What people say about us

 - Research Scientist NJ. U.S.A.

"Why have you not been to see us before, you have doubled the amount of information we have been able to obtain from our microscope, we have been missing so much."

- Aircraft Failure Analysis Laboratory UK

"We have been told not to touch so many controls but now we know which to use and why; some were so important!"

- University Dept  Australia

"We have learned so much more about the instruments and how we are able to obtain even more information from our specimens, no one seems to be able to present this information as well as you do!"

- Jet Engine Manufacturer UK.

"Why didn't you come here 20 years ago we needed to know this stuff!"

"When are you back in Australia I need to send more of my peopleon your courses?"

"People just do not know how little there knowledge is.  We are led to believe that our laboratory management understand these instruments but compared to your knowledge they are at kindergarten level!"

Why On Site training has its advantages 

You save valuable time by not having to travel to courses. A number of  operators  may be  trained  at the same time  within the same cost . Operators may be trained on the equipment that they normally use, a more positive approach to training. These courses are run in your own laboratory on your own instruments for up to four students. An opportunity to bring your staff up to date and to raise the level of microscopy expertise at a reasonable cost. The courses are exceedingly practical, in most cases totally taking place around the microscope or analyzer. The longer courses include lecture periods but these too are aimed at being very practical.

We offer training from a professional, training that we know will help your staff to have a better understand of the instruments.  Training that we know will help them to obtain even more information from their specimens, often making the impossible possible!  Do not become confused by what we call "training"!  Whilst we may train a client to use a particular instrument our technique is to educate them in electron microscopy, a skill that will be valuable no matter which instruments they use or what techniques will be required.

Whilst all of these courses follow the basic procedures set down we always try to understand the problems confronting a laboratory and tune the courses to suit.

H1 An Introduction to SEM - (Basic - designed to introduce new operators to the instrument)   A two day course designed to teach operators the basic principles of instrument operation and specimen preparation. The course is conducted around the instrument, and as such is limited to a maximum of four students. Electronic imaging should be made available for instant analysis of the photographic results.

The programme consists of an introduction to the SEM; image formation, magnification, electron guns, lenses, focus, astigmatism and beam deflection. The students are then taken through a standard operating procedure. Switching on, high voltage selection, filament saturation, imaging, focus and astigmatism correction. They have explained to them the use of spot size, working distance, depth of field, accelerating voltage, and the specimen manipulation facilities. These points are related to a series of standard specimens, the students themselves operating the instrument and producing photographic results. The second day is devoted to the preparation and examination by the students of specimens that are typical of the type that they may be investigating in the future. 

H2 Working With a SEM - (Basic-Intermediate, more time more features may be explored and explained.)  This is a three day course which may be used to introduce operators to the instrument. It will also help current users to more fully appreciate the instrument and its operating procedures. The lectures cover the production and control of the electron beam, lenses and their aberrations, and the optimization of operating variables for a wide range of specimens Basic imaging procedures are discussed, secondary electron, mixed images, and backscattered electron images. In the practical periods the same techniques are used as described in H1, including the preparation and observation of the students specimens.    

H3 High Resolution SEM and H4 Intensive SEM - (Intermediate-Advanced, almost all you need to know about getting the best from the instrument )   Available either as a two day add on course, High Resolution SEM, for students who have completed H2, or as a separate course, Intensive SEM, for those who have a good deal of operating experience, but have not attended any of our courses. Lectures on the five day course have the same introduction as H2, but move on to cover more advanced imaging techniques. The formation of SE1, SE2, SE3, SE4, SE5 and the backscattered information BSE1, BSE2, and BSE3 are discussed in detail. The emphasis is working with difficult specimens and at very high resolution. Here the optimization of the electron gun and the specimen position are given high priority. Practical periods allow the students to fully evaluate features that enhance SEM performance, including operating at the limit of performance over a range of kV.

H5 SEM Update - (Intermediate - a quick look at what the current operators may be missing if their last course was some years ago) A one day course designed to bring operators up to date with the latest techniques in specimen preparation and operation. A chance to have a specialist take a look at your instrument and the specimens that are causing YOU problems. 

  
H6 Basic X-ray Analysis - (Basic to Intermediate designed to teach microscope operators the features and operation of an EDS system)   A one day course which is designed to introduce the SEM user to the analytical techniques available on YOUR instrument. Conducted around the microscope and x-ray system, this course introduces analysis, the problems involved, and the operation of YOUR particular analyzer. Initially selected demonstration specimens are used, as the day moves on the students specimens are evaluated.

H7 Maintaining Your SEM - (Intermediate - designed to take those who must look after an instrument more competent with basic maintenance procedures.) A one day course where operators are taught the basic maintenance procedures for any SEM. Cleaning, calibration, vacuum maintenance and basic fault finding procedures are discussed and demonstrated.  

   
H8 An Introduction to TEM - (Basic - designed to introduce new operators to the instrument)   A two day course designed to teach operators the basic principles of instrument operation. The course is conducted around the instrument, and as such is limited to a maximum of four students.    
The programme consists of an introduction to the TEM; image formation, magnification, electron guns, lenses, focus, astigmatism and beam deflection. The students are then taken through a standard operating procedure. Switching on, high voltage selection, filament saturation, alignment, focus and astigmatism correction. They have explained to them the use of spot size, condenser and objective apertures, accelerating voltage, eucentricity and the specimen manipulation facilities. These points are related to a series of standard specimens, the students themselves operating the instrument and producing photographic results. The development of the negatives playing an important role within the course. The second day is devoted to the examination by the students of specimens that are typical of the type that they may be investigating in the future.    

H9 Working With a TEM - (Basic-Intermediate, more time more features may be explored and explained)  This is a three day course which may be used to introduce operators to the instrument. It will also help current users to more fully appreciate the instrument and its operating procedures. The lectures cover the production and control of the electron beam, lenses and their aberrations, and the optimization of operating variables for a wide range of specimens In the practical periods the same techniques are used as described in H8, including the preparation and observation of the students specimens.

   
H10 Understanding & Optimising TEM Performance (Basic to Advanced) - A five day course that moves at a speed to suit the students from basic principles through to very high resolution imaging and all of the techniques in between.  Includes all of H8 and H9 with very much more depth in both theory and practical periods.

H11 Maintaining Your TEM - (Intermediate - designed to take those who must look after an instrument more competent with basic maintenance procedures.)  A one day course where operators are taught the basic maintenance procedures for any TEM. Cleaning, calibration, vacuum maintenance and basic fault finding procedures are discussed and demonstrated.

H12 Monitoring & Maintaining The Electron Microscope - (Intermediate-Advanced just about everything we feel you should know about the instrument and how to maintain it.) The course includes all the features of the "Maintenance CD".   A five day course designed to take practicing microscopists into instrument maintenance, built on an understanding of preventative maintenance. Students are guided through understanding the functions of all parts of the instruments in far greater depth than required to simply operate the machine. The course also covers cleaning procedures, when and how, fault finding by way of analyzing the image, testing performance and basic electrical fault finding. We also offer hints on how local suppliers may reduce your costs to continue our theme of making do it yourself maintenance work.  A very practical course for those who have at least three years intensive operating experience.

H13 Quality in Electron Microscopy - (Intermediate- what you should know to take the first steps towards gaining an ISO standard for your laboratory.)  A one day add on course to any of the intermediate or advanced courses. Taking the user into improving the standards within an electron microscope facility

H14 Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy - (Intermediate - Advanced) A three day course designed to cater for those using field emission instruments and in particular instruments with in lens secondary electron detection of both SE and BSE.  This course is also available as a five day FEG SEM Masterclass.

Student Numbers And Courses may be combined and any number of people may attend provided they are divided into groups of four or less for the practical periods. Should you require more than four students to attend a course additional time may be required in order to complete the practical periods

Course Costs -

United Kingdom - Courses are charged at £520 per day, but this includes the trainers fees, the course interactive CD, course notes for up to four students, meals and accommodation.  Contact Protrain 07711 606967 or email protrain@emcourses.com 

Other parts of the World - We are cutting back on overseas travel so those interested in our courses should do so by direct  contact- +44 7711 606967 direct line or email protrain@emcourses.com

Are our "on site" courses beyond your budget?  Why not try our Portfoilio courses and by working on data that we send you, as well as working with us by email, you may still develop your electron microscopy skills?

For TEM click  or SEM click

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updated 09/03/2013