eTraining Introduction How to Use This Module Introduction Choosing the Preparation Method Mount Fabrication Procedure Steel Etching Procedure Steel Polishing Procedure Rocks and Minerals Equipment Procedure Introduction Jet Spraying Lofting Suspension Odd Shapes - Fractures Cryo Fracture Technique Electronic Materials and Carbon Nanotubes Multiprep Polishing Procedure Handling Specimen Coating Reasons for Coating Metal Coating Procedure Carbon Coating Procedure Introduction Specimen Holders by Instrument Overview Interactive Parts Tour Operating Procedures Overview Chemicals and Materials Solution Preparation Chemical Calculations Fixation and Dehydration Mounting Safety and Disposal References Form and Function Signal Source and Detection Interactive Parts Tour Interactive Cutaway Tour Safety Procedures Operating Procedures Basic Imaging Advanced Imaging EDS X-Ray Spectral Analysis EDS X-Ray Mapping WDS Quantitative Analysis Procedure WDS X-Ray Mapping Overview WDS X-Ray Mapping Procedure Shut Down FAQs Troubleshooting VIDEO: Specimen Loading Technique VIDEO: Start Up Technique VIDEO: Specimen Unloading Technique Form and Function 1 Form and Function 2 Chemical Analysis Interactive Parts Tour Interactive Cutaway Tour Software Tour Safety Procedures Preliminary Specimen Exchange Flashing Imaging Shut Down Backscatter Imaging Charging Specimen Types X-Ray Spectral Analysis X-Ray Mapping Why Use FESEM? Specimen Constraints General FAQs Troubleshooting X-Rays and Spectra Energy Dispersive Spectrometer Wavelength Dispersive Spectrometer Safety Procedures EDS Versus WDS Quantitative X-Ray Microanalysis Basic Science Interactive X-Ray Mapping Challenge FAQs Troubleshooting Overview Tapping Mode Laser Alignment Preliminary Alignment Operation Image Viewing/Offline Operation Shut Down System Requirements Alternative Content Contact General Lab Safety Disclaimers Usage Permissions Site Map

Troubleshooting

The actual stage and/or WD spectrometer positions do not agree with the software positions. How do I reinitialize stage and spectrometers?

See one of the staff members.

I want to move the stage to the home position, but dSspec, the stage software program, is gone from the screen. What do I do?

You probably exited dPict32 or dQant32, which automatically shuts down dSspec. Reload either dPict32 or dQant32 and the stage software will return. Be sure to check that the software and the actual stage positions are the same before using dSspec.

PhasesWhat if I just want to analyze one phase, but there are others in the way?

This happens because the area you want to analyze is smaller than the electron beam itself, causing it to pick up other elements in that area. The minimum beam diameter is ~1 µm, and the smallest volume excited by the beam in the specimen is from 1 - 5 µm3. This means that the spectrum for this area will contain X-ray counts from elements A, B, and C, instead of just A.

Try a simulation of X-ray generation in an electron microscope, courtesy of Electric Park Research:

X-Ray Generation Simulation

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