Heating Stage for Nano-RT AFM

The metal plate should be magnetic and should be larger than the samples that will be imaged with the microscope. An adequate metal plate can be fabricated by cutting a section out of a metal washer. It is necessary to connect the thermocouple to the metal plate. To do this; first cut a slot in the plate with a metal saw. Then, insert the thermocouple into the slot. The thermocouple must be rigidly attached to the metal plate to assure good temperature control.

The heating stage is constructed on the top of the Nano-R™ sample puck in the following configuration:

The thickness of the entire sample heating stage "T" must be less than ¼" so that there is enough space for tip approach. The alumina plate can be glued to the top of the sample puck. The heater element from Minco Products, Inc. includes adhesive to bond to the top of the Alumina. Because the metal plate is magnetic, it is held to the top of the heater element magnetically because of the magnet in the top of the sample puck.

The sample can either be held on the sample plate by gravity, or if necessary, use heat resistant glue to bond the sample to the metal plate.