Any idea how to bake the column of a SEM?

AI Thread Summary
Baking the column and gun chamber of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) is necessary to remove contaminants, especially after a period without power. The estimated cost for professional assistance from the manufacturer is around $17,000, prompting the search for DIY solutions. One effective method involves using heater tape, a metallic tape with a resistive wire that generates heat when current flows through it. Wrapping the heater tape around the vacuum chamber while pumping can help drive off volatile contaminants. This approach provides a cost-effective alternative for undergraduate researchers needing to maintain their SEM.
Old_Bob
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I am an undergraduate researcher and my university had an SEM donated to us by DOW chemical. It since has been without power and we have to bake the column and the gun chamber. Contacting the company they estimate $17k to send someone out to do it for us. I'm having difficulty finding material online for how to do this. Does anyone know how?
 
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In my past experience we baked out vacuum systems by wrapping them with heater tape. This is a metallic tape with a resistive wire inside that heats up when you pass current through it. If you google "heater tape" you will find several sources. You wrap the heater tape around the vacuum chamber and then pump on it while you heat it up to drive off volatile contaminants.
 
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Thank you! I'll look into it
 

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