This board is for general inquiries and information about Probe Software and its products. Please feel free to post any questions about our company or information about any of our products.
For those just getting started here is a basic list of useful links, starting with our main web page:
http://probesoftware.com/
The CalcZAF (our free EPMA utility product), Probe for EPMA (quantitative analysis) and Probe Image (quantitative mapping) update page:
https://www.probesoftware.com/resources/
Our current customer list:
https://www.probesoftware.com/about/customers/
A list of our microprobe "specialists" who perform installations and training on site:
https://www.probesoftware.com/about/specialists-consultants/
Probe Software is pleased to announce that Cameca and Probe Software have signed an agreement which allows Cameca to offer our software for all new instrument sales worldwide. We have had a similar agreement with JEOL for many years, but this is the first formal agreement between Probe Software and Cameca, so we are looking forward to further cooperation and collaboration with Cameca and their excellent electron microprobe instruments.
If you are considering purchasing a new Cameca SX5 instrument anywhere in the world, you should contact your local Cameca sales representative and ask them to include our Probe for EPMA and Probe Image software packages in your new instrument quotation. Our software package options are as follows:
Probe for EPMA (main application)
Integrated EDS/WDS quantification (currently for Bruker and Thermo SDD systems)
Probe Image (quantitative x-ray mapping)
Surfer and Grapher (scripting and presentation output)
Installation and Training (by one our our expert microprobe specialists)
For existing SX100 and SX5 instruments, please contact Probe Software directly for a quotation at barbara@probesoftware.com.
We just added a complete list of our products and services to our What We Offer page here:
http://probesoftware.com/What.html
Our latest product brochure can be found here:
http://probesoftware.com/download/probesoftware%208-30-2016%20single%20pages_reduc.pdf
Please let us know if you have any questions.
john
We've just updated our technical training and support brochure. Please take a look:
http://probesoftware.com/download/probe%20software%20training%20flyer.pdf
I've also updated our "Who We Work With" web page here:
https://www.probesoftware.com/about/specialists-consultants/
We don't claim that this is a complete list, so if you've collaborated with Probe Software and would like your name listed here as well, please just drop us a line. We want to include all our colleagues who have worked with us.
john
Beginning this year both JEOL and Cameca are "factory approved" re-sellers of our Probe for EPMA and Probe Image software, for advanced EPMA acquisition and analysis on new and existing EPMA instruments.
(https://smf.probesoftware.com/gallery/1_10_12_16_1_36_20.png)
Please contact us or your local JEOL or Cameca sales representative for details.
Remember, our Probe for EPMA and Probe Image software software are designed to run simultaneously *alongside* your JEOL or Cameca OEM software (usually on a separate computer) for simple to advanced EPMA applications and methods.
john
It seems worth mentioning again that our JEOL and Cameca (factory approved) software products can run alongside the JEOL or Cameca OEM applications (usually on separate computers), but connected to the same instrument *simultaneously* along with the OEM applications at the same time.
In the past this was not possible due to the nature of the instrument communications, but since the introduction of TCP/IP networked EPMA instruments starting with the JEOL 8900 and the Cameca SX100, there is essentially no practical limit to the number of computers/applications that can connect to the instrument at the same time. This provides enormous flexibility for both the developer and users.
I remember at the time when we first got this network communication working on an EPMA instrument and it was cool to watch a spectrometer start to move from one computer and even before it finished, start the same spectrometer moving in a different direction from the other computer and the spectrometer would slow down and reverse direction and proceed to completion. Wow I thought. This is going to be fun!
Just for illustration here is a JEOL 8200/8500 showing the JEOL UNIX software and the Probe for EPMA software running simultaneously. This is also true for the JEOL 8230/8530 instruments running the new PC based JEOL software applications.
(https://smf.probesoftware.com/gallery/1_15_12_17_12_18_46.jpeg)
And here is a Cameca SX100 instrument showing both the Cameca PeakSight software and the Probe for EPMA (and Thermo EDS) software running at the same time:
(https://smf.probesoftware.com/gallery/1_17_12_17_5_15_53.jpeg)
So the point is, with Probe Software EPMA applications, one gets to keep everything they already have with their instrument, but by making a simple network connection to the existing instrument network, one can open up a new world of analytical possibilities for improving accuracy and precision (and most importantly, laboratory throughput!).
I'm also attaching (please login to see attachments), a PPSX (Power Point Presentation Show) file below that describes some of these improvements that I presented recently. Sorry for the "advertising" nature of this post, but some people aren't aware of these cool networking capabilities of their instruments and we would like to help. :)
Please let me know if you have any questions.
john
Apologies if anyone has recently tried to update CalcZAF (our EPMA/ZAF/Phi-rho-z and Monte Carlo utility) or Probe for EPMA (our acquisition, automation and analysis software for JEOL and Cameca EPMA instruments), from the Help | Update menu, and got an error regarding the download.
This is occurring on some user computers and is related to our changing over to secure server pages. To update the free CalcZAF software you will need to (one time only) manually download the update file using this link here:
https://probesoftware.com/download/CalcZAF.msi
and run the installer file by double-clicking it. Once you do this, you can, from then on, update simply using the Help | Update menu as before.
To update Probe for EPMA you will need to (again, one time only), manually download the update file using this link here:
https://probesoftware.com/download/ProbeForEPMA.msi
and again run the installer file by double-clicking it. Future updates can be performed from the Help | Update menu as before. Note that the PFE download requires a user and password. Please contact any of our support specialists listed here:
John Donovan, 541 343-3400
Paul Carpenter, 314 602-9697
Gareth Seward, 805 708-8480
Karsten Goemann, +61 407-101-990
Anette von der Handt, 612 222-6711
Owen Neill, 207 653-6331
Email address links are on this page:
https://www.probesoftware.com/about/specialists-consultants/
They can provide the login and password for the Probe for EPMA download. We are very sorry for any inconvenience.
john
Quote from: John Donovan on August 14, 2018, 06:32:32 PMApologies if anyone has recently tried to update CalcZAF (our EPMA/ZAF/Phi-rho-z and Monte Carlo utility) or Probe for EPMA (our acquisition, automation and analysis software for JEOL and Cameca EPMA instruments), from the Help | Update menu, and got an error regarding the download.
To update Probe for EPMA you will need to (again, one time only), manually download the update file using this link here:
https://probesoftware.com/download/ProbeForEPMA.msi
and again run the installer file by double-clicking it. Future updates can be performed from the Help | Update menu as before.
*Or* simply use the third download option from the Help | Update Probe for EPMA menu. Doh!
After that, you can use the other download options for further PFE updates.
We recently updated our Probe Software support page:
https://www.probesoftware.com/about/specialists-consultants/
to include pictures and short biographies of our microprobe support specialists. Please check out our friendly and helpful EPMA experts!
These independent consultants, working with Probe Software, provide installation and training services for JEOL and Cameca EPMA instruments, for our Probe for EPMA, Probe Image and CalcImage application products, throughout the world.
These EPMA experts can perform complete installation and training on existing and new JEOL 8900/8200/8500 and Cameca SX100 and SXFive EPMA instruments. In addition they can provide custom training for new and even experienced instrument operators, tailored to your facility staffing requirements.
Please let us know your EPMA software installation and training needs at support@probesoftware.com (support@probesoftware.com).
Just a note to let the EPMA community know where we are in terms of EPMA instrument support. As many of you already know we provide our Probe for EPMA and Probe Image software packages for JEOL 8800/8900, 8100/8200/8500, 8230/8530 and Cameca SX100/SXFive instruments for acquisition, automation and analysis.
That is, our software runs along side the JEOL and Cameca OEM software simultaneously (on a separate computer) to provide advanced acquisition and analysis methods including advanced spectral interference corrections, time dependent intensity (TDI) corrections, multi-point (and shared) background corrections, blank level corrections, mean atomic number (MAN) corrections, fully quantitative X-ray mapping and many other automation and analysis features that improve the sensitivity and accuracy of your EPMA instrument.
Recently we have been able to test our Probe for EPMA and Probe Image software packages on the current JEOL and Cameca EPMA instruments. Working with the JEOL Japan factory we have completed validation testing of our software on the new JEOL iSP100 and iHP200F EPMA instruments, and working with Cameca and Michael Jercinovic at the University of Massachusetts also on the Cameca SXFive tactis instrument.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Just a quick post to let everyone know about our latest Probe Software microprobe specialist consultant Will Nachlas:
https://www.probesoftware.com/about/specialists-consultants/
Scroll to the bottom of the page to see his bio and pic.
We are pleased to introduce our newest microprobe expert consultant Mike Matthews. His bio is found here:
https://www.probesoftware.com/training-support/
Mike is based in the UK and will be available for remote and on-site installation and training work there and the EU for Probe Software customers.
Just FYI, Golden Software, the maker of Surfer and Grapher, are raising their prices on April 1st.
If you don't already have Surfer and Grapher, or would like to get additional "seats" for your lab you might want to consider purchasing before that date:
https://www.goldensoftware.com/products/pricing
Some example of the interactive, automated (and customizable) presentation quality output created by Probe for EPMA and CalcImage (using Surfer and/or Grapher) are seen here:
https://smf.probesoftware.com/index.php?topic=73.msg544#msg544
https://smf.probesoftware.com/index.php?topic=73.msg7840#msg7840
https://smf.probesoftware.com/index.php?topic=73.msg8998#msg8998
Ever wondered what ChatGPT thinks about the Probe for EPMA software? Well... here it is!
(https://smf.probesoftware.com/gallery/1_24_02_23_1_04_28.png)
These chat bots have got scarily good :(
Quote from: Mike Matthews on February 25, 2023, 07:32:20 PM
These chat bots have got scarily good :(
The good news (so far) is that they have no idea what they are talking about!
So how many of our politicians are actually chatbots and how long has this been going on😱
If you would like to receive invitations to our upcoming Probe Software webinars please click on the link below and subscribe:
https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/732614/121251216423388335/share (https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/732614/121251216423388335/share)
Following up with Julien Allaz's post above we asked Grok (the AI on X.com) the following question:
What are the advantages of electron probe microanalysis? And Grok responded:
Quote
Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) is a non-destructive technique that offers several advantages for material characterization. It allows for the determination of the chemical composition of small volumes of a solid material, which is particularly useful for materials science, geoscience, and other fields requiring precise chemical analysis. The primary benefits of EPMA include:
1 Non-destructive analysis: EPMA does not destroy or significantly alter the sample, allowing for further analysis or reuse if needed.
2 High spatial resolution: EPMA can analyze small areas of the sample with a resolution down to a few micrometers, providing detailed information about the chemical composition of different regions within the sample.
3 High sensitivity: EPMA can detect elements in concentrations as low as a few tens of parts per million (ppm), making it suitable for trace element analysis.
4 Simultaneous analysis: EPMA can simultaneously analyze multiple elements in a single measurement, providing a comprehensive understanding of the sample's composition.
5 Quantitative analysis: EPMA can provide quantitative data on the concentration of elements in the sample, allowing for accurate comparisons between different samples or standards.
6 Versatility: EPMA can be applied to a wide range of materials, including metals, alloys, ceramics, minerals, and biological samples.
These advantages make EPMA a powerful tool for researchers and scientists in various fields, providing detailed and accurate information about the chemical composition of their samples.
Then we decided to ask a harder question: How can trace element accuracy and sensitivity be improved in EPMA? And Grok responded:
QuoteTrace element accuracy and sensitivity in electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) can be improved through various methods and advancements. Here are some strategies based on the information provided:
1 High-brightness electron sources and spectrometers: The use of high-brightness electron sources and spectrometers with high X-ray collection efficiencies can improve the detection limits and analytical capabilities for trace elements.
2 Matrix iterated quantitative blank correction: This technique can help overcome the disadvantages of high detection limits and poor accuracy in trace element analyses by optimizing analytical conditions and making corrections for peak overlap and secondary standard measurements.
3 Advanced software methods: Software tools, such as those provided by Probe Software's Probe for EPMA, can help improve both the accuracy and precision of trace element EPMA analyses through the use of advanced background calibration and correction methods.
4 Ion beam milling and electron counting mode: Using an ion beam to mill the sample and collecting data in electron counting mode with an energy filter can improve the resolution and precision of the analysis.
5 Advanced detectors: The use of advanced detectors, such as the EDX-7200 from Shimadzu, can provide high sensitivity, high speed, and high precision for accurate elemental analysis.
6 Micro-ED data collection in electron counting mode: Collecting Micro-ED data in electron counting mode without a beam stop and using an energy filter can improve the resolution and precision of the analysis.
7 Elemental analysis kits: Utilizing exclusive screening analysis kits for accurate elemental analysis, such as those offered by Shimadzu, can help improve the accuracy and sensitivity of trace element EPMA.
8 Objective and critical examination of sources: For controversial topics or when examining the accuracy and sensitivity of trace element EPMA, it is important to be objective and present views from different perspectives. Examine sources critically and be politically unbiased.
9 Regular updates and advancements in technology: Staying informed about the latest advancements in EPMA technology, such as improved hardware and software, can help improve the accuracy and sensitivity of trace element analyses.
10 Using well-characterized reference samples: The development and use of matrix reference samples with well-characterized trace elements of interest is important for monitoring and improving the accuracy of trace element analyses in EPMA.
By implementing these strategies and utilizing the latest advancements in EPMA technology, researchers can improve the accuracy and sensitivity of trace element analyses in their work.
Interesting that it not only mentioned our "matrix iterated quantitative blank correction", but also it specifically named the Probe for EPMA software! 8)
If you are interested in learning how to improve your trace element EPMA accuracy and sensitivity, see this webinar on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KM5lU403VY&ab_channel=ProbeSoftwareInc
We recently went "live" on our new Probe Software web pages:
(https://smf.probesoftware.com/gallery/1_03_10_24_9_35_41.png)
Please check it out and let us know what you think!
Note that we are in the process of moving our hosting to a new server so currently there's a re-direct on our old server, so you may notice that the home page loads a bit slow the first time you go there, but things should be pretty fast after that first web page load.
Besides having a lot more content a lot more organized and links to our user forum and YouTube channel, we have also application download buttons and links to specific forum topics for more information.
Also check out the "Lightbox" feature where for images that show a "hand" cursor, you can click and the image will expand for better visibility... and if you click outside the image area, it will return you to the web page again.
And of course if you see anything that doesn't look right (typos, broken links, etc.) please let us know by email.
Thank-you!
As previously mentioned we've moved our hosting to a different a server and for the time being we are maintaining our old server, but it will go away at some point.
So we highly recommend that everyone update their Probe Software applications as soon as possible because the versions you may have, has links to our old server... which is going to disappear at some point.
Specifically one should update their CalcZAF or Probe for EPMA applications using the Help | Update... menus. If you have only CalcZAF just use the Help | Update CalcZAF menu in the CalcZAF application. If you have Probe for EPMA, use the Help | Update Probe for EPMA menu to update (it will also update CalcZAF).
Once you have updated, you may notice that the new Probe for EPMA HTTP server is quite a bit faster than the old server.
If you don't update your Probe Software applications soon enough, you may (at some point) not be able to connect to the old server and will have to update manually through our web site:
https://www.probesoftware.com/resources/
A few days ago we sent this mailing out, describing our fully quantitative time dependent intensity (TDI) correction for beam sensitive samples:
QuoteDo you analyze any beam sensitive materials with EPMA?
Then you need our products!
Probe for EPMA (for quantitative points) and ProbeImage/CalcImage (for quantitative x-ray maps) allow one to accurately determine chemical composition *before* ion migration and/or volatilization effects. We call these Time Dependent Intensity (TDI) corrections, because regardless of the exact mechanism, one can characterize these effects and correct for them quantitatively with the Probe Software application suite.
Attached below (you need to log in to see attachments) is the full PowerPoint of the smaller version we sent out as an animated GIF.
A couple of days ago we sent our an email noting that Probe Software turned 20 years old:
(https://smf.probesoftware.com/gallery/1_08_05_25_9_16_58.png)
On May 5, 2025 Probe Software turned 20 years old!
Here's a bit of our story...
Of course, for us, it started when John Donovan first became intrigued with EPMA using the ARL SEMQ electron microprobe at UC Berkeley in the 1980s where he was employed as a laboratory technician.
But after a graduate student imploded the vacuum chamber on the instrument, due to a vacuum logic "glitch", John took the instrument completely apart and rebuilt it. He has been hooked ever since. Finding the existing software for acquisition and reprocessing of EPMA data to be lacking, he started working on improving the software himself.
His first software was written in DOS (ported from the existing DEC PDP-11), but then, as it became apparent that Microsoft Windows was going to be the new "go to" platform in the 1990s, John painstakingly rewrote all the command line FORTRAN code at home, at night, after work, while his family slept. Sleep was something he only dreamed about in those days!
In the early years, Probe for Windows and later, Micro Image (as they were known then), were resold by a third-party company. But in 2005, it was requested by a potential customer that John and Barbara start their own company, as this customer preferred to work directly with them, to purchase our software for his new EPMA instrument.
As it turned out, another colleague had been thinking about starting his own company to resell our software and had even gone so far as to register a company name. When he heard of our plans to start our own company, he kindly gave us the company name, Probe Software.
It was then that Probe for Windows became Probe for EPMA, and Micro Image became Probe Image, and Probe Software was officially born.
John and our talented team of developers have been working ever since to improve the Probe for EPMA and Probe Image software, and we continue to make improvements to the products at least once or even twice (or more) a week!
We are grateful! Grateful to our early patron for encouraging us to start the business, grateful for the gift of the company name, we are grateful to all of our expert consultants who work to help us make this the best company it can be, and we are grateful to all of our most excellent beta testers and faithful customers who have supported us and encouraged us and helped us make this the best damn EPMA software available today! Thank you!
We look forward to continuing to improve the state of the art in EPMA acquisition and analysis applications and providing our EPMA software products and support services to you all for many years to come!
All Our Best,
John and Barbara Donovan
We just wanted to remind our customers that if you have Probe for EPMA (or even just our free CalcZAF/Standard) software, you can update your software for free any time.
If you are using a relatively recent version of Probe for EPMA (or CalcZAF) you can update either one from the Help menu. If that doesn't work, just go to our web site resources page and download then latest updates by clicking on one of the Download buttons:
https://www.probesoftware.com/resources/
Please note that to update Probe for EPMA or Probe Image for your JEOL instrument, you should first check your JEOL driver version, as we continue to make improvements in the software. To check your JEOL driver version, go to the C:\Windows\SysWOW64 folder and check the amb_jeol8x00.dll file version by right clicking the file, and then select the Properties menu and then click the Details tab as seen here:
(https://smf.probesoftware.com/gallery/1_01_05_25_7_53_54.png)
If your JEOL driver version is 2.1.1 then you are OK to update your Probe Software applications. If you have an older version of the JEOL driver please contact us at Probe Software, and we can send you an updated driver.
If you have a Cameca instrument you'll want to, again, go to the C:\Windows\SysWOW64 folder and check the psi_sx100.dll file version by right clicking the file, and then select the Properties menu and then click the Details tab as seen here:
(https://smf.probesoftware.com/gallery/1_01_05_25_7_54_11.png)
If your Cameca driver is version 2.0.3 then you are OK to update Probe for EPMA and Probe Image applications.
You can check the latest features in Probe for EPMA on our EPMA user forum here:
https://smf.probesoftware.com/index.php?topic=40.0
And don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at all.
We recently added some customer testimonials to the Probe for EPMA product page. One can get to it easily from our home page as seen here:
(https://smf.probesoftware.com/gallery/1_14_10_25_10_07_24.png)
https://www.probesoftware.com/
Once there you can also click the link at the bottom of the testimonials to see more customer testimonials on our EPMA user forum:
(https://smf.probesoftware.com/gallery/1_14_10_25_10_11_48.png)