The self‐sensing add‐on kit enables a user to work with self‐sensing cantilevers on a Keysight 5×00 AFM series. This  combines the benefits of a conventional bio AFM with the advantages of a laser free deflection detection using SCL´s selfsensing cantilevers.

The add‐on can be used without changes to the original AFM hardware for imaging in intermittent  contact mode. The self‐sensing cantilever add‐on kit consists of a cantilever holder plug‐in module for self‐sensing  cantilevers (nose), a pre‐amplifier, a signal splitter box, cables and 10 self‐sensing cantilevers.

The nose contains an  adjustable low noise instrumentation amplifier and a fixed reference voltage for the Wheatstone bridge of 2.048V for  high  sensitivity  measurements  or  0.5  V  for  measurements  in  de‐ionized  water.

For  driving  the  cantilever  a  nose  implemented piezo or a heater of a SCL PRSA cantilever can be used (mechanical or thermal excitation). The deflection  signal is amplified (adjustable from 1x to 100x) and filtered before it is wired to the lock‐in amplifier of the Keysight AFM  MAC‐box.

The hardware is powered via the Keysight break‐out box or an external power supply unit and is connected via  the signal splitter box. The whole system is plug‐and‐play able and only the cantilever holder has to be changed for  electrical or optical readout.