Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) / High Vacuum Parts Giveaway - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 07:24:37 am
content: This is a cross-post from the 'Other Blog Specific' section, i don't think many folks frequent it so thought i'd repost it here so it's more visiblei am about to make a video tearing down a Hitachi S-800 scanning electron microscope (SEM) from 1988, this will be the biggest and most expensive thing i have made a video on and it's really quite exciting...Normally i don't post up until i make a video but in this case i am and i will attach a few pics here before i start. The microscope is not complete and doesn't work so what i want to do is make a video on it all and once i have recouped my expenses from buying and shipping it (probably by selling the main diffusion pump) i want to give away some of the other parts. Because there are so many things in it that might be extremely useful and very hard to obtain if your doing high vacuum stuff as a hobby.So i have the actual microscope part (the main control panel was sadly scrapped before i saw it so i only have the 'science' element of it), but this does include most of the high vacuum parts like the main chamber with several feed-through things, electron gun, beam scanning and focusing column & a large diffusion pump (Branded Daia, 700 Watt, 570L/s), two small and one large (23kg!) ion pump(s). There is a ton load of other bits like pneumatic actuators, valves, sensors and the secondary electron & x-ray detectors. The main chassis could be useful as it's a very solid steel frame with rubber isolators for the main column so could make a great starting point for a vacuum system.Before i start taking things apart and making the video, what items should i NOT do a (coining Mike's phrase here) 'extreme teardown' on or which items should i be careful with because they might be useful for other experimenters and high vacuum fanboys?I'd love to take it all to many, many bits but i guess i might get lynched if i do end up destroying something particularly usefuli should point out that although some of the bits will be free, i will ask you cover cost of postage and most of those parts are extremely heavy and may not be suitable to post. To give you some idea the whole thing must be getting on for 1/4 ton!So if you think some part maybe useful to you or someone else, let me know, once i do my video and have a pile of parts we'll all know a lot more about what's available but see this thread as an open discussion about the parts, but if we can keep general discussion of the machine to the other thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/other-blog-specific/hitachi-scanning-electron-microscope-(sem)-teardown-give-away/

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 16, 2017, 04:23:22 pm
content: i have been having a poke around and referencing a partial service manual and found these items which should be useful to others, as i said in my original post the diffusion pump will be for sale but the other items (ie those below) will be free + post.there are three vacuum gauges, two pirani and a penning. There are a couple of boxes marked 'danger high voltage' so i'd say the chances are good i also have a power supply for the penning. Until i start pulling the wiring out it's hard to see where wires run to.there are several vacuum valves, switches etc and some pneumatic actuatorsi should point out that someone has provisionally taken the electron gun and the secondary electron detectori'll post up again when i have more info...

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2017, 04:54:08 pm
content: Damn, I'd love to get ahold of the whole thing...I kind of wish I could play around with something like this. Pity someone took the detector and gun... dang it.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 16, 2017, 05:23:35 pm
content: i'd love to play with it too but it would be a epic undertaking to make use of it as it isi am hoping someone might take the diffusion pump and the chamber assembly (the beige bit), the electron gun/coils/column assembly (the silver column) could be removed from the main chamber and replaced with a glass or plastic cover which would make it much more manageable, you would loose those ion pumps though. But i don't know what condition they are in anyway as they have a limited lifespan

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2017, 05:37:18 pm
content: If I had that thing at my place, I wouldn't have the heart to tear it apart.I'd just keep pondering if there were any way to get it working again.