nanographs - Network

So we do have a blank command at the end of an aborted frame already, nice. Have some more places to go through to make sure we have blanks...

So we do have a blank command at the end of an aborted frame already, nice. Have some more places to go through to make sure we have blanks everywhere we want to stop milling when done doing something.

Ok so it looks like the only time we are actually blanking is at the end of a pattern. At the end of acquiring an image we are not currently...

Ok so it looks like the only time we are actually blanking is at the end of a pattern. At the end of acquiring an image we are not currently blanking. At the end of an image, the beam is returned to (0,0), the top left corner. You can see that it is digging deep holes there. So whenever I had previously acquired an image before starting a pattern, it ends up digging a hole there.

The holes are limited in size due to sputter re-deposition ratios that change as the hole gets deeper.

Doing some FIB pattern testing. Looks like we are dragging the beam between frames right now. Hmmmmmmmm.The dark area around each test...

Doing some FIB pattern testing. Looks like we are dragging the beam between frames right now. Hmmmmmmmm.

The dark area around each test pattern is the result of taking an image with the FIB. Remember kids, a FIB is a milling machine that is always ablating the sample when the beam is on, and it only just so happens to be able to take pictures while doing so.

Objective: this Field Emission TEM through that door

Objective: this Field Emission TEM through that door

My 10 year old cousin’s daughter’s first time doing SMD… rework? Immediately after discovering putting big blobs of solder on she...

My 10 year old cousin’s daughter’s first time doing SMD… rework? Immediately after discovering putting big blobs of solder on she discovered blobs of solder could remove components. Then it was blobs of components, followed by tower. Took her a sec to get the hang of de-soldering the SOT 89.

Encoders go brrrrrrrrr.Wanted to lean more about how the optical encoders on these FEI aperture mechanisms, turns out a finger print on the...

Encoders go brrrrrrrrr.
Wanted to lean more about how the optical encoders on these FEI aperture mechanisms, turns out a finger print on the glass scale makes a big difference🤷‍♀️

Peak microscope service UI right here. This is what it looks like when you are baking out and starting up the IGPs on the electron column.

Peak microscope service UI right here. This is what it looks like when you are baking out and starting up the IGPs on the electron column.

What a robot destroying hundreds of thousands of dollars looks like. Measure the blame radius:https://youtu.be/zri1PFQOijw

What a robot destroying hundreds of thousands of dollars looks like. Measure the blame radius:
https://youtu.be/zri1PFQOijw

Wafer handling robot, wafer aligner, and load lock on a FEI 1265 12” 300mm wafer dual beam. FOUPs dock on the right side, you can kinda...

Wafer handling robot, wafer aligner, and load lock on a FEI 1265 12” 300mm wafer dual beam. FOUPs dock on the right side, you can kinda see where though the lexan. Yellow photo resist safe-ish light courtesy of Ikea.

😠😠😠This is the 30kV high voltage interlock for when you take the cap off the electron source. Yes, the wires were twisted together...

😠😠😠
This is the 30kV high voltage interlock for when you take the cap off the electron source. Yes, the wires were twisted together under the electrical tape. The microswitch was already installed to, just had to put some spade connectors on the wires🤷‍♀️

This thing could have just been the chamber and columns with a few short racks of equipment around it.Instead you have to crawl inside of...

This thing could have just been the chamber and columns with a few short racks of equipment around it.

Instead you have to crawl inside of the microscope between a rack with a bunch of exposed terminals and the turbo pump with a several pound rotor spinning at 48,000 rpm (it crashes if you bump it to hard). The bundle of cables I’m about to route behind me has multiple 7kV ion pump cables and 10kV detector cables. Wcgw.

A new purple monster has entered the chat. @isabel and I are setting this one up in our friends workshop.The purple frame marketing had...

A new purple monster has entered the chat. @isabel and I are setting this one up in our friends workshop.

The purple frame marketing had built around it is known as the Barney Box. Apparently fab tools just have to be in a box that is as large and in the way as possible?

This is an FEI 835 (ignore the 830 on the front panel) 8” wafer dual beam FEG SEM/Gallium FIB from the late 90s built on late 80s technology. It weighs ~6000 lbs. They are still in *a lot* of fabs and will be for years to come

The rack all the cards came out of

The rack all the cards came out of

8086 based microscope computer. Everything after this was a mistake.

8086 based microscope computer. Everything after this was a mistake.

This is not even the first time someone has left us a surprise razor blade gift inside of an electron microscope we are rebuilding. It’s...

This is not even the first time someone has left us a surprise razor blade gift inside of an electron microscope we are rebuilding. It’s something about sample prep that just seems to get these things everywhere in microscope labs.

Repairs on high voltage potted power supplies be like:

Repairs on high voltage potted power supplies be like:

Wow. Just, wow. This is up there with the instructions we found in a vintage electron microscope accessory manual saying clean your hands...

Wow. Just, wow. This is up there with the instructions we found in a vintage electron microscope accessory manual saying clean your hands with a spray can of Freon before handling clean parts.

Power strip from Amazon. Apparently the other 5 in the box have also melted/no longer work. Cold solder joints all over the place! Also...

Power strip from Amazon. Apparently the other 5 in the box have also melted/no longer work. Cold solder joints all over the place! Also these stamped contacts are WILD have never seen one built this way before.

noSEn

noSEn

Anyone looking for a thermionic SEM with SDD EDS? Friend let me know a company in Hillsboro OR is looking to sell this LEO 1455VP with a 4...

Anyone looking for a thermionic SEM with SDD EDS? Friend let me know a company in Hillsboro OR is looking to sell this LEO 1455VP with a 4 quad BSE and relatively new IXRF SDD EDS for ~$20k. Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll put you in touch. Worth it for the EDS alone.