SEM Vacuum Transfer Shuttle for air-sensitive samples

Automatically opens in SEM after vacuum is generated.

Introduction

The VTS-01 SEM Vacuum Transfer Shuttle system has been especially developed to protect SEM specimens when they are transported from an inert gas environment in a glovebox to the vacuum chamber for analysis and imaging. Suitable for SEM, FIB-SEM and surface analysis equipment. It is an easy to use, compact, complete and budget-friendly solution for shuttling air-sensitive samples in transport to the SEM/EDS system. The sealing and release of the SEM Vacuum Transfer Shuttle is purely mechanical (pressure); no electrical wiring or feedthrough needed.

The sample must be prepared on one of the provided sample stubs. The SEM Vacuum Transfer Shuttle, with the lid moved sideways, needs to be loaded with the sample stub in the inert gas environment (glovebox). The sample stubs are secured with an M3 screw. The lid is then closed and the transfer shuttle is pumped to vacuum with the supplied vacuum hand pump via the foil type vacuum valve in the lid. The pump needs to be placed on the lid marked: Air Valve (see video below).

The vacuum ensures sealing of the lid onto the chamber of the transfer shuttle with inert gas still inside. This allows for safe transport to the vacuum chamber of the SEM. When the specimen chamber of the SEM is pumped down and vacuum level outside the transfer shuttle is better than inside the transfer shuttle, the lid is released, rises and moves sideways. The sample is now ready for analysis and imaging. The transfer shuttle might be less suitable for highly porous samples.

The sample chamber dimensions are Ø23 × 7 mm. There are four sample stubs provided with the SEM Vacuum Transfer Shuttle: one for 1 mm thick samples, one for 2 mm thick samples, one with a 45° angle and one for mounting cross sections at a 90° angle. The samples need to be mounted on the appropriate sample stub with double-sided conductive tape or conductive paint/paste. The sample stubs are secured inside the sample chamber of the transfer shuttle with an M3 screw.

Watch how it works

Features of the SEM Vacuum Transfer Shuttle

• Complete system with hand vacuum pump included
• Compact, easy to use and budget-friendly system
• Mechanical system; no wiring or feedthrough needed
• Sample stubs for 45° and 90° included
• Compatible with stage adapters for M4 or 3.2 mm pin

SEM Vacuum Transfer Shuttle specifications