AFMACTipsandTricks

MIME
OregonStateUniversity

AFM
AC mode Tips and
tricks
ThisManualDoesNotReplacetheManufacturesManualand/orProperTraining!

01/24/2015
AustinFox(
AustinFoxMaterials@gmail.com
)Pleaseemailwithquestions:)

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AFMACTipsandTricks

MIME
OregonStateUniversity

Quick guide to how AC mode works

Shown here are the effects of changing parameters or moving over a sample feature.
This is under normal running conditions with no adjustments to the head height.

Voltage
- measured oscillation (vibration) of the tip.
Z-Voltage (ZV)
- voltage applied to the piezo adjusting tip height,V = away from sample.
Drive Frequency (DF)
- tip oscillation frequency.
Set Point (SP)
- Voltage maintained by adjusting the z-voltage (surface force)
(damping the oscillation). Set Point Force on surface
Drive amplitude (DA)
- is the voltage applied to oscillate the tip.
Works opposite of Set point. Drive Amp Force on surface
Gain
- response time of the z-voltage. Too high = ringing and too low = no trace.
Phase
- the difference between the input and output signals.

Make a experiment file (.pxp)...

It saves your workspace, settings, and save location (yes, you can change it!)
Dont select a mode on start up; just open your experiment file...
01/24/2015
AustinFox(
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)Pleaseemailwithquestions:)

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AFMACTipsandTricks

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OregonStateUniversity

Tuning Parameters
Attractive mode
For Soft Samples
Use Lower Free Air Amp (0.3V)
Image at > free air phase
High Q
Set Point/ Free Air Amp
Larger tip radius
Set f +10% f
(right of Resonance)
o

Repulsive mode
What we normally use
Use Higher Free Air Amp (1V)
Image at < free air phase
Low Q
Set Point/ Free Air Amp
Smaller tip radius
Set f -8% f
(left of Resonance)
o

Max Band Width (Max Scan Rate)

Sample Speed must be < Collection Limit to achieve good quality scans. If it is not, do
a One Tune decreasing the Qgain by -0.01.
If not:
Add increments of -0.01 to the Qgain
Then One Tune Recalc CL

Phase Hopping
(red-blue..)
Or tip not seem tracing well
Increasing the DA may help (doubling will often stabilize the phase):
Just jump up the DA or;
Save the tip by;
o Withdrawing the tip doing the increase Re-engage
Try up to 4x
Gain will need to be decreased to account for increase in DA

Mounting Your Sample

Reduces drift
Fewer but better contacts
Lower chance of air bubbles
Makes removal easier

01/24/2015
AustinFox(
AustinFoxMaterials@gmail.com
)Pleaseemailwithquestions:)

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AFMACTipsandTricks

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OregonStateUniversity

Hot Keys
Crtl+ I- Igor A&B cursors Crtl+ A- Rescale
Crtl+ F- search in the global variables Crtl+T Igor Tool box
Crtl + W- closes forward most window Crtl+ D duplicates forward-most window
Crtl+C- copy Crtl+V- paste
Crtl+ Y- window control- can rename windows Crtl+O- open experiment
Crtl+P- print Crtl+L load waves
Crtl+J- bring History window forwardmost Crtl + 1- Windows Manager
Crtl+ 2- Do thermal Crtl+3- single force pull
Crtl+4- cantilever auto tune Crtl+6- open S&D meter
Crtl+7- open Master Channel Panel Crtl+8- open NAP channel stuff
Crtl+9- open NAP panel Crtl+ F1- Igor search panel
Crtl+F2- open Mode Master Crtl+M opens Igor Procedure window

Finding the Laser

Center LD X and Y (8 turns from end)
Laser will be on tip within 1turn
Turn =
Finger on side opposite of rotation direction
Rotate until finger hits other side 180

Deflection
As Shown turn the PD nob:
Toward the back of the head to make the deflection more negative
Toward the front to make more positive
Do Not ever
force the PD nob - it can cause
serious damage!

Save your tip!!!

Load It Properly and Let It Equilibrate!!
1.
2.
3.
4.

Load tip as shown to the below

Load sample and place head (take care not to crash tip!)
Align laser spot toward end of cantilever and zero deflection
Do Auto Tune, -8% f
o
a. Check achievable scan rate
5. Let sit for 10+ mins (equilibrate)
6. Re-zero Deflection
7. Do Auto Tune, -8%
f
o
a. Check achievable scan rate
8. Soft Engage
01/24/2015
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)Pleaseemailwithquestions:)

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AFMACTipsandTricks

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OregonStateUniversity

Soft Engage!
1)
2)
3)
4)

Perform an Auto Tune.

Set the Set Point voltage to 950 mV
Click Engage button
Slowly turn the front thumbwheel CCW (Lowering the head)
a) Monitor the amplitude voltage (S&D meter)
b) Waiting for it to equal the Set Point voltage
i) This is a false engagement (Engaging water layer)
c) Lowering the head until ZV is about 40V (halfway blue)
i) Youll notice the ZV seems to float/drift as you move the thumbwheel- thats
because its falsely engaged!
5) With the radio label for the Set Point voltage activated use the Hamster wheel on
front of controller to increase the force
a) The ZV will move to some more positive voltage value (more red)
i) At some point youll notice the ZV will no longer quickly become more
positive (It may still slowly get more positive)
6) At this point, the tip is hard engaged on the surface
7) Using the thumb wheel adjust the ZV to 50V to achieve 70V after reengage
8) Withdraw or increase set point to pop tip of surface and lower door

Adjust Gain!
Increase until you see ringing
Decrease to get ringing to go away
Saves tip by optimizing the gain, minimizing the chance that the tip will crash into
a large feature

Tip Motion
Tip can be moved from -40m to +40m or do an 80m scan max
I dont know if the image below is correct. I need to check!!!

01/24/2015
AustinFox(
AustinFoxMaterials@gmail.com
)Pleaseemailwithquestions:)

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