Head, Probe and Sample Preparation
Laser Alignment
82
MultiMode SPM Instruction Manual
Rev. B
5. If the laser is positioned between a pair of legs of one cantilever (laser spot on surface below)
turn the front-right laser control knob counter-clockwise to move the laser left in the X
direction until the laser spot disappears on the surface below (see Point 3 in
6. Verify the laser is located on the portion of the cantilever connecting the two lever arms near
the tip location by moving the laser on and off the cantilever, repeatedly, with an 1/8 turn of
the back-left control knob. Then, place the laser back on the cantilever.
7. Turn the front-right laser control knob counter-clockwise to move the laser in the X negative
direction on the cantilever until the laser crosses the tip-end of the cantilever and falls on the
surface below (see
8. Move the laser onto the tip-end of the cantilever by reversing the direction of the front-right
laser control knob clockwise until the spot disappears from the surface below.
9. The laser is now on one of the two cantilevers. To determine which cantilever the laser is on:
Note:
During this step do not adjust the back-right laser knob, or you may
accidentally return to the original cantilever. Only use the back-right knob
when you need to place the laser on the other cantilever.
a. Rotate the back-left laser control knob in either direction until the laser disappears and
does not reappear with an 1/8 turn.
b. Use the same back-left laser control knob to rotate the laser the opposite direction, past
the original cantilever.
c. Determine which cantilever you are on:
•
If the laser was on the longer cantilever at then beginning of this step, then the laser
will not cross any other cantilever legs during this movement.
•
If the laser was on the small cantilever, then the laser will cross the two longer
cantilever legs.
d. Select the cantilever for imaging by returning to the original cantilever, or locate the
other end of this cantilever.
10. Verify that a laser spot appears in the head filter screen. If there is no laser spot, adjust the
photodetector mirror using the photodetector adjustment knobs located on the left side of the
optical head.
