Q: How does the coating procedure work with PECS III?

A short video demonstrates the step-by-step coating procedure with the PECS III system. The process includes loading the sample, selecting parameters on the touchscreen interface, and monitoring the coating rate and total thickness until the desired coating is achieved. Watch the official tutorial on EM Academy .

Q: How often should I clean the ion source and cold cathode gauge?

Ion source: Clean both ion sources whenever one shorts or after the first 2 – 3 months of use for new ion sources, then periodically as needed. Cold cathode gauge: Clean when readings are erratic or excessively high, or if the gauge tube is contaminated.

Question 1

How does the PECS III polishing procedure work?

Accepted Answer

How does the PECS III polishing procedure work?

A short video demonstrates the step-by-step polishing procedure with the PECS III system. The process involves loading the sample, selecting parameters on the touchscreen interface, and monitoring the polishing in real time using the integrated digital zoom microscope. The system ensures repeatable, high-resolution results suitable for SEM imaging and analysis.

Watch the official tutorial on EM Academy.

How does the coating procedure work with PECS III?

Why is proper sample mounting important for argon ion milling?

What are the recommended steps for mounting samples on Ilion III or PECS III jigs?

Why is regular cleaning important for specimen preparation tools?

How often should I clean the ion source and cold cathode gauge?

What are the recommended cleaning procedures?

Watch the official tutorial on EM Academy.

Question 2

How does the coating procedure work with PECS III?

Accepted Answer

How does the PECS III polishing procedure work?

A short video demonstrates the step-by-step polishing procedure with the PECS III system. The process involves loading the sample, selecting parameters on the touchscreen interface, and monitoring the polishing in real time using the integrated digital zoom microscope. The system ensures repeatable, high-resolution results suitable for SEM imaging and analysis.

Watch the official tutorial on EM Academy.

How does the coating procedure work with PECS III?

Why is proper sample mounting important for argon ion milling?

What are the recommended steps for mounting samples on Ilion III or PECS III jigs?

Why is regular cleaning important for specimen preparation tools?

How often should I clean the ion source and cold cathode gauge?

What are the recommended cleaning procedures?

Watch the official tutorial on EM Academy.

Question 3

Why is proper sample mounting important for argon ion milling?

Accepted Answer

Correctly adhering samples to the mounting jig ensures:

Stable positioning during milling
Optimal contact for heat dissipation
Minimization of artifacts and sample drift
Consistent, reproducible results for SEM imaging and analysis

Question 4

What are the recommended steps for mounting samples on Ilion III or PECS III jigs?

Accepted Answer

A dedicated video outlines the best practices for adhering electron microscopy samples onto the Ilion III or PECS III mounting jig before argon ion milling. The procedure includes:

Cleaning the sample and jig surfaces to remove debris and contaminants
Selecting an appropriate adhesive (e.g., silver paint, conductive epoxy, or carbon tape) based on sample type and analytical requirements
Applying a thin, even layer of adhesive to maximize thermal and electrical contact
Positioning the sample centrally on the jig to ensure uniform milling
Allowing the adhesive to cure fully before loading into the instrument

Watch the official tutorial on EM Academy.

Question 5

Why is regular cleaning important for specimen preparation tools?

Accepted Answer

Routine cleaning of ion sources and cold cathode gauges is essential to:

Prevent ion source shorts and erratic performance
Maintain optimal vacuum conditions
Ensure reliable, reproducible specimen preparation for electron microscopy

Question 6

How often should I clean the ion source and cold cathode gauge?

Accepted Answer

Ion source: Clean both ion sources whenever one shorts or after the first 2 – 3 months of use for new ion sources, then periodically as needed.
Cold cathode gauge: Clean when readings are erratic or excessively high, or if the gauge tube is contaminated.

Question 7

What are the recommended cleaning procedures?

Accepted Answer

A step-by-step video tutorial demonstrates best practices for cleaning the ion sources and cold cathode gauge on PECS, PIPS, and Ilion systems. Key steps include:
1. Purge the ion sources: With high voltage off, turn off the cold cathode gauge, set gas flow to manual, and purge each gun at 1 sccm overnight.
2. Clean the ion sources: When vented, remove accumulated material from the anode cup and rear pole piece to prevent shorts.
3. Clean the cold cathode gauge: Service or clean the gauge tube if readings are unstable or high.

Watch the official tutorial on EM Academy.

Specimen Preparation FAQs

How does the PECS III polishing procedure work?

How does the coating procedure work with PECS III?

Why is proper sample mounting important for argon ion milling?

What are the recommended steps for mounting samples on Ilion III or PECS III jigs?

Why is regular cleaning important for specimen preparation tools?

How often should I clean the ion source and cold cathode gauge?

What are the recommended cleaning procedures?