Preparing for Imaging
5
Keysight 5500 SPM User’s Guide
5-26
Mounting the Sample
The Keysight 5500 SPM accepts a wide variety of sample plates,
including specialized plates for imaging in liquid, in controlled
temperature, etc. To use a sample plate:
1
Mount the sample to the sample plate.
In general, samples should be held in place securely enough to
prevent drift or creep during measurement, but not so firmly as to
induce stress in the sample. Several mounting methods are available.
A common approach is to mount the sample on a magnetically
attractive backing which can then be held by the magnet on the
standard sample plate. Large, flat samples can be held down using
the clips from the liquid cell plate. Double-back tape can also be
used, though the tape tends to deform easily and can lead to creep
during imaging.
2
Place the front alignment tab of the sample plate over the front
alignment pin, as in image A of
CAUTION
Verify that there is enough space between the scanner and sample plate
such that the tip will not contact the sample plate once the plate is
mounted. Contact with the plate will certainly damage the probe and
perhaps the sample.
It is recommended that the scanner be moved up 100 microns or more
whenever changing a probe or plate to avoid damage. Simply hold the
switch on the front of the HEB in the “Open” for 5-10 seconds to
provide adequate clearance.
