1. Locate the cantilever by selecting the Locate Tip icon. Adjust the knobs on the camera part of the microscope until the end of the cantilever is in the cross-hairs on the JVC monitor. |
VIEW |
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| 2. Focus the image by holding down the focus button on the trackball and sliding the trackball. It may not be possible to focus the entire cantilever; make sure the end of the cantilever is in focus. NOTE: To use the trackball, the Locate Tip menu must be open! |
VIEW |
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| 3. Click OK to store the position in the software. |
VIEW |
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| 4. Align the laser onto the end of the cantilever using the two knobs on top of the AFM head. For a single beam cantilever, the sum signal maximum should be 2-4 for Tapping mode and ~4 for Contact mode. See Tapping Mode Laser Alignment in Atomic Force Microscopy. |
VIEW |
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| 5. Adjust the laser spot on the photodiode using the two knobs located on the side of the AFM head. For Tapping mode, the red dot on the right-most monitor should be centered in the crosshairs with a vertical displacement within ±0.1 V. For Contact Mode, the red dot should be centered laterally (±0.1 V) and with a vertical displacement of ~-2 V (between -1 V and -4 V). |
VIEW |
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6. If using Tapping Mode, select the Autotune icon and then click on the Autotune button. The chart produced should look like the bottom image in VIEW. If not, re-do the alignments and check the Autotune again. |
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7. Once the Autotune is completed, select the Go Back to Image Mode icon. |
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| 8. Check to make sure the RMS (root mean square) value displayed on the right monitor is between 1.9 and 2.1. |
VIEW |
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