1. VENTING THE AIRLOCK, PLACING SAMPLE AND PUMPING DOWN
2. TRANSFERING THE SAMPLE FROM AIRLOCK TO THE PCH MANIPULATOR
3. TRANSFERING THE SAMPLE TO THE MAIN CHAMBER MANIPULATOR
4. REMOVING THE SAMPLE FROM THE MAIN CHAMBER MANIPULATOR
5. TAKING THE SAMPLE OUTSIDE

Figure.2 Microscope overview. Note that the MCH turbo is hidden behind the MCH ion pump right underneath the MCH. The airlock valve separating the airlock from the PCH is opened (closed) by moving the airlock stage up (down), which is accessed from underneath the table, just below the airlock.

1. VENTING THE AIRLOCK, PLACING SAMPLE AND PUMPING DOWN
   • Move the airlock stage all the way down in order to close the viton seal that separates it from the preparation chamber. It should be tightened firmly. However, make sure not to overtighten the airlock seal!!!
   • Make sure that the valve separating small turbo from the big turbo of the main chamber (under the microscope table) is closed (folded: closed, unfolded: open).
   • Turn off the small turbo, by pressing the START/STOP button on the turbo controller placed in the rack on the right-hand side.
   • Keep and eye on the preparation chamber pressure at all times!! Stop the venting in case you suspect that the airlock valve is leaking.
   • Open the nitrogen gas flow (controlled by the tap behind the microscope) slightly, so that one can feel that the gas is leaking from the gas line connected loosely to the turbo vent valve.
   • Leak nitrogen gas following the pirani gauge reading, staying below 10^-1 mbar range until the turbo spins down completely.
   • Keep the primary pump running until the turbo is completely spun down. Only then, switch it off by pressing the red on/off button, which is placed next to the turbo controller on the rack.
   • Open the turbo vent valve more, and wait until the pressure is close to roughly 600 mbar.
   • Loosen the two screws on the airlock flange, remove the flange.
   • Place the sample in the airlock stage (it should slide on the rails), using the transfer stick. Make sure that the sample cartridge is firmly in place, otherwise the airlock stage cannot be raised into the preparation chamber!!
   • Close the turbo vent valve (do not overtighten!). Turn off the gas flow.
   • Close the airlock flange, and tighten the two screws (do not overtighten!).
   • Start the primary pump by pushing the red on/off button on the rack.
   • When the pressure reading on the pirani gauge controller shows below 10 mbar, start the turbo by pressing the START/STOP button on its controller. It should spin up to normal operation (75 krpm) within few minutes. In the normal operation, the current and power should be around 0.34 A and < 20 w respectively (as observed on the turbo controller screen). If the readings are higher, there might be a leak!
   • Pump at least 30 minutes, before opening the valve to the preparation chamber.
   
   
   
2. TRANSFERING THE SAMPLE FROM AIRLOCK TO THE PCH MANIPULATOR
   • When the airlock has been pumped for long enough, open the valve between the airlock and the preparation chamber, by moving up the airlock stage. Check the pressures.
   • To place the sample on the transfer arm, move the airlock stage all the way up. Make sure that the transfer arm is retracted completely! Otherwise there is the danger of bending the airlock stage, which would render the valve unusable.
   • Insert the transfer arm into the sample cartridge. The pins at the very end of the transfer arm have to be horizontal to be inserted. Never apply too much force on the arm. When inserted properly, the second pair of pins will push against the cartridge. In this position, gently push the transfer arm against the cartridge, and turn it 90 degrees (in either direction). Now the pins outside the cartridge have to be horizontal. The arm is locked, and the sample can be retracted out of the airlock stage.
   • Retract the transfer arm completely out, to allow for lowering the airlock stage. Then lower the stage to the point where it won't obstruct the passage of the sample (it should at least be aligned to the bottom of the viewport flange).
   • Raise the preparation chamber manipulator all the way up (in fact, ~1 mm lower than the highest position). Insert the sample in the rails. Make sure that the cartridge is horizontal, and both of its sides enter the rail!
   • Push in the transfer arm lightly and turn it 90 degrees (in either direction) to unlock the pins. In this position (where the pins outside the cartridge are aligned vertically), it should be possible to take the transfer arm out. If there is resistance, "jiggle" slightly turning the arm few degrees back and forth, to help it come out. If you still not manage to take it out, do not change the height of the manipulator with the arm inserted!. Simply lock the arm on the cartridge, remove the sample from the manipulator, and start again.
   • Taking out the transfer arm, the sample cartridge may come out slightly. In order to have it sitting properly in the manipulator, push against it lightly with the transfer arm.
   • Note that, removing the sample from the manipulator onto the transfer arm is done in the same way by inserting the arm, pushing it lightly and turning it 90 degrees to lock it on the cartridge, and then retracting it together with the sample.
   
   
   
3. TRANSFERING THE SAMPLE TO THE MAIN CHAMBER MANIPULATOR
   • MAKE SURE THAT THE HIGH VOLTAGE IS TURNED OFF!!!
   • Retract the main chamber (MCH) manipulator out, until the rails (which can be seen from the top viewport) are more or less centered. It is very important that the tilt and translation stages of the MCH manipulator are centered before doing this!!!! Otherwise the manipulator will be permanently damaged!
   • Place the sample on the transfer arm. As explained previously, this has to be done by putting in the transfer arm, pushing against the cartridge lightly, and turning it 90 degrees to lock the pin system.
   • Move the PCH manipulator completely down, to clear the way for the passage of the sample into the MCH.
   • Check the pressure. If the PCH pressure is 10^-7 mbar or better, open the valve between PCH and MCH.
   • Move the sample slowly into the main chamber with the cartridge in horizontal position. Watch from the top viewport not to collide with the mu-metal shield. When the sample can be seen through the MCH viewport (obviously before it reaches the mu-metal shield), turn it 90 degrees, so that the sample is vertical, and is facing the objective lens. Move the sample in this position towards the rails of the MCH manipulator. Make sure not to scratch the mu-metal shield with the clips of the cartridge. Always looking from the top window, insert the cartridge in the rail system, push in lightly and turn the transfer arm 90 degrees to release the locking pins. When you remove the arm, push in the cartridge lightly to make sure that it is sitting in the manipulator properly.
   • Retract the transfer arm completely, and close the PCH-MCH valve.
   • Move in the sample towards the manipulator. At this point, refer to the microscope alignment procedure.
   
   
   
4. REMOVING THE SAMPLE FROM THE MCH MANIPULATOR
   • MAKE SURE THAT THE HIGH VOLTAGE IS TURNED OFF!!!
   • Center the tilt and translation of the sample manipulator! This step is very important, as permanent damage will be done to the manipulator otherwise.
   • Retract the sample away from the objective, until the cartridge is centered looking from the top viewport.
   • If the pressure in the PCH is 10^-7 mbar or better, open the PCH-MCH valve, and bring the transfer arm slowly into the MCH. Again, make sure not to collide with or scratch the mu-metal shield.
   • Insert the arm into the cartridge, push in lightly, and turn it 90 degrees to lock them.
   • Retract slowly the arm with the sample cartridge on it. Note that, once the sample is free from the manipulator, you will have to move the manipulator even further out, so that the clips of the cartridge will not scratch the mu-metal shield.
   • Once the sample is out of the mu-metal shield, turn the transfer arm, so that the sample is facing upwards, and move it out from the MCH into the PCH. Close the PCH-MCH valve.
   
   
   
5. TAKING THE SAMPLE OUTSIDE In a similar way to the steps above, place the sample on the transfer arm, pull it out completely, and move the airlock stage all the way up. Place the sample on the rails of the airlock stage, push in the arm and turn it 90 degrees to unlock. Make sure that the sample sits properly by pushing against it with the transfer arm, once the arm is out. Then move the airlock stage all the way down to seal the airlock valve, and follow the steps above to VENT THE AIRLOCK.