Zeiss has completed the annual service of the two Zeiss SEMs (UltraPlus and EVO) and both are now working well. The UltraPlus is currently heavily booked but there is plenty of unreserved time on the EVO.
Zeiss Service Complete
//Month: December 2009
//Opportunity to use hot stage on UltraPlus
//Protochips (protochips.com) will be installing their Aduro hot stage in our UltraPlus SEM during the week of December 14. This is originally designed for a TEM but it is also configured for SEMs. Samples need to be small (0.5 mm square by µm’s thick preferably). The ideal sample is probably best prepared by a FIB. We intend to use it primarily for EBSD work at high temperature, but it doesn’t have to be.
If you have an interest in using this while it is here, and to learn more, contact John Porter.
Commercial Rates from January 1, 2010
//From January 1, 2010, the commercial rates for use of all the major instrumentation within LEXI will be based on 3x the academic rate. Minor specimen preparation work, such as plasma cleaning and conductivity coating will be performed at no charge. See the Billing and Rates link to left.
UltraPlus Status
//Access to the UltraPLus will be very limited during December. This week, the microscope is going through its annual service and next week, Zeiss is hosting a class for its customers.
During the week of December 7, Zeiss is running a class and during the week of December 14, Oxford Instruments will be installing a hot stage and running experiments with its users. Of course, during the two weeks starting December 21, UCI will be closed although the lab will hopefully be available to experienced users with access cards.
If you need to reserve time and there is none available, please contact John Porter and we will try to accommodate you.