Your Favorite SEM/EDS? 2

[Metalguy]

Got a new "leader" at work, and it looks like we may finally be getting our own SEM. It will be used primarily for met. failure analyses. I've seen others use a few over the years, and they seem to have better features every time I look.

SO, what's your favorites, and what do I make sure we get along with it? I have seldom if ever needed mags. of over ~1k, but I want all the DOF I can get, along with real good elemental analysis tools.

Gold is for the mistress - silver for the maid
Copper for the craftsman cunning in his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall
But iron - cold iron is the master of them all.
Rudyard Kipling

 

[CoryPad]

Anything new from Zeiss, JEOL, FEI or Hitachi should be excellent for your work. Consider variable pressure devices so that you can look at non-conductive samples (as well as oily or corroded metals) without having to coat them.

For elemental analysis, the new Silicon Drift Detectors don't require liquid nitrogen and can process count rates of 100,000 s^-1. They can map a surface in one minute (which would have taken an overnight run even 10 years ago).

I recommend Bruker for SDD EDS systems:

http://www.bruker-axs.de/

Regards,

Cory

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[unclesyd]

As posted above the variable pressure SEM is almost a must have in the world of failure analysis.

A local failure Analysis and engineering investigation firm has 2 of the Hitachi models with variable pressure. With the environmental chamber they do liquids/particle analysis and fibers along with about anything else. I haven't been able to work with them but have benefited from work that was done on the Hitachi.

We have a Joel, Cambridge, and a new one that I can't recall the make. The redeeming feature of the Cambridge was the very large stage, over 6". All have EDS capability.

I think that you will quickly use any capacity for magnification above 1K.

 

[steelmtllrgst]

We use an RJLee PSEM. It is small, inexpensive, and holds resolution to ~2500x. This unit is more than enough for typical failure analysis (i.e. inclusion composition (EDS), fracture morph, etc.), but is in a completely different league than what it seems like others are suggesting. Simple controls and maintenance and it is only about hlaf the size of a refrigerator.

 

[Metalguy]

Too late! I just called RJLee, and discovered he has sold the business and there are no more new PSEM's being sold.

They suggested a "TestScan" imported from Czech%$&*$&&kia-however it's spelled. BIG bucks.

Gold is for the mistress - silver for the maid
Copper for the craftsman cunning in his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall
But iron - cold iron is the master of them all.
Rudyard Kipling

 

[CoryPad]

R J Lee's SEM group was spun off as Aspex in 1995. See here:

http://www.rjlg.com/aboutus/history4.html

Aspex is still around:

http://www.aspexcorp.com/

As is Tescan, in the Czech Republic:

http://www.aspexcorp.com/

If you need cheap, consider the new tabletop SEM models from Hitachi and JEOL:

http://www.hitachi-hitec.com/global/em/tab/tab_index.html

http://www.jeolusa.com/PRODUCTS/Ele...um/NeoScopeBenchtopSEM/tabid/511/Default.aspx

Having said all that, if you don't need cheap, go with one of the big 4 from my first post.

Regards,

Cory

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[Maui]

We have an older Tescan SEM. Unless your analysis needs are very basic, I would not recommend them. You would be better off with a JEOL, Zeiss, or Hitachi system. Cory made some excellent observations in his posts.

Talking with various lab professionals who have used these systems, it is apparent that JEOL has a developed a stellar reputation for customer service. How these various manufacturers support their customers should also be a consideration in what choice you ultimately make.

Maui

 

[swall]

Yes, consider customer service, as Maui suggests. When you narrow your choices down, find out how many tech service reps there are for your area and how far they have to come from to work on your equipment.

 

[NickE]

Just to add, 2500x is barely any magnification....

We own a JEOL 6300 SEM (c1990's), it has 300,000 as the max, though the highest Ive seen a feature at was ~25,000x.

I've only used JEOL systems (And I really like them), with LINK sytems EDS (I think Oxford Analytical)... I dont really like the user interface with LINK, but I've begun to get used to it.

nick

 

[unclesyd]

Here is an instrument, Phenom, that may fill your requirements.
As mentioned above 25,000X is on the high end for metallography and this one will get 20,000X. Do know anything about FEI other than their website and some articles. I talked with two microscopists' neither had used FEI equipment though each was aware of it and had heard no reports of problems.

http://www.azom.com/news.asp?newsID=9021

Add this one to your wish list.

http://www.azom.com/news.asp?newsID=11768

 

[metguy101]

I've used the Aspex units in the past and agree with the earlier posts... The mag range we routinely used was 25X to 25,000X at steel mill. They are certainly still around. I think their going rate for systems is around 100-150K for SEM & EDS. Service was good.

Hope this helps...

 

[SMF1964]

I have an ancient (in SEM years) Amray 1830 in my lab that was purchased in 1987 still meets the initial demonstration requirement in our purchase spec of 75,000X image every 4 months (our service contract has 3 P/M visits per year). The service contract is $10K a year but given the cost of a single visit when things break, that's a bargain. It has a large chamber (12" on a side, cube) but has a stage in it that limits the size of what I can put in it. My only complaint is that when Amray was bought by KLA Tencor, a few years after that, KLA suddenly cancelled all service contracts and said they were getting out of the business of them. A year later, after we had scrambled to get an aftermarket SC, they came back and said they were back in the SC business and when would we like them to show up. Needless to say, they are still waiting.

In my view, service is the top priority.

 

[Metalguy]

Haven't had too much time to devote to checking out SEM's, but I think we're going to move on this soon.

I read something about a new JEOL SEM that could use some kind of Raman attachment. I'm not real familiar with Raman. Any comments on what it could offer for metallurgical failure analyses?

Gold is for the mistress - silver for the maid
Copper for the craftsman cunning in his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall
But iron - cold iron is the master of them all.
Rudyard Kipling

 

[CoryPad]

In short - nothing.

Regards,

Cory

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[SMF1964]

Don't get much call for noodle-induced failures in the metallurgical field ;-) . Seriously, if I recall correctly, Raman spectroscopy is more applicable to biological samples, isn't it?

 

[CoryPad]

Raman spectroscopy is for organics (polymers, bologics, etc.).

http://www.jeol.com/PRODUCTS/Electr...sSEM/RamanSpectroscopy/tabid/391/Default.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raman_spectroscopy

Regards,

Cory

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[swall]

So, Metalguy, how is this project progressing?

 

[Metalguy]

So far I have 3 quotes, 2 for Hitachi's and 1 for a Jeol.

The Hitachi's are models S-3400N VP, types 1 and type 2.

The Jeol is a JSM-6490LV.

Both of the EDS's are INCA Energy 250's.

Both vendors want to come out here and meet with us soon.

The last thing I should do is get a quote for a Bruker EDS.

Thanks for all the assistance so far. Looks like I won't get to play with these too much before I retire.

Gold is for the mistress - silver for the maid
Copper for the craftsman cunning in his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall
But iron - cold iron is the master of them all.
Rudyard Kipling

 

[daiana]

Hi,
I work for a research materials laboratory and we are going to buy a SEM. Our choice should be between a FEI Sem and a Zeiss Evo Sem...have you ever worked with those instruments? Can you give me some opinion?

Thanks and Best regards,

Daiana M.

 

[CoryPad]

Yes, I have worked with a Zeiss EVO 50 and thought it was a good unit. In fact, after using a JEOL 6490 over the last two months, I have to say I much prefer the Zeiss. It is a good design mechanically and has good software.

Regards,

Cory

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.