Updates from the Electron Microscope Facility
REMF home page.
November 13, 2009.
New pump and valve have arrived and been installed. The water is flowing, but the TEM is still down. We have a service call to reset the HV and other boards in the microscope. The 1010 will probably not be up before Tuesday of Wednesday.
CPD
November 12, 2009.
The JEOL JEM 1010 TEM is down due to a failed water pump. Parts have been ordered and should arrive Friday. With luck we will have it back on line by Monday afternoon.
CPD
November 2, 2009.
The Tecnai has a water leak in the manifold stand. This causes the chiller to lose water and eventually shut down, not to mention is inherently unsafe. The repair Tuesday should be quick. A new fitting needs to be installed to replace the leaking one.
CPD
September 28, 2009.
The wires to the heater and thermocouple on the Gatan C1002 cold stage have broken. Both items need to be replaced. An order is in, but will take several weeks to be filled.
CPD
September 8, 2009.
The XL-30 FEG tip change went well. Imaging is excellent. Only current problem is getting rid of a virus from the control computer. For image transfer it is essential that only SFTP or burning a CD be used. Do not mount remote disks or file sharing folders.
CPD
August 27, 2009.
The XL-30 SEM will have the FEG tip changed on September 3 and 4. This will require an overnight bakeout and re-alignment the next day. If all goes well the SEM should be back inservice by the evening of 9-4-09.
CPD
August 11, 2009.
All instruments are back in working order.
CPD
August 10, 2009.
XL-30 computer is down. Hard drive is dead. A new unit is on order and should arrive tomorrow morning. Check back for updates.
CPD
August 7, 2009.
The XL-30 high definition image acquisition is back in service. The cable to the frame grabber was not mating properly.
The cold stage heater wires have broken and need to be repaired. Out of service until next week.
CPD
August 5, 2009.
The new cable for the HD images did not fix the problem. A service call has been scheduled for Friday, August 6.
There was a blue screen of death on the HKL computer this morning. After several restarts in safe mode and a full diagnostic test, it appears to be working. If the blue screen occurs again the unit will go in for repairs.
CPD
July 31, 2009.
XL-30 HD image capture does not work. New cable on order.
CPD
March 18, 2009.
The Dimension 3100 AFM is down for a piezo tube repair. No sign ups will be allowed until it is back in service. The estimate for repair and return is two weeks from the time Veeco receives the unit. It may be less than this.
CPD
December 19, 2008.
A new series of snowflake images have been placed on the page.
The BSE detector has been replaced, and the EDS system is back in service.
The lab will be closed during winter break.
CPD
March 13, 2008.
EMFUG Luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15 at the Inn.
The X-ray detector on the XL-30 has a pinhole leak and has been removed for repairs. I am not sure how long it will be gone, but will update you when I know.
We are also still trying to resolve vibration problems with the microscope. You may not have noticed the problem if you have not tried to do high resolution imaging. There are a couple of potential solutions. We may need a new stage, but it may also just be a problem with some components. If mechanical problems with the stage are ruled out, we'll have to have a new site survey to see if new fields or vibrations have developed since installation of the microscope.
For lithography, imaging and EBSD there should be no problems.
CPD
February 28, 2008.
The XL-30 appears to have blown another aperture. We are trying to clean some old aperture strips, and are arranging to either obtain a disk aperture holder or machine one. We will also be getting a new control computer for the XL-30 to resolve some of the freezes and magenta screen issues.
CPD
February 11, 2008.
We are in the middle of a FEG change today through Wednesday noon. Also being addressed are problems with the stage and an overheating computer (due to fan problems).
CPD
July 25, 2007.
This from Facilities:
On August 2, 2007 Dartmouth College will start the construction of a underground utility corridor on the North Campus.
During the week of August 6 and 13, the Contractor will start the installation
of three (3) steam utility manholes located adjacent Kellogg Hall, at the
northeast corner of the Building 37 parking lot and near the entrance into the
Dewey Field Parking Lot.
This will certainly cause some vibrations.
December 6, 2006.
This from DMS Facilities regarding the pile driving:
From: Jon Rader
DMS - Facilities
Date: December 6, 2006
Subj: Construction Project - Level 1 Vail
I have been in contact with the general contractor for the Vail Electrical project trying to work blocks of time when the pile driving work could be shutdown so you could use your scopes. The best that I can do is to have the driving work shut down at 3:30 every afternoon. This schedule will go into effect on Monday, 12/11. The pile driving is suppose to be completed by Friday, 12/15.
Jon Rader
DMS - Facilities
November 20, 2006.
The following note from DMS Facilities outlines some construction activity that will probably generate vibrations in the E. M. Facility. I will try to determine if there will be likely quiet periods.
Chuck
This is what is on tap for the Vail electrical project for the next two weeks.
11/20-11/24:
Contractor will be completing the shifting off the road and sidewalk and the temporary paving on 11/20.
For the remainder of the week, they will be stripping the top soil next to the Remsen building. They are not working on 11/23 or 11/24. The noise/vibrations should be minimal.
11/27-12/1:
The contractor will be bringing in equipment to begin "driving" the sheet pilings needed to complete their excavation. They plan on beginning the actual driving on Tuesday. This process will create a fair amount of noise/vibrations. The entire process is scheduled to be completed by 12/8.
This is all that I have for now. I will keep you posted if anything changes.
Jon Rader
DMS Facilities
July 24, 2006.
For the next three to four weeks there will be construction activity outside the lab that will likely cause vibration problems. Starting Thursday or Friday of this week a trench and vault will be dug from the new dorms down the west side of Remsen. This is for a new power line. That work will take three or four weeks to complete. At the same time, there will be construction on a new road between Gilman and the new dorms. When the vibrating rollers start up, microscopy will be difficult. Please plan accordingly. I will try to keep you updated on the construction.
CPD
July 17, 2006.
Louisa is on vacation through July 21. Kate will be out on vacation from July 24 to August 1. Chuck will be at the Botanical Society of America meeting the week of July 31, and will be on vacation from August 7 through 16.
CPD
July 11, 2006.
A page listing fees has been added to the web site.
We will be having service on the Tecnai on July 12 to correct the persistent problems with the CompuStage. Several electronics boards will be replaced in an effort to fix things.
CPD
December 22, 2005.
Some general notes.
Next week we will have a service call on the Tecnai to correct a persistent stage problem.
January 20-24 we will have service on the SEM to install a new FEG tip, and to tune up the microscope. It will be ready for use at 1 pm Jan. 24, if no problems are encountered.
Thirsday and Friday nights on Jan 5 and 6 we will have floors cleaned in the microscope rooms. Please do not planon using the Facility between 10 pm and 6 am those days.
CPD
September 30, 2005.
After sending out my last message with the signup rules, I realized that I had not told you all of the rules. Not wanting to be accused of using Chicago rules (first rule is don't tell them all of the rules of the game), here is a fuller rule set. I have also modified the rules slightly after discussion with some groups.
Signups more than 7 days in advance will generate a warning, more than 14 days in advance will be rejected.
You may have up to 2 signups in advance as primary user, up to 4 in advance as alternate user. If you signup as an alternate, you should email the primary user so the will know there is an alternate. If you are the primary user and cancel (see below), you should contact the alternate (the program should prompt you to do so).
Cancellations less than 24 hours in advance may result in charges for 1/2 the normal charge, unless there is a good reason. Contact me and plead your case. I will be judge of what is a good reason.
In addition to these rules, on the SEM we need to keep the noon to 1 pm slot open for users who need to only check specimens, so do not schedule over this time (10-2 pm, for example) unless you check with me and convince me it is essential.
If the rules cause problems, let me know. They are a work in progress, and are intended to encourage efficient use of the instruments for many users. I am trying to get the scheduling program modified so each instrument can have its own set of rules, but for now all rules apply to all instruments.
CPD
September 26, 2005.
The online scheduling system will switch to hard enforcement of scheduling rules starting today. All violations will result in rejection of the attempted scheduling. The rules are:
Minimum time = 0.5 hours;
Maximum time = 4 hours - more than this will generate a warning.
Reservations more than 16 hours will be rejected.
Reservations more than 8 days in advance will generate a warning.
Reservations more than 15 days in advance will be rejected.
Accounts will expire after 120 days of inactivity. Contact the Director to re-activate accounts.
If the rules need to be relaxed for you, contact the Director and plead your case.
CPD
August 10, 2005.
I will be away on vacation from 8-11 until 8-29. If you need microscopy help, please contact either Louisa Howard or Kate Connolly.
CPD
July 19, 2005.
A power outage last night shut down the REMF server and several microscopes. The XL-30 stayed on, due to its backup power supplies. The Tecnai and the 1010 both shut down. The Tecnai has fully recovered, although we are waiting for the vacuum to improve with the holder in place. The 1010 is still pumping (its is almost there after 4 hours), and will be back up before the end of the day.
CPD
May 18, 2005.
This from the dorm project.
Dear McLaughlin Cluster Neighbors,
I am pleased to inform you that piledriving operations have finished, as of 11:30AM this morning. I can assure you that everyone is relieved to have that portion of the construction completed.
Sincerely,
Andrew Ager
CPD
April 28, 2005.
You may have noticed that the url for the EM Facility web site has changed. It is now http://www.dartmouth.edu/~emlab. Gone is ~emczar. Please change bookmarks . A redirect will be active for a short while.
CPD
April 26, 2005.
The online resource scheduling system is now active. Authorized users may now sign up for instruments using a web interface. Other users may check the schedule and request a session with Facility staff. Go to the Online Resource Scheduler now.
CPD
March 16, 2005.
There is a construction update web site.
I suggest you check it, rather than having me repeat what they post. Regardless of the scheduled activity, plan on intermittent vibrations, sometimes severe. AFM does not appear to be affected. All other lab activities will suffer, some worse thanothers.
CPD