The Philips automatic powder diffractometry system, PW1800, is contained within a single compact cabinet, and contains a high speed, high precision goniometer, high efficiency generator, and an automatic single-sample loading facility. The fully enclosed design of the cabinet prevents sample contamination.

The PW1800 system has a wide ranging step and continuous scan capability, with programmable step rotation and variable speed sample spinning.

Data collection and raw data spectral display is performed under computer control by Philips' "X-pert Industry" application software.