Hardware

Micro-Array Mount

Product Specifications

• Hold standard micro needle arrays
• Simple to control torque when loading & unloading samples
• Mounting station also available to simplify insertion/removal of samples
• Integrated counter-electrode W test spot

The wafer mount holder is suitable for industry standard silicon micro-tip arrays used in atom probe, and is compatible with all major APT systems.

The mount is made of a hardened copper alloy, and is suitable for UHV conditions. Two screws hold down a cover plate allowing for complete control over the clamp force used on the sample, whilst locking the sample securely in place. A guide post allows for the cover plate to be gripped and inserted with careful control. Tips are accessible along the open edge of the holder, and the sample can be rotated to access all tips.

The mount can be handled with either normal tweezers, or more readily with cylinder stub tweezers, to maximise the contact area and control of the sample during handling. The use of cylinder tweezers minimises the risk of samples falling or being damaged due to mishandling that is common with pointed tweezers. The hardened alloy minimises the risk of damage when fastening the post to the holder,

TEM Grid Holder

Product Specifications

• Hold TEM half-grids
• Move between microscopes without rotation/inversion
• Makes delicate samples easy to manipulate
• Fits into modified APT pucks

These holders are designed to allow Transmission Electron Microscopy grids to be used in both TEM and Atom probe and SEM/FIB. The holders take a standard 3.05 mm TEM half-grid, allowing for up to 4 samples to be analysed together at any time. TEM grids are an alternative to Si based micro-needle arrays, and can provide safe transport.

The holders have only one correct orientation when mounting into TEM, APT and FIB, meaning that no rotation or reversal can occur due to sample handling in experiments. The use of these holders is described by Herbig et al, Ultramicroscopy, 2015 32-39 (Paper).

For use in APT, a modification sample “puck” is required (a lateral cut for the holder wings and screw head is needed) – contact us for modification options or instructions.

Micro Array Dock

Product Specifications

• Works with Oxford Atomic micro array mounts
• Allows for safe transfers of wafers onto mounts
• Easy pick & rotate notches to allow for precise gripping of wafers

he micro-array docking station allows for easy and safe loading and unloading of silicon wafers from Oxford Atomic micro-array mounts. This is helpful when inserting and rotating samples from their docking station, and minimises the risk of damage to silicon wafers, particularly when they contain precious samples. For non-standard height samples, a small grub screw can be used to fine-tune the height of the mount in the dock.

Flat tweezers (not pointed) are recommended for moving wafers between benchtop and the docking station.

Micro array mount (Cu component) available separately.

Tomography pin

Product Specifications

• Cu alloy pin for 360 degree sample viewing
• Can be re-polished/machined for re-use
• Provides rigid mounting for samples

This solid and hardened Cu-alloy tomographic pin is carefully machined to a 1x10mm round, and sharpened to a point. The pins are used to mount samples at a controlled orientation during FIB.

This makes the pin an ideal holder for samples that must be kept in a rigid orientation, and allows for 360 degree on-axis viewing of the mounted sample without shadowing concerns.

This is ideal for both SEM and TEM tomographic applications, and can be directly inserted into either a crimp tube, or in an atom probe sample holder. The grip groove (shown) makes it easy to apply a sliding force to the pin, to assist in sample insertion and removal, minimising the risk of slippage damage to the sample. Pins can nominally be re-used (if handled correctly), by re-sharpening/electropolishing.

Specimen crimp tubes

Product specifications

• Sold in packs of 100
• Stainless steel
• Typical use – electropolished needles
• Can be used down to ~50K and above ~600K
• Compatible with wide range of oxidising or reducing environments.
• Dimensions: ~1.8mm x ~9mm

Tubes for crimping specimens, for subsequent mounting in APT, sold in packs of 100. Typically used for electropolished needles, which can be mounted by crushing the tube around the sample. These specimens have been used down to ~50K, and above 600K, and are compatible with a wide range of oxidising or reducing environments.

Tube dimensions are ~1.8 mm outer diameter, with thin walls, and ~9mm long, and will accept square specimens up to 0.95 mm in side length. Can be easily crimped by hand using pliers or a crimp tool.

Particle Deposition Block

Product specifications

• Used to prepare particulates for FIB liftout
• PTFE Construction to maximise cleanliness
• Compact size
• Can be used as part of a 2 or 3-wire electrochemical cell

The nanoparticle depositor is a small apparatus to allow for the electrolytic deposition of a matrix and nanoparticle solution, which can be used to create a solid surface with the user’s nanoparticles of interest within a metal matrix.

The device is essentially an electrolytic cell, which can be connected either to a fixed potential, or more carefully controlled using e.g. a 3-wire electrolytic cell configuration, via a user-supplied potentiostat. The depositor consists of two halves, one PTFE and one acrylic, with a brass stub located at the base of the PTFE “funnel”.

Grinding & Polishing Holder

Product Specifications

• Brass construction
• Rapidly & accurately adjustable height
• Lockable to prevent sample motion

Holder allows for the insertion of SEM stubs, onto which metallurgical samples can be mounted, for grinding and polishing, to help ensure a flat and smooth surface.

Locking ring ensures sample position is fixed during grinding

Holder is made from brass, and other materials or finer pitch control are available on enquiry.

FIB Adaptor

Product specifications

• Aluminium alloy
• Compatible with TEM Grid holder
• Can be used at either 90/0 degree orientations (to-beam or perpendicular)
• Available as 45 degree

The aluminium FIB adaptor allows for easy FIB connection of a TEM grid to the FIB, and samples can beheld either normal to the incident electron or FIB beam,or parallel to the beam. The TEM grid is fastened with tow screws, which lock the grid in place, and the TEM grid placement is rigidly locked to ensure rotational accuracy.

Inclined adaptors for EBSD are also available (not shown), please enquire.

Desktop SEM Adaptor

Product specifications

• Adapts stage height to working distance
• Works with SEM stubs and Needles
• Contact for your specific benchtop SEM model

This adaptor raises the stage working distance to a level suitable for the observation of tips and small samples in benchtop SEMs. The adaptor shown is for JEOL JCM-7000 series systems, but can be adapted to other devices (baseplate & SEM adaptors not included)

The holder allows for quick examination of APT needles and coupons in desktop SEM stages where XY movement may be limited, whilst providing optimal working distance. By combining this with other Oxford Atomic adaptors, inclined and grid observations can be made. Attachment to base plate is made via a conductive pad.

Cryogenic transfer adaptor

Product Specifications

• Maintains cryogenic temperatures down to 77K via LN2 immersion
• Frost-free cover for minimal moisture contact
• Thermally insulated from load-lock and transfer rods
• Maintains cooling passively for many hours

This adaptor can be attached or removed to a carousel by simply removing 3 bolts to clamp the system together. The block is isolated from the APT system by PTFE thermal breaks, and will retain cryogenic conditions for several hours.

The device comes as two components, a cryogenic block and a separate cover to minimise ice formation on samples during transfer. Typical use is to immerse block in liquid nitrogen, and insert a sample puck whilst under liquid nitrogen. The cover is inserted and a standard transfer tool is used to insert it into the microscope, and to remove the anti-frost cover.

If using a standard APT carousel, then three slots will be unavailable in the carousel whilst the adaptor is attached. The adaptor takes up the same space as a carousel, requiring two carousel heights to be used in an APT.

Dual-puck holder for SEM/FIB

Product Specifications

• Designed for FEI Hydra systems
• Cryogenic puck holder for dual-SEM/FIB analysis
• Hold two APT pucks for sample & mounting

This holder is designed to mount two industry standard pucks, side-by-side, to allow for specimen-transfer and hands-free handling, without breaking vacuum.

Pucks can be exchanged onto the SEM stage, and the samples extracted from one holder, and taken to another. Particularly useful in conjunction with vacuum transfer suitcases, when two pucks may need to be exchanged without venting the SEM chamber.

Originally designed for FEI Hydra FIB/SEMs with cryogenic stages, but can be adjusted to suit local SEM/FIB systems, such as FEI/hydra UMB stage mounts.

High-Vacuum Control Unit

Product Specifications

• Controls Pfeiffer Turbo & backing pumps
• Compatible with Thyracont smartline gauges.
• One-touch control for simple startup/shutdown
• Compact design includes 3-in-1 control for backing, turbopump and gauge, reducing equipment footprint
• CE certified
• Operable with/without turbopump

This control unit is designed to power small backing & turbopump systems for vacuum chambers, to supplement user-made custom-build storage solutions.

It provides one-touch software control to handle pump startup and shutdown sequences, without additional user intervention. Vacuum state is monitored to attempt safe shutdown of turbopump e.g. in the case of backing pump failures. Its lightweight design minimises total system mass.

Typically used with Pfeiffer MVP010-3 DC and HiPace 10 units and with Thyracont smartline gauges via RS-485.

Other devices may be supportable – contact us with your requirements. Product casing may differ slightly from images shown.

Puck Holder

Product Specifications

• Holds industry standard “puck” sample holder
• Compatible with micro-mounts, electrode and crimp-style specimens
• Secure transportation without sample exchange

For samples that are critical to successful experiments, sample motions between holders and pucks can be a common failure mode. Manual handling adding risk to each experiment.

This holder removes the need for manual removal of samples from their mounts, and allows for the secure transport of a single puck, whilst retaining the compact size of our standard 12-sample holder.

Made from Al, this holder is suitable for manual and postal transport of specimens that are well-fastened inside pucks.

Sample holder

Sample holder for APT specimens

Product specifications

• Sample holder for APT specimens.
• Provides secure storage and protection during transit.
• Holds up to 12 individual specimens with individual grub screws.
• Aluminium base, with custom-labelling available.
• Acrylic lid which screws together to form compact holder.

Description

Sample holder for APT specimens, up to 12 specimens per holder, with specimens up to 2mm in diameter. Base is aluminium and removable cap is clear plastic. Outer dimensions approximately 50mm height x 60mm diameter.

Each socket is individually labelled, to assist sample tracking. Guide rods protect samples during transport and when attaching the cap, and the semi-clear packaging aids identification of samples without opening.

Each sample can be individually locked in place with a 1.5mm (metric) hex-key set screw (hex-key not included). There is space in the centre for holding SEM stubs (3.2mm pin), which can also be locked.

Suitable for both “clip-stub” type samples, and for samples held in tubes. The sample holder can be stored in rough vacuum, but is not designed to retain vacuum on its own.

Vacuum TEM Holder

Portable Vacuum Transport for APT samples

Product Specifications

Contains up to 20 samples, in rough vacuum for up to 5 days

• Protects samples from air ingress for up to 5 days
• Robust design for personal or courier transport
• Built-in gauge allows for rapid confirmation of holder pressure
• Compact design, overall dimensions : Approx 12cm x 6cm (Height x diameter)
• Easy to fit in bag or postal satchel

Description

The vacuum transport holder is a ready solution for protecting sensitive TEM samples, whilst either transporting between sites, or for compact bench-top storage. Holders can be evacuated to rough vacuum via a small vent, and sealed using a fixing plug.

The transport holder will hold vacuum without re-pumping for up to 5 days without re-pumping. Ideal for use when sending samples between sites, or via air freight or hold baggage.

Flat Mounts

Product Specifications

• Compatible with APT sample holders and industry standard “pucks”
• For bulk sample mounting, 25 piece pack.
• Made from conductive Cu alloy

For larger samples, or in-situ manufactured samples, APT “flat mounts” can be used to hold samples.
Samples can be affixed with a UHV compatible tape or conductive silver epoxy.

Mounting area is 6mm in diameter, and the shaft is 10 mm by 2 mm. Sold as a 25pc pack.