The next EDFAS Lone Star Chapter Meeting will be May 25 (joint meeting with IEEE Reliability Society)
 
Location: Holiday Inn Express, 700 Central Parkway East, Plano TX 75074.
Time: Social - 6:00pm - 6:40pm (food and drink will be provided)
General business meeting - 6:40pm - 6:55pm
Technical presentations - 7:00pm
Map to Holiday Inn Express Plano
See the WebEx connection information below.
 
Title:  Xidex’s NanoBot® System for Failure Analysis
 
Abstract:
 
An overview of the NanoBot® nanomanipulation system will be presented, including applications to electrical testing, mechanical probing, nanodevice assembly.  The system is usable both in-air and in-vacuum, and examples of both types of operation will be described.  Carbon nanotube AFM Tip fabrication using the NanoBot® system will be described. A carbon nanotube (CNT) attached to the end of a conventional silicon (Si) atomic force microscope (AFM) tip enables scanning with higher spatial resolution and less tip wear than would otherwise be possible. The exceptional ease of use and mechanical stability of the NanoBot system make it possible to quickly accomplish this important nanofabrication task inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM).  A method will also be described for electrical characterization of a Pt nanotip fabricated on the end of a sharp W probe using electron beam induced deposition (EBID) performed using Xidex’s Parallel Gas Injection System (PGIS). The W probe carrying the Pt nanotip was mounted on the XYZ nanopositioner of Xidex’s NanoBot® system, which provides the high level of mechanical stability needed to hold the probe tip in contact with a Cu substrate during electrical testing.  Another application of the PGIS to vapor phase editing of CNT based nanodevices will be described. This application illustrates an editing process for: (1) precise nanometer-scale linear etching operations, including carbon nanotube (CNT) cutting, shortening, cleaning, and other operations involving individual CNTs, and (2) precise micron-scale area etching operations, including cleaning entire areas of unwanted nanotube overgrowth.  Another example that will be described is AFM cantilever spring constant calibration using the NanoBot® nanomanipulator equipped with a force sensor attachment.  The nanomanipulator was used to calibrate the spring constant of an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever by deflecting the AFM tip with a calibrated force sensor module mounted as an end effector. The method as described uses a NanoBot system installed in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). However the method can also be applied in air using a high resolution optical microscope. Spring constants determined by the method apply directly to situations where static deflection is of primary importance. Finally, a method will be described for fabrication and testing of high resolution electrical probes using the NanoBot® System.  The NanoBot® nanomanipulator and the optional Parallel Gas Injection System make it possible to custom-fabricate high resolution electrical probes for use in a wide variety of nanoscience applications in industry and academia. In the applications described here, high resolution electrical probes are fabricated in the sample chamber of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) using two different methods starting with conventional sharp tungsten (W) probes: (1) attaching a carbon nanotube (CNT) tip to a sharp W probe using a platinum (Pt) weld; and (2) using electron beam-induced deposition (EBID) to fabricate a high aspect ratio Pt nanotip on the apex of a W probe. In both methods, the ultra-low drift, dexterity and ease of use of the NanoBot system play an important role by enabling the required operations to be performed in a few minutes and with minimal operator training.
 
Bio:
 
Dr. Paul F. McClure is CEO of Austin-based Xidex Corporation, which manufactures and sells the NanoBot® system, an easy-to-use, highly versatile, user programmable nanomanipulator featuring specialized end-effectors, including the Parallel Gas Injection System (PGIS), for nanodevice fabrication and testing inside scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) and focused ion beam (FIB) tools.  Xidex’s  mission is to enhance the R&D productivity of nanoscientists and nanotechnologists in both industry and academia. The company offers best-in-class turnkey solutions to customers with well-defined requirements that are stable over time, and highly adaptable solutions to customers who need a system that can easily be augmented with additional plug-and-play nanopositioners and end-effectors as their needs evolve.  Prior to co-founding Xidex, Dr. McClure provided new business development services, marketing assistance and management consulting to technology oriented business clients. He has represented a venture capital firm, Columbine Ventures, and corporate investors with due diligence services. He is experienced with transferring innovative technology from the university laboratory to the commercial marketplace. Dr. McClure founded Austin-based DTM Corporation, and built this company into a successful pioneer of the rapid prototyping industry. DTM was the first member company of the Austin Technology Incubator, which has since become the centerpiece of Austin's well-known technology commercialization community.  Dr. McClure served on NSF’s SBIR Program Advisory Committee. He is the author of “The New Entrepreneur’s Guidebook,” published by Crisp Publications. Dr. McClure received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University in 1972, his MS in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University in 1969 and his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University in 1967. He did postdoctoral work at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland and at the University of Cambridge, England.
 
WebEx Connection:
 
Topic: EDFAS Lone Star Chapter Meeting
Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Time: 7:30 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Meeting Number: 689 611 764
Meeting Password: Webinar11


-------------------------------------------------------
To join the online meeting (Now from mobile devices!)
-------------------------------------------------------
1. Go to https://asminternational.webex.com/asminternational/j.php?ED=129175137&UID=0&PW=NOGI1MDFmMzdk&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D
2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: Webinar11
4. Click "Join".
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

To view in other time zones or languages, please click the link:
https://asminternational.webex.com/asminternational/j.php?ED=129175137&UID=0&PW=NOGI1MDFmMzdk&ORT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

-------------------------------------------------------
To join the audio conference only
-------------------------------------------------------
To receive a call back, provide your phone number when you join the meeting, or call the number below and enter the access code.
Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-469-3239
Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-650-429-3300
Toll-free dialing restrictions: http://www.webex.com/pdf/tollfree_restrictions.pdf

Access code:689 611 764

-------------------------------------------------------
For assistance
-------------------------------------------------------
1. Go to https://asminternational.webex.com/asminternational/mc
2. On the left navigation bar, click "Support".