Hi Ed,

I couldn't have phrased this any better.

Well done

Shay Kaplan

-----Original Message-----
From: mems-talk-bounces@memsnet.org [mailto:mems-talk-bounces@memsnet.org]
On Behalf Of Edward Sebesta
Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2009 7:08 AM
To: 'General MEMS discussion'
Subject: Re: [mems-talk] Replacement of critical point drying

This online PDF paper reviews the technology of release and issues relating
to surface tension and beams adhering to the substrate.

http://www.appliedmst.com/pdf/references/ssr_Maboudian.pdf

Besides the methods of dilution with alcohols, another method is to freeze
the immersed solution and then do a sublimination in a vacuum.

HOWEVER, the real problem is that your CPD equipment is broken and it needs
to be fixed. Someone at your institution needs to do his or her job and fix
it. Other people need to stop accepting excuses from your maintenance people
for not getting it fixed.

You should start investigating the machine and read the manual and making
inquiries. You should call the vendor, send the vendor write ups of what you
observed, etc. Read blueprints, drawings, etc. Take measurements.

This will get maintenance somewhat concerned that you might actually fix it
before they do, and you really might fix it before they do. Even if you are
bewildered by the cause, persist and act as if you might find the cause
shortly. The motivating threat is that you will find the cause and have a
fix before the people who are paid to fix the equipment do and they will be
revealed to be ineffectual.

You will first get from maintenance a lot of reasons why it is hopeless from
the maintenance person to get you to give up. Ignore their sob stories. When
you are not dissuaded, and persist, it will often get the person motivated
to get moving and earn his or her wage and get it fixed before you do. The
basic thing is to persist. A lot of problems are not one quarter as
difficult as they seem to be.

If they do fix it, you will have to listen to a story about how it was a
great obstacle and they overcame it. Be polite and pretend you accept the
story no matter how obvious it was that it was a simple thing to fix.

A lot of maintenance people are good, but learning to prod lazy maintenance
people to do their job is worth any three graduate level courses at the
university.

Basically it comes down to this, either maintenance can fix it, or they
can't. If they can't fix equipment, they are a needless cost.

Ed