Leica S430 Scanning Electron Microscope

Leica S430 Scanning Electron Microscope

Owner/Loaner	PS:One
Serial Number	430-02-01
Make/Model	Leica Stereoscan 430
Arrival Date	3/23/2013
Usability	WORKING
Contact	Ryan Pierce
Where	Across from Woodshop
Authorization Needed	yes
Hackable	NO
Estimated Value	$100,000.00
Host Area	{{{hostarea}}}

Configuration

• Secondary electron detector (functional)
• 4 quadrant silicon backscatter detector (non-functional, troubleshooting in progress)
• Oxford Isis EDX detector (working, requires liquid nitrogen to operate)
• High Resolution Recording Unit (HRRU) (not currently connected, Polaroid film no longer produced)

Certification

This is probably the most complex piece of equipment we own. As such, certification will be broken into different levels which qualify a user to perform only certain specific tasks. Unlike other PS:One equipment where anyone certified can, in turn, certify anyone else, at present the only person who may certify others is Ryan Pierce. We anticipate we will have additional trainers in the future.

Scanning Electron Microscope User

This level enables the user to observe samples already prepared and placed in the chamber. Users at this certification level may:

• Observe samples already left in the chamber.
• Use the Secondary Electron detector.
• Observe their own samples if prepared and placed in the chamber by someone with Sample Preparer certification.
• Adjust standard software settings.
• Align the aperture, and change between apertures.

Users possessing this certification may not:

• Use the Backscatter or EDX detectors.
• Vent the chamber.
• Open the chamber and manipulate samples.
• Adjust gun alignment.
• Open the gun assembly, change filaments, anodes, etc.
• Replace apertures.

Qualified Member	Trained By
Ryan Pierce	Ryan Pierce
Steve Finkelman	Ryan Pierce
Tucker Tomlinson	Ryan Pierce

Backscatter Detector User

Users possessing this certification may:

• Move the four quadrant backscatter detector in and out of the beam path.
• Image samples with the 4QBSD.

As the 4QBSD is currently undergoing maintenance, this certification is currently on hold. It will be rolled into the Microscope User certification and made part of that curriculum at a future date.

EDX Detector User

Users possessing this certification may:

• Operate the EDX detector.
• Fill the EDX detector with liquid nitrogen.

As PS:One does not have a readily accessible method for transporting liquid nitrogen, this certification is currently on hold. Donation of a large Dewar (10 liter or greater) would be of immense help to make this happen.

Sample Preparer

Users possessing this certification may:

• Mount samples on stubs.
• Use the Technics_Hummer_V_Sputter_Coater to sputter coat sample stubs.
• Vent the SEM chamber.
• Load and unload samples from the chamber.
• Pump down the SEM chamber.

This certification us currently on hold pending repair of the sputter coater and acquisition of an argon tank for the sputter coater.

Microscope Maintainer

Maintainers perform all maintenance on the microscope, including:

• Changing filaments
• Aligning the gun
• Replacing the anode
• Cleaning the gun assembly
• Replacing apertures
• Adjusting software configuration
• Anything involving disassembly of the microscope

Qualified Member	Trained By
Ryan Pierce	Ryan Pierce

Suppliers

• SPI Supplies[1]
• Ladd Research[2]
• Ted Pella, Inc[3]

Supplies

• Front panel light bulbs: These use #85 28V miniature bulbs.[4] The scope came with many of these.

Documentation

• S430 Manual: Chapter 1
• S430 Manual: Chapter 2
• S430 Manual: Chapter 3
• S430 Manual: Chapter 4
• S430 Manual: Chapter 5
• S430 Manual: Chapter 6
• S430 Manual: Appendices

Maintenance Log

Date	Maintainer	Description
8/31/2013	Ryan Pierce	Installed network software in C:\NETWORK. Set up AUTOEXEC.BAT to launch DOS networking from startup. Used EZSETUP.EXE to configure Ethernet card for 0x280, IRQ 3, 0xCC00 as recommended in Leica manual. (Note: Memory address conflicts on factory setting. Use soft config jumper.) Set up DOS packet driver. Set up for BOOTP. Networking under DOS works, and the DHCP server will respond with the appropriate static IP. Installed WINPKT.COM which is necessary to allow apps under Windows to use the packet driver. Tested apps in a DOS box; work successfully. Moved unnecessary startup items to a new group so they do not launch on startup and consume RAM.
8/30/2013	Ryan Pierce	Changed from backup hard drive to system hard drive. (Backup that Jay made works. Note that he must have taken the backup when the SEM was in a weird state; you will need to load one of the configs in the default user directory just to see beam and an image. The LUT may have the colors inverted too. Reminder: have Jay make another backup once we're good to go with networking.) Removed laser printer card. Installed SMC Elite 16 Ethernet card. Set up template user directory in C:\USER\TEMPLATE and set up C:\NEWUSER.BAT script to create new users. Put sensible default settings in the Template dir.
7/23/2013	Ryan Pierce	Disabled SEM option for "windowless EDX" because it seems like we don't have it and it was inhibiting the chamber from venting. Changed resolution on EDX computer from 640x480x64k colors to 1024x768x256 colors. Now it is much less annoying with little loss of function.
7/21/2013	Ryan Pierce	Did full detector calibration of EDX with copper target. Also changed SEM configuration to show multi-dot EDX present, which enabled EDX presence mapping, including support for multiple channels. (Tested 3.) Noted that Isis EDX PC floppy drive failed; need replacement.
7/20/2013	Ryan Pierce	Added liquid nitrogen to dewar and reset liquid nitrogen temperature sensor calibration. Demonstrated that EDX is functional.
7/14/2013	Ryan Pierce	Changed EDX power supply voltage from 240V to 120V. Computer now recognizes detector. Customer self-test passed.
4/14/2013	Ryan Pierce	Ran up new filament. Filament Current 2.71A is now 1st peak. Vacuum 7.5E-5 Torr. Aligned gun and aperture. (Changed to Aperture #2.) Resolution with sputtered gold looks good.
4/14/2013	Ryan Pierce and Steve Finkelman	Replaced filament. Adjusted to 0.6mm from face of grid aperture, which is standard for longer filament life.
4/7/2013	Ryan Pierce	Installed new CPU fan. Finished replacing all panels except for the CPU.
4/?/2013	Ryan Pierce	Hacked CMOS battery from battery holder and 4x AA batteries. Had to change jumper on motherboard, per manual, to use external battery as opposed to on board battery. Replaced two of the three front panel light bulbs.