Manufacturer: Technics
Model: Hummer VI
Description: Deposits a conductive thin film coating. Sputter deposition is usually uniform and reproducible, yielding fine grain, adherent films. Used for SEM sample preparation. 
Key Features: Average deposition thickness of 300 Å Au, up to 9 samples at a time.
Materials Restrictions: Sample must be dry, and low outgassing substrates, and be stable under mechanical vacuum. Au and Au/Pd are available for deposition.

​General Information: A sputter coater is used to deposit a thin film of material on top of a sample. Gold and gold/palladium are commonly sputter coated materials. The material which coats the sample are placed in the sputter coater as "targets."

Manufacturer: Cressington
Model: 108C
Description: Deposits a conductive thin film of carbon. Used for SEM and EDS sample preparation.
Key Features: Feedback-controlled rod evaporation system gives multiple evaporations of ~20nm thickness without need for rod shaping or adjustment. Ability to coat 12 SEM/EDS pin-mounted samples at a time. Fitted with a MTM-10 High Resolution Thickness Monitor. Resolution is better than 0.1nm for carbon and able to give 5% reproducibility of coating thickness in the 15-25nm range.
Materials Restrictions: Sample must be dry, and low outgassing substrates, and be stable under mechanical vacuum.

​General Information: A carbon coater is used to coat non-conductive specimens prior to SEM X-ray analysis. High purity stepped carbon rods are used to provide superior coating quality that is usable at high magnifications.

Manufacturer: Fisher Scientific
Model: Isotemp 281A
Description: Used for the heat materials, to high temperatures in a vacuum to carry out processes such as brazing, sintering and heat treatment.
Key Features: 10 inches wide, 1000-watt wraparound element, inlet outlet valves for inert gas air replacement. Integrated mechanical vacuum pump capable of pressures below 500 mTorr.
​Materials Restrictions: Sample must fit in the internal dimensional limitation of 9.5W x 11D x 9.5H inches.

​General Information: Vacuum ovens are used to dry samples which contain water or other solvents before they are placed in a scanning electron microscope. If water is brought into the vacuum system of the SEM, it can harm the instrument. Samples are often pumped down under vacuum overnight. 

Manufacturer: Branson
Model: 2510 Ultrasonic Cleaner
Description: Applies sonic vibrations to a sample in an ultrasonic bath in order to agitate particles in or on a sample, for various purposes such as lithography and sample cleaning.
Key Features: Sonicates at 40 kHz frequency, adjustable temperature from 20-60 ˚C, degasification, 99 min digital timer, 60 min mechanical timer and heat switch
​Materials Restrictions: Sample must within the dimensional limitation of the 9.5L x 5.5W x 4H inch tank.

​General Information: Sonicators are used to clean samples, and aid in mixing solutions. In the lithography process a sonicator is often used to assist with metal liftoff. Large sonicators are sometimes used in auto shops to clean car parts.

Manufacturer: ChemSols
Model: Spin Coater CSS-05
Description: A device used to apply uniform thin films to the surface of a flat substrate.
Key Features: Dual stage timer for separate spread and drawing steps, spread time 0-18 sec, dry time 0-60 sec, variable speed 600-1000 rpm.
​Materials Restrictions: Locally flat substrates less than 4 cm and larger than 1.5 cm in diameter.

​General Information: A spincoater is used to apply photoresist to wafers as part of the lithography process. A vacuum chuck is used to hold the wafer down as it spins. Typical spin speeds are between 1,000 and 5,000 rpm.

Manufacturer: Epilog
Model: Zing16
Description: A high powered laser cuts or engraves a sample.  Laser cutter can be used to make labels or cut out flat prototypes.
Key Features: 30 Watt CO2 laser and cutting table.  Vector cutting of acrylic up to 1/4 inch thick. Raster engraving mode. Equipped with HEPA filter unit and compressed air unit.
​Material Restrictions: Samples must be flat. Cutting stage is 16 in x 12 in.  Sample materials include acrylic, cardboard, paper, wood, and rubber. Will engrave anodized aluminum. Will not cut metals or ceramics. Halogenated plastics such as PVC are not allowed.

​​General Information: A laser cutter is used to cut thin sheets of plastic, wood, rubber, cardboard and paper. Most laser cutters can also raster engrave a pattern on the surface of a sample. Simple CO2 lasers are not powerful enough to cut through metals, glass, or ceramics.  

Manufacturer: MakerBot Industries
Model: Replicator2
Description: 3D extrusion printer.  Prints using PLA filament.
Key Features: Can print 3D objects up to 15 cm × 25 cm × 12 cm in size.
Materials Restrictions: PLA is the only printing material. The Replicator2 is not equipped to print ABS or other materials.

​General Information: 3-D printers produce three dimensional objects designed in CAD software. With a 3-D printer, it is possible to build parts for custom lab instruments and fittings. The popularity of 3-D printers is growing rapidly. They are part of the exciting field of additive manufacturing.