Overview

Rave Scientific offers the EM-Tech Sample Clamp holders which are specifically developed to hold thin wires, tubes, needles, probes and strips of material to enable easy imaging of the surfaces. The samples are clamped down by screws and two strips on a flat holder surface. The strips keep the samples flat. The maximum sample thickness is 3mm with the standard screws. Extra long screws are provided to increase the maximum sample thickness to 7mm. No carbon paint or conductive adhesive is needed. Also a useful holder for porous or sensitive materials where adhesives can easily penetrate the material which could cause artifacts. The EM-Tec SampleClamp sample holders are all precision machined from vacuum grade aluminium with non-magnetic brass screws to hold the strip or the samples. There are four types of the EM-Tec SampleClamp SEM holders:

• EM-Tec SC1 Sample Clamp with a clamping area of 15x10mm. For small and thin wire, strip, fibre, cables, tubes, etc. Available with pin stub or M4 threaded hole
• EM-Tec SC2 Sample Clamp with a clamping area of 25x15mm. For larger and thicker wires, strips, cables, tubes, rods, etc. Available with pin stub or M4 threaded hole
• EM-Tec SC2R Sample Clamp with a recessed area of 25x15mm. The recessed part leaves the sample area to be examined fully free standing. This allows for a complete rotation of the sample to examine all sides. The recessed area tends to be out of focus which leaves more emphasis on the sample. Tip: to avoid signal from the recessed area, one could place a carbon disc underneath the sample; this will greatly reduce both electron and X-ray signal.
• EM-Tec mini Sample Clamp includes a single screw with a washer to clamp specimen. The EM-Tec mini SampleClamps are based on SEM stubs and are available in pin stub, Hitachi m4 stub and JEOL cylinder stub format. The EM-Tec mini Sample Clamps can also be used in conjunction with thin disposable aluminum sheet squares or discs.When the  EM-Tec SEM stub adapters are used, the EM-Tec Sample Clamp holders can be adapted to virtually any SEM.

Capacity, size and compatibility of the EM-Tec SampleClamp SEM holders: