Rates

Effective July 1, 2026

  • These rates do not include sample stubs, fixation chemicals, and other consumables.  The minimum sign-up time is 1 hour. Usage exceeding the booked time will be charged in 15-minute increments. Cancellation is acceptable by 5 PM, the day before the appointment.
  • Please contact the facility manager for training, if you plan to become a qualified user to run your own samples.
  • A user must pass tests to be qualified to use the instrument with minimum assistance. Only a qualified user can access online scheduling.
  • Re-qualification is required if the user has not operated the instruments for 6 months or more.
  • The Office of Research anticipates an annual increase in rates for the MCF, based on normal patterns of inflation. Accordingly, when writing proposal budgets, please include an 8% annual increase in order to cover that eventuality.

Quanta FEG 650 (SEM)

Scheduling
Please contact facility manager FenAnn Shen at fenann.shen@usu.edu or (435) 797-8560.

USU Students, Staff, and Faculty

Hourly fee (with USU account index#):

  • $88.48/hour: *new user training (PI - $29.50; College - $29.49; Research Office - $29.49)
  • $60.68/hour: trained user/non-assisted use
  • $88.48/hour: facility manager operation
  • $88.48/hour: re-qualification

Demo and project:

  • $340.00/hour: Demo and projects must be run by MCF manager or a qualified user. The instructor has to provide an account number to pay for hourly charges.

SDL Users

SEM work (including sample preparation) will be carried out by the facility manager at the posted rates.

  • $340.00/hour

Non-USU Users

SEM work (including sample preparation) will be carried out by the facility manager at the posted rates.

  • $340.00/hour

Other Charges

User-prepared samples must be approved by the staff to avoid damaging the tool.

Carbon/Metal Coater (EMS-150T ES)

High vacuum sputter coating at P ≲ 3 x 10-5 mbar of Au or Au/Pd (60:40) up to 10 nm thickness, or C up to 25 nm. All specimens can be placed up to a 4-inch-diameter sample holder for each run.

  • $44.25/run for everyone

Grinder and Polisher (Buehler)

Machine time: minimum charge is 1 hour

  • $37.93/hour for everyone
Material Unit Price
1-inch epoxy mount $3.83
CarbiMet abrasive paper $2.10
Micro cloth, 8 inch $8.11
Micro cloth, 12 inch $9.72
Trident cloth, 8 inch $13.89
Polishing Diamond suspension, 9, 3, or 1 µm $4.86
Polishing Alumina or Silica suspension, 0.05 µm $3.65
Vibratory Polishing suspension, Alumina or Silica $20.66

Critical Point Dryer (Tousimis Autosamdri-931)

One can load up to 12 (diameter <= 7 mm) specimens, or 10 (diameter 9-13 mm) glass cover slips, 5 (1 cm x 1 cm) dies, or 1 (diameter = 1 inch) specimen.

  • $44.25/run for everyone

Optical Microscope (Olympus BX-41&Stereo)

Machine time: minimum charge is 1 hour

  • $37.93/hour for everyone

Other Material

Material Unit Price
SEM 12.7 mm pin mount $0.48
SEM storage tube for 12.7 mm pin mount $0.79
SEM 25.4 mm pin mount $3.47
SEM storage tube for 25.4 mm pin mount $4.25
SEM Paper storage box $1.83
SEM large storage box and holder $14.58
TEM lacey grid $4.25
Aqueous Glutaraldehyde EM Grade 50%, 10mL $5.34
HEPES Buffer, 12 g powder $39.99
Glass coverslips, 10 mm dia. 0.13-0.17 mm thickness $0.53
Si piece + storage box $1.17