# Scanning Tunneling Microscope

#### **Development Log — Tip Etcher - Replicable Progress with Unforseen Challenges**

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th width="129.6796875"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Date</strong></td><td><strong>Item / Notes</strong></td></tr><tr><td>09/08/2025</td><td><p><strong>Purchase Order</strong></p><p>• Contacted BairdLabs via WhatsApp and placed an order for the Simple Tungsten Tip Etcher Kit</p></td></tr><tr><td>09/29/2025</td><td><p><strong>Assembly</strong><br>• Received shipment from BairdLabs LLC</p><p>• Assembled Baird Labs Simple Tungsten Tip Etcher kit following official build-guide video from bairdlabsllc.com.</p><p>Build Guide: <a href="https://youtu.be/4HjVKDu4558">https://youtu.be/4HjVKDu4558</a><br>• Full Assembly completed. Kit included all necessary mechanical and electrical components—no additional parts required.<img src="/files/1NE4jPtEhnlK6Os8W1fF" alt=""></p></td></tr><tr><td>10/19/2025</td><td><p><strong>Cathode Ring Issue</strong><br>• Discovered that the stainless-steel cathode ring arrived slightly deformed from shipping, causing improper fit in the provided glass beaker.<br>• Attempted reshaping; glass beaker cracked during refitting.<br>• Contacted Baird Labs — vendor acknowledged issue and shipped replacement ring and beaker with looser tolerance for future customers. </p><p></p><p><strong>Ring Fabrication Contingency</strong><br>• For other hackers, here is a fabrication procedure if unable to procure replacement from vendor and issue persists:<br> 1. Measure inner circumference of electrolyte beaker.<br> 2. Cut stainless-steel strip slightly longer than circumference.<br> 3. Use ring roller to form consistent curvature.<br> 4. Spot-weld overlap to close the loop and ensure conductivity.</p></td></tr><tr><td>10/24/2025</td><td><strong>Replacement Ring + Glass Beaker Arrived</strong></td></tr><tr><td>10/26/2025</td><td><p><strong>Calibrated Tip Etcher</strong></p><p>• Followed Baird Labs Calibration and Tip Etching Demo: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jelE-ZIFsOY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jelE-ZIFsOY</a></p><p>• Used Oscilloscope found in Hacker Fab</p><p>• Determined Cutoff Voltage to be 1.5V and Etching Voltage to be 12V using methedology presented in video and presented here:  <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LRynwpiyUP5ScslUSudtvaZtcyXq-GqG/view?usp=sharing">Link</a></p></td></tr><tr><td>11/09/2025</td><td><p><strong>Etched Atomically Sharp Tips</strong></p><p>• Followed our Hacker Fab Authored "How To Etch a Tip" Manual, integrating an Analog Discovery 3 and a laptop for repeatable etching. Full Steps outlined here: <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ji6zXpSCL5voDufHoooTXZGm6x2SABcdQe3HTDDaP_M/edit?usp=sharing">link</a> </p></td></tr><tr><td>11/10/2025</td><td><p><strong>Characterized Atomically Sharp Tips</strong></p><p>• Imaged our Tips using CMU MCF, discerned an upper bound on sharpness to be below 50nm in tip radius. </p><div><figure><img src="/files/jymSRWfAZ9itTDhzjrzq" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="/files/6KHU9U9VPauhvTv8D4ZS" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div></td></tr></tbody></table>

#### **Development Log — Positioning System - Replicable Progress with Unforseen Challenges**

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th width="129.75"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Date</strong></td><td><strong>Item / Notes</strong></td></tr><tr><td>09/08/2025</td><td><strong>Hardware Procurement</strong><br>• Created and finalized the <a href="/spaces/XgXjz6D0Vz2o0EOp8JO5">Positioning System Bill of Materials (BOM)</a>, listing all required fasteners,  aluminum, and piezo actuators.<br>• Ordered all parts from vendors that sell into the U.S. market, including McMaster-Carr and Digi-Key.</td></tr><tr><td>10/05/2025</td><td><p><strong>3D Printing — Shell and Shell Cover</strong><br>• Printed the shell and shell cover in <em>PLA</em> on a Bambu X1 Carbon while awaiting shipment of mechanical parts<br>• STL files: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fhlYp_1goYWuoimJqB0hcIpVkTQEOxQ1/view?usp=drive_link"><code>Shell.STL</code></a>, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j3fJhVKRkAiHV2iVulpom9rleipbWgkW/view?usp=sharing"><code>Shell_Cover.STL</code></a>.<br>• Shell: Grey PLA — 215 °C nozzle / 50 °C bed, 30 % infill, brim adhesion, 43 min.<br>• Shell Cover: White PLA — 200 °C nozzle / 60 °C bed, 10 % infill, brim adhesion, 50 min.</p><p><strong>Printing Issue and Remedy:</strong></p><div><figure><img src="/files/EiQFjxgtu99fdYiyurDK" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p><br>• Slight corner warping observed on the shell-cover; plan to increase bed temperature to 55 °C and widen brim adhesion in future prints.</p></td></tr><tr><td>11/10/2025</td><td><p><strong>Reprinted Shell and Shell-Cover</strong></p><p>• Printed the shell and shell cover in <em>PLA</em> on a Bambu X1 Carbon while awaiting shipment of mechanical parts<br>• STL files: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fhlYp_1goYWuoimJqB0hcIpVkTQEOxQ1/view?usp=drive_link"><code>Shell.STL</code></a>, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j3fJhVKRkAiHV2iVulpom9rleipbWgkW/view?usp=sharing"><code>Shell_Cover.STL</code></a>.</p><ul><li>Used what we learned about settings from our attempt on 10/05/2025</li></ul><div><figure><img src="/files/NptWETmI71d0jqPguJav" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div></td></tr><tr><td>12/01/2025</td><td><p>CNC'd the Aluminum Components</p><p>• Printed the alumunum components found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1E_MRQJIctkETBR0F1AxWQZVB8PpIxnKa?usp=drive_link">link</a> </p><div><figure><img src="/files/DC0Ih3JW4LDOhdwu8aUB" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>


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