A Macintosh Quadra 650 with 4Pi ADC is used to acquire digital SEM images. NIH Image is used to process, measure, and analyze image data. The sample stage supports three 1 cm stubs or one 1 inch stub. Sample exchange is rapid and sample throughput potentially quite fast. This instrument is very simple and quite robust.
Most users can work without supervision after several training sessions.
Digital Image Analysis . Off-line processing of digital images can be performed using any of the Macs, Powerpc, pentiums, and Sun sparc. Software for most types of stereological, textural, and modal work is available. Use of this equipment is fairly easy to learn. A second Macintosh Quadra 650 is connected to stereo and petrographic light microscopes via a Scion ADC to a high resolution video camera in the laboratory.