Hardware Podcasts

An Interview with Adam McCombs

The Amp Hour · 25 Feb 2019 · 1h 16m · Episode 431

What this episode covers

Adam McCombs, who runs a business repairing and relocating electron microscopes, explains the complex physics and engineering behind scanning (SEM), transmission (TEM), and scanning tunneling (STM) microscopes. He details the challenges of achieving ultra-high vacuum using turbo and diffusion pumps, the high-voltage electronics required to generate and focus electron beams, and the sample preparation techniques like gold sputter coating. McCombs also discusses the physical dangers of moving these top-heavy, high-voltage instruments and the specific failure modes encountered during troubleshooting.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
FEI, Thermo Fisher, Allen Institute of Brain Research, NWNCLabs
Products
ISI Super 3A, Joel 35 C, Joel 1200 EX Mark one, Phillips EM 400 T, Phillips EM 410 TEM
Also
Ben Kravsno, Dan Berard, Vacuum Hackers

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