Getting started with your PECS II system

  1. Plug in cables per the installation instructions from the Getting Starting Guide.
  2. If the system has an optical microscope, install it and the PC.

A. Connect the monitor, mouse, and keyboard to the PC. Place the monitor, mouse, and keyboard next to the instrument on the bench. Plug in the power cables for the PC and the monitor.

B. Connect the ethernet cable between the Network connection on the back of the instrument and the Network port on the rear of the PC labeled To ion beam instrument. This is an add-in board. The other network connection can be connected to the internet for remote access.

                 

C. Slide the rack and pinion mount onto the post on the top of the instrument.

a. Plug cable A (from the first picture above) into the connector on the top right of the cabinet as shown.

b. Plug cable B into an available USB port of the imaging PC.

c. Plug cable C into the Camera Trigger port on the back of the instrument.

  1. Check for a gas-line leak.
  2. Turn on the power switch directly above the power cable.
  3. Purge the argon gas line.
    • Disconnect the argon hose from the back of the tool.
    • Set the flow rate to 193 kPa (25 psi).
    • Open the flow valve and let the argon run through the hose for a minute.
    • With the argon still flowing, reconnect the hose to the back of the tool.
  4. Confirm the guns are ready.
    • Start milling at 8 kV in No Modulation.
    • Confirm both guns have an accelerating current above 20 µA.
    • Stop milling.

  1. Purge the guns overnight.
    • Disconnect the cold cathode gauge cable.
    • Set the gas flow to Manual.
    • Set both guns to 1 sccm; flow rates may vary significantly, which is normal.
    • Leave to purge overnight.
    • The next morning, set the gas flow to Automatic.

  1. Zero the mass flow controllers.
    • Go to Settings / Calibration / Gas Flow / Zero.

  1. Align the guns.
    • Insert the alignment screen.
    • Center the beams to the feature in the center of the alignment screen with guns set to the angle you intend to mill (e.g., 5º).

  1. Mix silver paint.
    • There is a massive clump in the bottom of the bottle that needs to be vigorously mixed with the solvent; you only need to do this once.
  2. Mount a sample on one of the holders.
    • Holder 1 for samples 0 – 10 mm in height.
    • Holder 2 for samples 10 – 20 mm in height.

                                                               

All parameters are sample-dependent; the suggestion above (8 kV, 5º, No Modulation) is only a starting point. For planar samples, 3 – 6 pm is typically recommended.