Patent ID: 8592763

Claim:
A method of operating an ion beam sample preparation apparatus having a tilting ion beam irradiating means to prepare a sample, the sample durably adhered to a shield, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving the shield into a shield retention stage, the shield retention stage being further characterized as having a first datum feature and a second datum feature, the shield being further characterized as having a third datum feature and a fourth datum feature; b) retaining said shield in the shield retention stage with a shield retention means such that: i) the first datum feature of the shield retention stage abuts the third datum feature of the shield, and, ii) the second datum feature of the shield retention stage abuts the fourth datum feature of the shield; iii) a first shielding surface of the shield is disposed in the path of the ion beam and positioned to shield a portion of the ion beam directed at the first shielding surface when said shield is held in the shield retention stage; c) operating a tilt drive such that the tilting ion beam irradiating means is disposed at a first tilt angle with respect to the shield; and, d) operating the tilting ion beam irradiating means at the first tilt angle to project an ion beam toward the first shielding surface.