beamlines J. Synchrotron Rad. (2016). 23, 1501–1506 http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S1600577516012686 1501 Received 31 March 2016 Accepted 5 August 2016 Edited by I. Schlichting, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany Keywords: X-ray diffraction; beamline; bending magnet. X-ray powder diffraction at the XRD1 beamline at LNLS A. M. G. Carvalho, a * D. H. C. Arau ´jo, a H. F. Canova, a C. B. Rodella, a D. H. Barrett, a S. L. Cuffini, b R. N. Costa b and R. S. Nunes c a Laborato ´ rio Nacional de Luz Sı ´ncrotron, CNPEM, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil, b ICT, UNIFESP, Sa ˜o Jose ´ dos Campos, SP 12231-280, Brazil, and c Unidade Acade ˆmica de Fı ´sica, UFCG, Campina Grande, PB 58429-900, Brazil. *Correspondence e-mail: alexandre.carvalho@lnls.br Various upgrades have been completed at the XRD1 beamline at the Brazilian synchrotron light source (LNLS). The upgrades are comprehensive, with changes to both hardware and software, now allowing users of the beamline to conduct X-ray powder diffraction experiments with faster data acquisition times and improved quality. The main beamline parameters and the results obtained for different standards are presented, showing the beamline ability of performing high-quality experiments in transmission geometry. XRD1 operates in the 5.5–14 keV range and has a photon flux of 7.8  10 9 photons s 1 (with 100 mA) at 12 keV, which is one of the typical working energies. At 8 keV (the other typical working energy) the photon flux at the sample position is 3.4  10 10 photons s 1 and the energy resolution E/E =3  10 4 . 1. Introduction The XRD1 beamline at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS) is a dedicated X-ray diffraction beamline (Cusatis et al. , 1998) in operation since 1998. The beamline is installed at the D12B bending magnet (1.67 T) and operates in the 5.5–14 keV range. This beamline was upgraded recently. The mechanical stress on the optical elements and floor instabilities began causing beam stability problems as well as affecting the repeatability of the monochromator positions. Furthermore, user require- ments for in situ powder diffraction experiments and faster detection speeds meant that the X-ray Powder Diffraction beamline (XPD) was becoming increasingly congested. The XRD1 diffractometer did not allow for easy installation of cell reactors and fast detection systems based on a set of linear detectors. Furthermore, the heavy detection system, which included a metallic casing, also gave problems. These limita- tions were the driving force for the beamline upgrade that began in 2011. Increasing beam instabilities led the LNLS to undertake a comprehensive restructuring of the optical hutch, including the construction of an independent concrete slab below the mirror and monochromator. Furthermore, the mechanics inside the monochromator were completely changed as well as the replacement of the two monochromator crystals (Canova et al., 2014). Commissioning tests of the optical elements showed that XRD1 gave a similar performance of photon flux at the sample position, energy resolution, motor repeatability and beam stability as the XPD beamline but with the advantage of a more spacious experimental hutch. Thus, the renovation continued to the experimental hutch with the installation of a ISSN 1600-5775 # 2016 International Union of Crystallography