• Before You begin:

• Turn on the console power.
• Sign in the logbook.
• Fill the l N₂ dewar for the EDS detector, even if you are not planning on doing EDS. (Remember to sign the l N₂ log book.)
• Prep your samples, stages, whatever, so they are ready to load. (The S2500 stage is set up for the Hitachi tapped stubs. You can buy these, or make them yourself: drill metal disks, and tap the holes with a 4M.70 tap. DO NOT just stick a piece of tape to the substage assembly.)

• Loading the microscope:

If loading through the airlock:

1. Move the stage to the airlock exchange position.
2. Vent the airlock.
3. Open outer airlock door, and slide the airlock assembly out.
4. Slide the substage assembly out of the airlock assembly and screw the stub onto the substage.
5. Slide the substage back into the airlock assembly, then close the airlock.
6. While pressing the airlock closed, pump down the airlock.
7. Wait until green light comes on.
8. Open the inner airlock door and insert the substage into the stage. (You may need to adjust the stage z and rotation controls to get the substage to fit.)
9. Unscrew the substage from the transfer arm, pull the transfer arm out of the chamber, and close the inner airlock door.

If loading through the main chamber door:

1. Vent the chamber.
2. Pull out the chamber door+stage assembly. Load sample onto stage. Close chamber door.
3. While pushing the chamber door closed, pump down the chamber.

• Start-up:

Note: Things like focusing, stigmation, contrast/brightness adjustment, etc. can (and should!) be done as needed throughout this process.

1. Check that the green 'high vac' light on the gun valve assembly is on.
2. Set the acceleration voltage from the on-screen menu.
3. Set an initial working distance from the menu.
4. Open the gun isolation valve by twisting the control bar clockwise, pulling gently out, then turning counterclockwise.
5. 5-10 seconds after this, a green light on the control console will begin blinking. Wait for the blinking to stop at a steady green light.
6. Turn on the acceleration voltage.
7. At the rate of ¹/₂ notch every 30 seconds, raise the filament heating current until the emission current meter does not rise very much after each adjustment (typically around the 2-3 o'clock position for the heating current knob).
8. Adjust the contrast and brightness knobs until you have a decent image.
9. Focus.
10. Find some convenient feature on your sample to focus/align with. (Specks of dust <=1mm across are good for this, but the initial stages may require something larger.)
11. Turn on the beam wobbler (labeled 'aperture align' on the console).
12. Adjust aperture so as to minimize apparent motion of feature as it goes in and out of focus. Turn off wobbler.
13. Correct astigmatism.

• Shut-down:

1. Lower the filament heating current at a rate of 1 notch per 30 seconds.
2. Turn off the acceleration voltage.
3. Close the gun isolation valve.
4. Remove your sample.
5. Sign out on the logbook. Include sample details, etc.
6. Shut down the console power.