[en] Several automation steps were introduced into a standard X-ray diffractometry system. The system is mainly used for the study of nuclear fuel materials and higher actinide compounds which require containment due to their strong alpha-radioactivity. Automatic sample changers for the alpha-active specimens were constructed. An electrochemical device changes automatically the pulse rate measuring range of the recorder. Digital storage of the pulse rate signals was achieved by using a step scanning device together with a tape punch and a specially developed interface between the detector electronics and the tape punch. The punched tape is used as an input to program HEKUBA. This program calculates peak positions and peak heights and scans the peaks for the compounds present in nuclear fuels, for some hexagonal actinide compounds, and for any cubic structure that may be present. It calculates the lattice parameters of these structures and the proportions of (U,Pu)₂C₃ and (U,Pu)O₂ phases in carbide fuels