Due to issues with the chillers the STEM is offline. I’m working with facilities as well as Northern Heating and Plumbing to resolve this as soon as possible.
The EBSD detector repairs have been completed. Please contact ACMAL staff if you would like to use this functionality.
The carbon coater repairs are completed. If you need any samples coated, please contact Aleister, Josh, or myself.
The EBSD detector on the ESEM has been damaged and the phosphor screen will need to be replaced. We are in contact with Oxford and hope to have the repairs completed in the next few weeks. The ESEM is still available for SE/BSE imaging and EDS analysis.
Please remember EBSD is only to be performed by highly-skilled, trained users who have been trained by ACMAL staff to use the EBSD detector. This is a very sensitive process and the detector can easily be damaged. Users with large SEM samples also need to be careful not to hit the detectors. Repairs are costly and result in instrument downtime.
The STEM is back online. The FEI technician was able to come in yesterday and today to complete the alignments.
Dr. Anjana will be contacting anyone who had previously scheduled sessions.
The STEM is currently offline due to an alignment issue. We are working with the service technician from FEI to repair the issue. They will likely need to come for an onsite service visit, which will hopefully be next week.
Once the repairs are complete, Anjana will be contacting anyone who had previously scheduled sessions.
The chiller repairs are completed and the instrument is back online.
The S-TEM will be offline today while the service technician is working on the chiller. The repairs should be completed this afternoon and the instrument available Monday morning. Dr. Anjana will contact you if we need to reschedule your appointment
Please note that the ACMAL reservation limit for the Origin+ Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) has been extended from 4 hours to 6 hours during normal business hours. The updated policy can be found on the reservations page of our website.
Trained users may reserve instruments during normal business hours (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Monday through Friday. Reservations outside of normal business hours require special permission.
During working hours, do not exceed a four hour reseservation on instruments except the Origin+ Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). AFM reservations should not exceed 6 hours. Longer reservations are available with permission.
If you have any questions please let me know.
The XPS is operational and is available for use. Please note that the sputter gun, that is used for sputtering and depth profile analysis, is currently not functioning properly and is temporarily unavailable. Email me (at trleftwi@mtu.edu) if you are interested in XPS (or Auger) analysis.
Dr. Timothy Leftwich
Research Assistant Professor
ACMAL Surface Scientist
Material Science and Engineering
trleftwi@mtu.edu