Leica S430 Scanning Electron Microscope
 | This tool is currently broken, please contact the area host for more information. |
| 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 a limited number of 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 near future.
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.
- Observe their own samples if prepared and placed in the chamber by someone with Sample Preparer certification.
- Adjust beam current and aperture, and change between apertures.
Users possessing this certification may not:
- 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 |
| Brian Sheppard | Ryan Pierce |
| Tucker Tomlinson | Ryan Pierce |
Sample Preparer
Curriculum in progress. The sputter coater will need to be ready for use before we can certify users for this.
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
Supplies
- Front panel light bulbs: These use #85 28V miniature bulbs.[4] The scope came with many of these.
Maintenance Log
| Date | Maintainer | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 8/31/2013 | Ryan Pierce | Installed network software in C:\NETWORK. |
| 8/30/2013 | Ryan Pierce | Changed from backup hard drive to system hard drive. 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. |