We are fortunate to look after and support users in advanced analytical X-ray analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Current charges for access are detailed here.
You will be required to provide a cost center or billing information prior to gaining access to the facility. Billing typically is made quarterly for access.
Academic/non-profit rates (per hour):
| Instrument | In Hours | Out of Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Frank Forward 419 Instruments | ||
| TF Quanta (W-SEM, w/ EDS)* | $40 | |
| TF Phenom (CeB6-SEM, w/ EDS, low vac, MAPS)* | $40 | $20 |
| Apreo ChemiSEM (FEG-SEM w/ EBSD+EDS) | $65 | $20 |
| Brimacombe 63 Instruments | ||
| TESCAN MIRA (FEG-SEM) | $55 | $20 |
| TESCAN AMBER-X (pFIB-SEM, w/EBSD+EDS) | $90 | $30 |
All of our instruments can be operated either by trained users, or by our skilled technical team. Users will need to be trained in our facility, or to demonstrate competency, prior to ‘in hours’ access. Out of hours access can be provided for suitably skilled users, or to run automated analyses overnight.
‘in hours’ rates are applied for regular working hours of the facility. This is usually 8 am to 6 pm for a regular workday (M-F), subject to access to the space. Statuary holidays, weekends, and evenings are considered ‘out of hours’. For instruments housed in Frank Forward 419, usually ‘out of hours’ access is limited to automated analysis that is scheduled prior to the facility being closed for the evening/weekend. You must be trained and signed off for out of hours access prior to booking, or using, the instrument in these hours. For any experiments left running over night, the next user or a member of the technical team must be informed.
Note that commercial rates are 2x academic/non-profit rates. Individual access arrangements can be made (e.g. to run a batch of samples, or to train a user to visit our facility).
Operator/technician time (for training or instrument use):
- Academic – $66 / hour
- Commercial – $135 / hour
Estimated Training Time Requirements:
- Quanta -this depends on the user(s) – discuss with the technician.
- Phenom – typically 2 hours – discuss with the technician.
- Apreo – this depends on the user(s) – typically 2 hours for basic training (imaging); 2 hours for advanced training (e.g. high magnification, mapping + more); 2 hrs for EDX; 2 hrs for EBSD.
- MIRA – training is 6 hrs of instrument time, and 4 hrs of offline study.
- AMBER-X pFIB-SEM – training is structured depending on user needs.
Other instruments in the facility:
X-ray Diffraction – with theta-theta powder, texture analysis, thin film analysis and residual stress analysis (Bruker D6 Phaser)*
- Academic – discuss with technician.
- Commercial – discuss with technician.
- Training – discus with technician.
Note this is a teaching and research focused instrument.
Sample preparation facilities include:
Mounting and polishing of a samples, e.g. a cross section; gold or carbon coating.
We also have a fume hood and electropolishing equipment.
PECS II
Users can be trained to operate the PECS II, or one of our technical team can operate the instrument.
- Academic – $20 / hour
- Commercial – $60 / hour
- Training – typically 1 hr with a technical member of our team.
For cross sectioning, there will be an additional charge for consumables.
For items marked with a * graduate and post doctoral trainees trainees in Materials Engineering may be provided access to this instrument free at point of access to conduct their academic research, subject to reasonable usage and such that they abide by the facility rules. Academics costing grants that rely on electron microscopy are asked to include a reasonable request for facility access in their grants, and suggested amounts can be discussed with the facility team. This money is used to support upkeep of the instruments, the provision of consumables, and repairs and minor upgrades of the equipment.
Costs are reviewed annually – these were last reviewed 2025/05/23 by Dr Ben Britton and Heli Eunike