Ch. 1. System Overview Sec. 1.1. Basic Cypher SPM Hardware
Computer The computer is the primary interface for controlling the microscope; its main communi-
cation is via a USB1.1 connection to the ARC2 AND via USB 2.0 directly from the computer to the
Cypher. See
Figure 22.1 on page 264 for recommended USB ports to use.
ARC2 The ARC2 (Asylum Research Controller 2) is what is colloquially referred to as “the controller”.
It houses power supplies and the necessary electronics for controlling the scan motion and acquiring
image data from the microscope.
Microscope The microscope itself, where the actual imaging takes place, is the heart of the AFM
system. Although the computer, controller, and microscope all comprise the Cypher, the microscope
itself will often be referred to as the Cypher.
The microscope is comprised of five basic components (see
Figure 1.2 on page 4): enclosure, chassis,
camera, scanner, and backpack. The enclosure, chassis, and backpack are common to all versions of the
Cypher. In contrast, the scanner and camera are designed to be modular and easily interchanged by the
user.
Objective
Scanner
View System
Enclosure
Chassis
(a) Front View. In this image the enclosure door is
open and the scanner is partially pulled out.
(b) Rear View
Figure 1.2.: Cypher parts basic nomenclature
Enclosure The primary function of the enclosure is to isolate the imaging portion of the microscope
from acoustic noise such as talking or music. Acoustic noise can cause the mechanical components
holding the sample to move, thereby showing up as noise in the microscope images. The secondary role
of the enclosure is to provide a local environment for the microscope itself, in which the temperature can
be controlled. Keeping the microscope at a constant temperature is important for maintaining long-term
control of the relative position between the cantilever and the sample. The air temperature controller
(ATC) is a Cypher option that can be used to maintain the temperature inside the enclosure. To learn
more about the enclosure and its options, please refer to
Part IV on page 181.
Chassis The chassis is the central structural unit supporting the scanner, camera, and head. While
the scanner and camera are modular units designed to be interchanged by the user, the head is just a
sub-assembly of the chassis and is permanently attached to the chassis. The head is responsible for
the detection of the cantilever deflection and has integrated motors that allow the user to automatically
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