The OAFM Workstation is designed to make sample preparation for the atomic force or scanning tunneling microscope a simple procedure. The flat uppermost surface of the station has a magnet directly below. By turning the station over, the magnet can be raised or lowered with a screwdriver, to adjust the force by which the metal disc can be held to the workstation surface. In this way, routine tasks can be carried out without disturbing the sample on the disc. The magnetic force is more than adequate to hold the disc when cleaving mica.
When removing the metal disc, it is best to pull it to the outer edge of the top surface prior to lifting. The disc grippers facilitate disc handling and make disc removal from the workstation, and transfer to the AFM or STM, a simple procedure.
The workstation is designed so that a 250mL Tri-Pour beaker will fit over the top of the work surface to protect the sample. The beaker will fit tightly at the bottom base of the work surface to seal off the work surface from external contaminants.
NOTE: It is difficult to remove the disc when the magnet holds it at the centre of the worksurface. Using the disc grippers, slide the disc across the surface to the outer edge prior to lifting it off. This action facilitates the disc's easy removal from the surface.