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Navigate

To move the SPM probe to a region of interest on the sample surface, you must move focus the Z stage and move the XY stage underneath the stationary probe. These moves are accomplished using the Navigate View in the workflow toolbar or by Using the Trackball.

  1. When the tip is in focus and centered in the field of view, click the Navigate icon in the Workflow Toolbar. This activates the Navigate view.
 
  1. Focus the optics on the sample surface using either the trackball or the Scan Head arrows. If you have used the Alignment station, the stage will prompt you before moving back to the sample position.

 
  1. To use the track ball, roll the trackball up or down while holding down the bottom-left button. To use the Z Motor arrows, click and hold them down. You can use the speed controls in the Z Motor area to adjust the speed. This adjustment raises or lowers the Z stage on which the SPM and optics are mounted.
  2. To focus on the Sample surface (normal operation) or the Tip Reflection (for extremely clean samples), select the appropriate button:

HINT: For reflective or semi-reflective samples, the tip reflection is easier to bring into focus than the surface, especially if the sample is very flat or clean.
CAUTION: When moving the SPM Z stage up and down, it is possible to crash the tip into the surface. To prevent a crash while focusing on the surface, watch the optical image and tip-to-sample proximity. The sample should be in focus when the tip is 1 mm (1000 µm) above the surface.
HINT: For samples which are difficult to bring into focus, move to an edge of the sample, which is easy to find in the optical image, and bring the top of the edge into focus.
 
  1. Move the XY stage to align the desired location on the sample under the crosshairs, either by using the trackball without holding down any buttons or by using the XY Stage Control arrows:

 
  1. Verify that the surface remains in focus.

 

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