Engage, Scan, & Withdraw

Engage

Select Microscope > Engage, or click the Engage icon in the Workflow Toolbar.

Smart Engage

NanoScope allows 2 types of engage process, subject to probe type:

• Engage: available for all probe types; this is the default engage setting.

• Smart Engage: available for certain probe types operating in air

The regular engage mechanism uses the focal distance between the probe tip and sample surface to determine the distance between probe and sample. When the user tells the system to engage, the scanner head is lowered a specified distance (usually to 100 μm above the sample surface) and will then begin Sewing.

Smart Engage enables the Find Surface button (available in the Navigate view). Clicking this button will move the probe tip downward until the system detects that it is nearly in contact with the sample surface. The system then retracts the tip a short distance and focuses the optics on the surface. Now, when the user clicks the Engage button the microscope can move the tip much closer to the sample before beginning Sewing, causing the tip to engage the sample surface much more quickly.

Scan

Once engaged, adjust scan parameters as needed using the Scan view to acquire an optimized image. Refer to the appropriate section of this User Guide for further instructions specific to one of the Imaging Modes.

Withdraw

When imaging is complete, withdraw the tip by selecting Microscope > Withdraw, or the click the Withdraw icon in the Workflow Toolbar. This typically raises the tip 1 mm above the sample.

Although the 1 mm withdraw distance provides enough clearance to loosen the dovetail and remove the SPM scanner, if further distance is desired perform one of the following:

• Select Microscope > Withdraw to raise the Z-stage with the trackball.
• Execute Withdraw from the Workflow Toolbar multiple times.

Previous Steps:

1. Select Experiment
2. Prepare and Load the Probe Holder
3. Install the Probe Holder on the SPM Scanner
4. Identify the Probe
5. Align the Laser
6. Adjust the Photodetector
7. Locate the Tip
8. Load the sample and Focus on the Sample Surface
9. If your experiment involves TappingMode, you must now Tune the Cantilever before proceeding to the next step. If you are running a Contact Mode application, continue to Check Initial Scan Parameters.

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