Loading Holders

Every transmission electron microscope (TEM) specimen holder in the Electron Microscopy Center (EMC) needs to be loaded using a different procedure. This series of images shows many of our holders in both the open state (ready to receive a grid) and the closed state (ready to insert into a microscope). The first two holders are prepared for loading by loosening one or more screws, the next two holders have a simple hinged clamping mechanism to lock grids into position and the final holder has a very complicated procedure for loading grids that requires considerable practice to accomplish (especially when the holder is cold).