NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.
Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.
An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
A Platform for Observing the Behavior of AFM Cantilevers During Quasi-Static Loading
Published
Author(s)
Jon R. Pratt, Lee M. Kumanchik, Tony L. Schmitz
Abstract
This paper describes a platform for studying the bending behavior of ultra-compliant (stiffness less than 1 N/m) atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilevers. The fundamental issue is that a cantilever does not represent an ideal design for precision force measurement due to the parasitic motion of the tip under load. For ultra-compliant cantilevers, the combination of a high adhesive force at the tip and parasitic motion can lead to proportionally substantial lateral (in-plane) forces. In addition, the tip-surface adhesive force can increase the propensity for sticking which is a considerable concern for colloidal probes due to the increased contact surface. These effects can manifest as deviate bending behavior and have been suggested as confounding contact style force calibration/measurement since force is commonly related to tip displacement by an assumed bending model.
Pratt, J.
, Kumanchik, L.
and Schmitz, T.
(2008),
A Platform for Observing the Behavior of AFM Cantilevers During Quasi-Static Loading, ASPE 23rd Annual Meeting & 12th ICPE, Portland, OR, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=824719
(Accessed October 27, 2025)