Technical information
Table Of Contents

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Withdraw and then re-engage again. Thermal drift or other 
reasons may cause the z-center to change gradually with time. 
It change suddenly when if tip leaves the surface resulting in a 
fully retracted piezo (-220V). 
•
••
• Avoid using maximum scan sizes for long periods of 
time. Some crystals have sensitivities which will allow them 
to scan much larger than their nominal size specification. 
Running a crystal near maximum scan size over many days 
will result in a gradual lowering of sensitivity, which will 
change the calibration. The slight decrease will tend to level 
out as the crystal ages. 
V. USE OF STIFF CANTILEVERS / TAPPING 
MODE 
•
••
• Use Force Mode with extreme precaution. 
With stiff cantilevers (e.g. Si tapping mode air tips), force 
mode can potentially damage both the tip and sample. 
•
••
• Choose the setpoint as low as possible. 
•
••
• Before enabling the interleave drive amplitude, check 
that this value is not much greater than the main drive 
amplitude to prevent tip damage. 
VI. SOFTWARE / HARDWARE 
•
••
• Never leave the controller ON while the computer is 
turned off. The DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and Interface 
boards inside the computer are extensions of the Nanoscope 
Controller. They must be energized to maintain the 
Nanoscope controller at proper outputs. Without the 










