MULTIBOR

In 1995 Chardec started development of an electronic multishot system for Reflex.
This used triaxial magnetometers and accelerometers to define the direction and inclination respectively.
However, unlike conventional EMS tools this instrument (with a masterstroke of originality it was named the Multibor) had two sets of triaxial magnetometers spaced 100 centimetres apart within the body of the instrument. The theory was that by running the survey in 1 metre intervals the survey would consist of a series of "interlinked" duplicate magnetic readings, which should allow the effects of magnetic anomalies to be removed and so obtain the correct azimuth in magnetically affected terrain. In essence this was an electronic multishot "maxibor". This was proven in theory but, unfortunately, in practise it was unworkable for the following reasons:

1. The triaxial magnetometers at that time were relatively large individual units and so covered a finite distance (about 1 centimetre). This small difference was enough to present a different magnetic field even if the magnetometers were placed in identical positions.
2. The system needed each successive station to be exactly at the same position as the preceding one (to the sub millimetre level). This is almost impossible with borehole surveying equipment, even with fixed systems such as rods, and impossible with wireline.

In 1996, after field trials at Ritchies Drilling site at Kilsyth (east of Glasgow, Scotland), involving Richard Parfitt (Chardec), Richard Braithwaite (Encore) and James Tweedie (GeoMEM), had shown that the "interlocking" magnetic system could not work in practise the Multibor concept was abandoned and reverted to a standard single triaxial magnetometer system - the Reflex EMS.
Althoigh not as reveoutionary as intended with the "Multibor" concept the Reflex EMS was an important instrument because it laid the foundations for all other EMS tools produced by Chardec for both Reflex and (in future) FlexIT, including the EZ-AQ and EZ-Trac (both from Reflex) and the SmartTool (SensIT) from FlexIT.

The Reflex EMS included a number of internal improvements over the Maxibor with newer and smaller components and a more compact circuit board. However, both instruments used direct plug and socket connections which were prone to being damaged in field use (despite using military grade connectors).
The software for controlling the EMS was adapted from the existing DOS software for the Maxibor and presented a very similar interface to the user (intentionally). In fact, the operation was so similar that a Maxibor user could operate the EMS software without any great training.

So by the end of 1996 the Reflex Instrument company had two borehole survey instruments, both designed, developed and manufactured by Chardec Consultants of Sussex, England and using software developed by GeoMEM Software, Perthshire, Scotland.
These tools covered surveying reqirements in both the magnetic and non-magnetic areas of exploration, mining, quarrying, civil engineering and related industries worldwide at that time.