Micromanipulator: Difference between revisions
Created page with "{{Infobox tool |image = Micromanipulator.jpg |toolfullname = Micromanipulator |company = Leica/Zaber/Eppendorf |description = Optical microscope + motorized stage + manipulato..." |
|||
| Line 95: | Line 95: | ||
These are thin tungsten wire on a thicker nickel shank. | These are thin tungsten wire on a thicker nickel shank. | ||
We use American Probe 72X-G2/01 (0.1 um wire thickness) and 72X-G2/025 (0.25 um). | We use American Probe 72X-G2/01 (0.1 um wire thickness) and 72X-G2/025 (0.25 um). | ||
The taper model can be found in this handy [[Media:American-Probe-taper-model.pdf| | The taper model can be found in this handy chart: [[Media:American-Probe-taper-model.pdf|.pdf]]. | ||
== Troubleshooting == | == Troubleshooting == | ||
Revision as of 06:50, 7 April 2022
| Picture of Micromanipulator text | |
| Essentials | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Micromanipulator |
| Manufacturer | Leica/Zaber/Eppendorf |
| Description | Optical microscope + motorized stage + manipulator arm |
| Location | 03.K.03 |
| Responsibility | |
| Primary | Karolis |
| Secondary | Martin |
Micromanipulator is a setup meant for nanowire transfer from a source substrate to a target substrate. This is done using a transfer arm that can move with sub-micrometer precision. The substrates can be moved with a motorized stage in x, y, z, and rotated around the z axis. The action can be observed through a microscope/camera.
Usage rules
Do not place used probes back into the box. If you want to reuse a probe in the future, put it in your own box and clearly label the box. Unknown boxes will be disposed of.
Put used probes into the sharps bin. Do not close the sharps bin fully but leave a small gap to put probes.
Wipe all surfaces both before and after using the tool. Nanowires can be very toxic. They are small enough to get into human cells and damage their DNA. The length of the DNA molecule is ~5 um, and most nanowires used at this tool are small enough to damage this molecule.
III-V semiconductors that the nanowires can include can also be very toxic. Take care of your own safety and also the safety of your colleagues.
Try your best not to crash the microscope objectives into the substrate or stage. Let the staff know if this happens.
Instrumentation
Manipulator arm
- Eppendorf TransferMan 4r system
- or a custom manual arm
Regardless of which arm is used, there are markings on the optical table denoting where it should be fixed.
The Transferman 4r offers 3 programmable positions and 3 programmable movement speeds. You should be very careful and only use the two faster movement speeds at low microscope magnification, and only when far away from the substrate vertically. Be conservative with selecting the saved positions, since crashing the probe into the substrate can ruin your work very easily.
The optimal angle for the probe depends on the nanowire stiffness, substrate geometry and substrate surface properties. A good starting point is 15°.
Stage
The stage is a stack of Zaber motion modules:
| X-JOY3 | Programmable 3-axis joystick |
| X-LSM100A x2 | 2 linear stages, <3 um repeatability |
| X-RSW60C-E03 | Motorized rotary stage |
| X-VSR20A | Vertical lift stage, <1 um repeatability |
The modules can be moved directly using the knobs on each module. For the x/y stages the knobs increase/decrease velocity, single press decelerates, double press instantly stops. Rotation/z stages are moved one step per knob position.
The joystick should have these functions:
| Key | Short Press | Long Press |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop all axes | Home all axes |
| 2 | Send alerts* 1, 2 | Send alerts* 1, 3, 4 |
| 3 | Move to saved position | Save current position |
| 4 | Move to saved position | Save current position |
| 5 | Move to saved position | Save current position |
| 6 | Axis x low speed | Axis x high speed |
| 7 | Axis y low speed | Axis y high speed |
| 8 | Rotation low speed | Rotation high speed |
The joystick functions can be changed through the Zaber console - 1 software.
Microscope
This is currently a Leica DM2500 MH microscope body, Leica MC170 HD camera and Leica acquisition software setup.
The field of view/depth of field/resolution of this setup is somewhat limited, but should be good enough for most users.
Probes
Also known as needles. These are thin tungsten wire on a thicker nickel shank. We use American Probe 72X-G2/01 (0.1 um wire thickness) and 72X-G2/025 (0.25 um). The taper model can be found in this handy chart: .pdf.
Troubleshooting
- I can't get any light through the microscope!
- Someone probably switched the light source to back lighting. The microscope does not support this. Simply flip the up-down arrow button on the light source. Double check that the green power button is lit, and the knob is not at the minimum position.
- The camera output is completely frozen!
- Turn on live capture mode.
- I would like to save an image of what I see but I don't know how!
- Press Acquire image in the bottom left of the Leica software window.
- Everything on the PC is frozen, I can't move the mouse cursor!
- The PC has crashed. Find the power button on the PC under the optical table and hold it for several seconds until the PC restarts.
- The image is very strange!
- Maybe someone crashed the lens into the stage and did not tell anyone. Move the stage and the manipulator out of the way, carefully unscrew the questionable objective, blow away any dust with the nitrogen gun, and very gently wipe the lens with mild solvent. Original cleaning instructions from the manufacturer can be found online.
- The image on the screen updates only every few seconds!
- The automatic exposure function in the software collects enough light to see a good signal. Try to increase the light intensity by turning the knob on the power supply clockwise.
- The image is too bright/dark!
- The automatic exposure fuction in the software is turned off. Click on the iris button in the top left of the Leica Acquisition Suite window.