Category: News

Over the past year, several ACMAL labs have been equipped with new software and cameras for improved remote teaching and research! These new remote capabilities allow for live/recorded demonstrations to be shared with large classes or for research clients and to view live data collection.

Below are descriptions of these instruments and laboratories affected:

FEI 200kV Titan Themis Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM)

The STEM is Michigan Tech’s newest electron microscope addition that has atomic resolution imaging capabilities. The instrument has the following capabilities and modes: conventional TEM mode, scanning TEM mode, electron energy loss spectroscopy, energy filter TEM, high angle annular dark field, ChemiSTEM, Super-X Energy Dispersive X-Ray, and nanometer scale tomography. 

New remote capabilities include:

• Zoom screen-share from both the TEM laboratory web camera and instrument control monitors
• Huskycast (Panopto) recording of lab space, TEM lab camera, and instrument control monitors

Learn more about the STEM: ACMAL – FEI 200kV Titan Themis STEM

Contact Elizabeth Miller (eafraki@mtu.edu) for more information.

FEI Philips XL 40 Environmental Scanning Microscope (ESEM)

The ESEM can be used to image a wide range of material types at a microscale including hydrated, contaminated, organic, or inorganic samples. This microscope itself has several modes and features that make it a flexible instrument for any research needs: SE/BSE imaging, thin window EDAX EDS, electron backscatter diffraction, high and low vacuum modes, and hot or cold stage options.

New remote capabilities include:

• New laboratory web camera
• Zoom screen-share abilities from both the microscope control and AzTEC analysis computers
• Remote technical assistance with Raritan DKX4-101 KVM-over-IP
• Remote operation with Raritan DKX4-101 KVM-over-IP

Learn more about the ESEM: ACMAL – FEI Philips XL 40 ESEM

Contact Elizabeth Miller (eafraki@mtu.edu) for more information.

X-Ray Facilities: Scintag XDS2000 Powder Diffractometer and Scintag XDS-2000 PTS

ACMAL’s X-ray facilities (XRF) has instruments capable of performing x-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses on both powder and solid samples. Sample data such as present phases, lattice parameter, percent crystallinity, and texture analysis can all be found using MTU’s Scintag XDS2000 Powder Diffractometer and Scintag XDS-2000 PTS XRD instruments. These instruments have the following features to expand the types of samples that can be analyzed: zero background sample holder, custom powder sample holders, custom irregular shaped solid holder, custom liquid holder, ICDD-JCPDS database, and Anton-Paar high temperature stage.

New remote capabilities include:

• New cameras installed in both the instrument lab and sample preparation lab.
• Huskycast (Panopto) recording for both cameras and lab computer monitors.
• Zoom sharing available in both labs and computer monitors.

Learn more about X-ray facilities: ACMAL – X-Ray Facilities

Contact Dr. Edward Laitila (ealaitil@mtu.edu) for more information.

Michigan Tech and the Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) department seek a postdoctoral scientist to serve as a specialist in the operation and application of an FEI Titan Themis Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM) and its associated attachments for interdisciplinary users across campus as well as potential users external to campus.

Learn More and Apply

The ACMAL labs will continue to be open for faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduates who’s research cannot be completed from home. If you require access, and have not already let me or Valentina know, please complete the ACMAL Building Access Form.

Prior to using the facility, review the ACMAL COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure.  Our staff will continue to sanitize the labs daily. However, we are now asking all users to complete a touchpoint cleaning after they use the lab.

Please let me know if you have any questions,

ACMAL Calendars Reminder
Please remember to reserve the room using the equipment calendars. This is not only a courtesy to other users, due to COVID restrictions it is a necessity.

Please review ACMAL’s policy on cleanliness and our COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Below is a brief summary of the key points as well as links to the complete policy and SOP.

ACMAL Cleanliness Policy

• Lab Configuration
  • Do NOT change the computer settings.
    • It is crucial for other users to find the instruments with the default settings.
  • Before exiting the lab after use, return any tools to their default location, and dispose of waste materials.
• Personal Items
  • Remember to save your data on a personal storage device.
  • This is a shared facility, ACMAL is not responsible for, nor can it guarantee, the safekeeping of your personal items, specimens, or data.
• Food and Drink
  • Do not bring food or drink in the microscopy labs.

ACMAL COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure

• Maximum of 2 people in the lab at a time.
  
• You must bring a mask to the lab with you each time you come to work.
  
• Be timely.
  • To minimize the chance of being unable to maintain social distances do NOT come early for your session to give the previous user time to vacate the lab.
  • Finish on time for your session. If you need additional time on the microscope, please update your calendar reservation.

If you have any questions please email me.

Former ACMAL Director Owen Mills retired on June 30, 2020. Everyone in the ACMAL facility and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering wishes Owen the best in his retirement!

Thank you, Owen, for many years of service to the Michigan Tech research and education communities.

I hope everyone is doing well.

As Owen said, my name is Liz Miller and I’m the Senior Laboratory Coordinator for ACMAL. I’ll be taking over for Owen as the main point of contact for our labs. I am available Monday through Friday from 9am – 1pm and by appointment.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with anything you need. The best way to get a hold of me is by email or phone. You can also find me in M & M Building 626.

Congratulations on your retirement, Owen. The lab won’t be the same without you. 

This is the software that Pinaki uses for some of his STEM data. 

Extend your research from home

By popular demand, Gatan is extending the limited-time version of Gatan Microscopy Suite (GMS) 3.4.1 software to help the electron microscopy community continue with their research from home.

Similar to the EELS/EDS Quantification and EFTEM analysis plugins, the new version unlocks the DigitalMontage, HREM, and STEMx capabilities. This temporary version is available until June 1, 2020, at no additional cost. Please download the latest package to access these new features and for minor bug fixes.

Download GMS

If you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Best regards,
Gatan

As a result of Dr. Koubek’s email to campus regarding the Governor’s executive order, I am cancelling all use reservations in the calendar this afternoon.  We will be ready to begin again after we return from the stay at home 3 weeks from now.

It is important to use the google reservation calendars now in case we need to get in touch with you.

Here are the instructions. https://www.mtu.edu/acmal/access/reservations/