Rates
- 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 units of 15 minutes. 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 qualified user can access online scheduling.
- Re-qualification is required if the user has not operated the instruments for 6 months or more.
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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 a 5% annual increase in order to cover that eventuality.
Quanta FEG 650 (SEM)
USU Students, Staff and Faculty
Hourly fee (with USU account index#):
$25.48/h: new user training (with College and research office subsidy*)
$76.44/h: new user training (without College and research office subsidy*)
$52.42/h: trained user operation
$76.44/h: facility staff operation
$76.44/h: re-qualification.
Demo and project:
$75.97/h: Demo and projects must be run by MCF staff or a qualified user. The instructor has to provide an account number to pay for hourly charges.
SDL Users
SDL work will be carried out by facility staff at the posted rates.
$182.70/h: SDL/USU research foundation
Non-USU Users
$224.72/h: facility staff operation
Other Charges
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 specimen can be placed up to a 4-inch-diameter sample holder for each run.
$38.22/run for everyone
Grinder and Polisher (Buehler)
Machine time: minimum charge is 1 hour
$32.76/h for everyone
| Material | Unit price |
|---|---|
| 1 inch epoxy mount | $3.31 |
| CarbiMet abrasive paper | $1.66 |
| Micro cloth, 8 inch | $7.35 |
| Micro cloth, 12 inch | $8.82 |
| Trident cloth, 8 inch | $12.60 |
| Polishing Diamond suspension, 9, or 3, or 1 µm | $4.41 |
| Polishing Alumina or Silica suspension, 0.05 µm | $3.31 |
| Vibratory Polishing suspension, Alumina or Silica | $18.74 |
Critical Point Dryer (Tousimis Autosamdri-931)
One can load up to 12 (diameter <= 7 mm) specimen, or 10 (diameter 9-13 mm) glass cover slips, 5 (1 cm x 1 cm) die, or 1 (diameter = 1 inch) specimen.
$38.22/run for everyone
Optical Microscope (Olympus BX-41)
Machine time: minimum charge is 1 hour
$32.76/h for everyone
Other Material
| Material | Unit price |
|---|---|
| SEM 12.7 mm pin mount | $0.44 |
| SEM storage tube for 12.7 mm pin mount | $0.71 |
| SEM 25.4 mm pin mount | $3.14 |
| SEM storage tube for 25.4 mm pin mount | $3.86 |
| SEM Paper storage box | $1.66 |
| SEM large storage box and holder | $13.23 |
| TEM lacey grid | $3.86 |
| Aqueous Glutaraldehyde EM Grade 50% , 10mL | $4.85 |
| HEPES Buffer, 12 g powder | $36.28 |
| Glass coverslips, 10 mm dia. 0.13-0.17 mm thickness | $1.00 |
| Si piece + storage box | $1.06 |