SEM-EDX GUIDE FOR BUYERS
Chapter 5 - Usability, Comfort and Options
User Friendliness
The graphical user interface for controlling the SEM must be intuitive and simple, but at the same time allow access to all relevant parameters. Automatic functions for aligning the electron beam (focus, brightness, contrast, astigmatism, apertures, sample current, etc.) offer a high degree of user-friendliness. Adding measurements and comments directly to captured images can be helpful, as can the simultaneous display of BE and SE images.
Intuitive operation is a must for contemporary SEM-EDX devices
Comfort & Options
Especially in the field of tabletop SEM and compact devices, the offered comfort features and options of the individual manufacturers differ in some cases very clearly. You should note the following checklist:
1. Digital macro camera to take a digital photo supports easy navigation on the specimen
2. Panorama function for high-resolution imaging of large sample areas using automatic mosaic grids
3. Motorization of the axes (XYZRT), especially a tilting of the sample can be interesting if your sample shows topographic structures.
By tilting the sample, the spatial topography becomes clearly visible
4. Low vacuum mode to microscope non-conductive samples directly without sputtering
5. Simple sputtering apparatuses for conductive coating to microscope insulating specimens in high resolution
6. STEM detector to investigate organic thin sections in the transmission image
7. Special rehearsal stage with Peltier cooling to microscopy vacuum-stable samples (e.g. biological preparations, polymer foams)
