The instrument can be custom configured with a microfocus rotating anode x-ray generator or sealed tube microfocus source, double focusing multilayer optics, evacuated beam path, and with choice of image plate and pixel array detectors (Pilatus and Eiger R series from Dectris. The instrument can offer performance approaching second generation synchrotron based SAXS/WAXS instruments. The diffractometer has a high degree of automation capability, with motorized scatterless slits (in vacuum), beam stop, and sample stage (X-Y-Z translations plus rotation), and fully automated switching between SAXS and WAXS modes. The instrument measures 4-6 meters long from the source to the detector and is housed in a synchrotron beamline like radiation enclosure. The instrument is ideally suited for studying weakly scattering biological and polymeric samples