Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
(OP)
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.
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





RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
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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RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
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.
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
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.
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
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
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
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://
http://www
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: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
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
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
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
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
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
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
Hope this helps...
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
In my view, service is the top priority.
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
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
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
Regards,
Cory
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
http:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raman_spectroscopy
Regards,
Cory
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
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
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
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.
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
Regards,
Cory
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
Can you tell me something more about ZEISS? Is the microanalysis fast and functional? Did you use Oxford or Edax? The instruments we should buy is a ZEISS EVO LS15 with Oxford Microanalysis "Inca Energy 250"..
And what about FEI? Do you know anything about it?
Regards ,
Daiana M.
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
RE: Your Favorite SEM/EDS?
Concerning the EDS system, we used a Bruker Quantax system. The physics is incredibly fast - 100,000 counts per second rather than the traditional 10,000 counts per second.
FEI is direct competitor to Zeiss, JEOL and Hitachi. They have sophisticated hardware and software that can meet most needs. You will need to make your own evaluation of things like software, training, service, cost, and delivery timing.
Regards,
Cory
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.