Cantilever ReplacementΒΆ

The NanoFrazor cantilevers are consumables. The cantilever replacement is facilitated by the use of a cantilever exchange tool, which is provided together with the NanoFrazor Explore.

Figure 52 shows a drawing of the cantilever replacement tool and a cantilever holder that has been inserted into it.

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Figure 52 The cantilever exchange tool with the cantilever holder inserted.

For replacing the cantilever, tweezers with a sharp tip have to be used. Figure 53 (a) shows the cantilever holder on the replacement tool. In the picture, the spring holding the cantilever in place is released by pressing the ceramic plate downward and the right way of approaching the cantilever with the tweezers is demonstrated. Figure 53 (b) shows how the three spring contacts should be positioned on the cantilever electrodes after the cantilever exchange.

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Figure 53 a) Press the ceramic plate on the cantilever holder to release the spring holding the cantilever in place. Approach the cantilever horizontally with the tweezers. b) Spring contacts of the cantilever holder correctly aligned on the pads of the thermal cantilever as seen through the USB microscope of the cantilever exchange tool.

Replace the cantilever using the following procedure:

  1. Use the Z positioning system of the NanoFrazor to retract the cantilever to a safe distance (more than 3 mm) from the sample surface. Extract the cantilever holder by hand, avoiding contact with the sample, or the optical microscope lenses.
  2. Place the cantilever holder (with the used cantilever on it) onto the cantilever exchange tool (see Figure 53).
  3. Press the ceramic plate of the cantilever holder down with your thumb. This will release the spring contacts, which lock the thermal cantilever chip in position.
  4. Remove the thermal cantilever from the tip holder using the tweezers. Approach the cantilever with the tweezers horizontally to get a good grip of it.
  5. Slide a new thermal cantilever carefully in the cantilever slot while pressing the ceramic plate and keeping the spring released. Make sure that the cantilever lies flat on the cantilever holder.
  6. Remove the cantilever holder from the cantilever exchange tool and inspect visually that the cantilever lies flat on the cantilever holder.
  7. Insert the cantilever holder into the NanoFrazor by first positioning the cantilever pitch adjustment screw on the cylindrical magnet of the support, and then slowly place the magnetic balls into the dedicated lock-in grooves.
  8. Perform IV curves for both the reader and writer to confirm that the new cantilever is working properly.
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Figure 54 The sphere at the apex of the cantilever pitch adjustment screw should lie on the cylindrical magnet of the support, indicated by the blue line. The two magnetic balls of the cantilever holder should be attached to the grooves on the support, indicated by the green lines.