User`s guide

Preparing for Imaging 4
Agilent 5500 SPM User’s Guide 83
Mounting the Sample
The Agilent 5500 SPM accepts a wide variety of sample plates,
including specialized plates for imaging in liquid, in controlled
temperature, etc. To use a sample plate:
1 Mount the sample to the sample plate. In general, samples should be
held in place securely enough to prevent drift or creep during
measurement, but not so firmly as to induce stress in the sample.
Several mounting methods are available. A common approach is to
mount the sample on a magnetically attractive backing which can
then be held by the magnet on the standard sample plate. Large, flat
samples can be held down using the clips from the liquid cell plate.
Double-back tape can also be used, though the tape tends to deform
easily and can lead to creep during imaging.
2 Place the sample plate’s front alignment tab over the front alignment
pin, as in image A of Figure 58.
CAUTION
Verify that there is enough space below the scanner and probe that they
will not contact the sample plate once it is mounted. Contact with the
plate will damage the probe and sample and could also damage the
scanner.
It is recommended that you move the scanner up 100 microns or more
whenever changing a probe or plate to avoid damage.