the creation of standard operating procedures.

The new AZtecHKL is ideal for users seeking both the analytical power of EBSD and ease-of-use for quality control, failure analysis, and routine measurements in which consistency and reliability are critical.

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