Calibration, Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Warranty
Adjustment Screw Maintenance Procedure
Rev. B
MultiMode SPM Instruction Manual
325
Adjustment screws are threaded into brass inserts, which are af
fi
xed to the scanner body with
epoxy. Although screws are not heavily lubricated, a light
fi
lm of oil is applied to them at the
factory to prevent galling. This allows suf
fi
cient lubrication for
fi
ne adjustment, while minimizing
drift (i.e., loosening) between the screws and scanner body due to the slow displacement of
lubricant from screw threads.
Problems develop whenever screws become fouled with
fi
ne grit: screws may be dif
fi
cult to turn
and/or exhibit any of the following symptoms:
•
Eccentric, rotational “limp” (i.e., alternatively easy, then dif
fi
cult to turn).
•
Faint, crunching or grinding noises when rotated.
•
Microscope cannot engage sample surface, i.e., motor is unable to rotate rear adjustment
screw.
If
any
of these conditions are noted, screws should be backed out and cleaned as described below.
Note:
If screws are frozen (i.e., cannot be rotated), DO NOT attempt to force them!
Return the scanner body and screws to Veeco for repair.
The user should inspect screws
at least
every three months, more often if possible. It is a good
practice to check screws whenever the scanner body is removed by turning manually and feeling for
resistance. This is especially true of the rear, motor-actuated screw, which may be fouled without
the user’s notice.
Ball Bearing
Setscrew (applies
Plastic bushing
Brass threaded insert
Knob
Screw
(Scanner body)
Screw hole (on 3-screw models)
pressure to bushing)
(top)