After a few months’ practice 3D modelling in SOLIDWORKS and successfully delivered a number of 3D printed birthday gifts, I guess I’m ready to take off and start something more sophisticated.
I have always considered myself as a TEMist and been trying to help beginners to understand this fascinating technology. However, TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) is known for its steep learning curve, even the first step by loading a 3mm diameter foil into sample holder seems daunting for some fresh learners. Teaching beginners is getting even more challenging under the current COVID situation, as this operation would be better assisted under the binocular, but people have to maintain physical distancing in the lab .
I was recently inspired by a great design of 3d printed Cryo EM sample loading tool from πͺππππ π³ππ in Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (Check out his twitter video for the design https://twitter.com/i/status/1106443058189484033). So I decided to design a teaching tool myself for the good old FEI hexnut type sample holder to those in materials science research (yes, we are still using the reliable hexnut sample holders).
So here you go – A 3D Printed Training Kit for TEM Sample Loading Demonstration. Please feel free to download the files from my thingiverse page and print or remix them yourselves.
BTW, thingiverse webpage editing seems getting quite broken recently. Any recommends for a place to share and upload models?
Printing Recipe
Filament: PLA
Resolution: For holy carbon layer, I printed it as one 0.08mm single layer with under extruded flow setting to reveal the tiny holes. For the rest, I was using 0.28mm to save time and material.
Infill: 15-20% (I was using 15% for the hex tool and 20% for the rest)
Other: No need for raft or support. Better to add brim for printing hex tool due to its aspect ratio. Holy carbon layer and copper grid are superglued together.
ZXmake.dev 
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