diff --git a/src/aare/devices/mx_lib.py b/src/aare/devices/mx_lib.py
index 6e4a7498..1f40ed06 100644
--- a/src/aare/devices/mx_lib.py
+++ b/src/aare/devices/mx_lib.py
@@ -246,3 +246,10 @@ def wait_enum_condition(pv: PV, value: Union[str, int, re.Pattern], *, timeout:
     if time.time() > tout:
         raise TimeoutError(f"timeout waiting for enum {pv.pvname} == {value},"
                            f"current value is {pv.get(as_string=True)}")
+
+def clean_filename(self, filename: str) -> str:
+    cleaned = re.sub(r"[^A-Za-z0-9._-]", "_", filename.strip())
+    cleaned = cleaned.strip("._-")
+    if not cleaned:
+        raise ValueError("Filename is empty after sanitization.")
+    return cleaned
\ No newline at end of file