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Select Experiment

If you are using the microscope for the first time, or are using a new scanner for the first time, you will need to Select the Microscope before beginning the regular imaging procedure.

The Select Experiment dialog allows the user to tell the system what SPM mode they will be working in (the Select Experiment Category panel), choose a subcategory of that mode, such as air or fluid (the Select Experiment Group panel), and a pre-loaded workspace (the Select Experiment panel).

A workspace is a set of scan parameters optimized for a particular imaging mode. NanoScope also allows users to save their own parameter configurations for frequently used, optimized experiments. Although the user will likely choose to 'tweak' a few parameters while scanning, this functionality enables all users to quickly jump to the setup most likely to start giving them good results.

 
  1. Toggle the switch on the Microscope Base to the appropriate imaging category:
  1. Click Experiment > Select Experiment or the Select Experiment icon in the top left of the NanoScope software window. This opens the Select Experiment window.

 
  1. In the Select From panel, choose an experiment category by clicking the icon for one of the Imaging Modes.
 
  1. In the Select Experiment Group panel, choose the type of experiment that pertains to your study (e.g. ScanAsyst in Air).
 
  1. In the Select Experiment panel, choose either a factory-supplied default experiment (eg. ScanAsyst in Air) or one of your previously saved experiments. This selection will configure the scan parameters within NanoScope with pre-loaded values specific to the experiment type.
 
  1. Click Load Experiment.
HINT: To load the experiment used most recently by the system, a shortcut option is available: click the check box next to "Use previous experiment" then click the Load Experiment button.

Next Steps:

  1. Prepare and Load the Sample
  2. Prepare and Load the Probe Holder
  3. Align the Laser
  4. Maximize the SUM Signal

When working in TappingMode, the next step at this point is to tune the cantilever. See Manual Cantilever Tuning for more information.

  1. Check Initial Scan Parameters
  2. Engage, Scan, & Withdraw

 

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