📋 Workflow
Full workflow, products add-to-cart directly1
Prepare stub
15 minFix powder or a small piece onto the stub with conductive tape.
💡 Tip Use little sample to avoid clumping
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2
Conductive coating
15 minSputter gold or carbon onto insulating samples to improve conduction.
💡 Tip Coating prevents charging on insulators
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3
Load & pump
20 minLoad the specimen and pump the chamber to the working pressure.
💡 Tip Avoid volatile samples
4
Image
30–60 minAdjust kV, beam current, and focus to acquire SE images and EDS spectra.
💡 Tip Locate at low mag before zooming in
⚠️ Caution High kV can damage delicate samples
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⚠️ 5 Common Beginner Mistakes
- ① Charging brightens insulators
- ② Volatile samples contaminate the chamber
- ③ Thick coating hides fine detail
- ④ Poor focus blurs the image
- ⑤ Excess beam burns the sample
❓ FAQ
+White flickering image?
Sample charging; apply a conductive coating.
+EDS can't detect traces?
EDS is less sensitive to light/trace elements.
+Can wet samples be imaged?
Use ESEM mode or freeze-dry first.