New tips.

I had the revelation yesterday that the tip ui was using was too long. just couldn't manipulate the tip any way such that i could get it onto the surface to take a picture. So today i am etching new tips. The tip etching is done electrochemically. You dunk the tip into a bowl of NaOH, run AC through it at 10V and the NaOH etches the tungsten away until it eventually breaks at the surface into the right shape. This sounds easy but you have to make sure the length of the tip is right to within 0.1mm. This is difficult as the NaOH concentration is changing from tip to tip. and the etch conditions keep changing. say the angle of the wire to the surface of the NaOH is off... oops have to do it again!

So i have three tips now which are a little bit short... but only 0.2mm too short. i think i can use them but i want to have another couple that are exactly right to use as well. I have been at it for 4 hours now. Must keep attention for just another couple more hours... also need to get myself some new books to read tonight. It is difficult to get to sleep without a bit of reading before bed.. i find at least.