Step Settings

Configuration files contain a list of all the individual operations that form the data acquisition pipeline. These comprise one of the root level elements of the .yml file called steps:.

Each step is designated as a nested mapping with the highest-level nesting designating the name of the step. For each step, these settings are broken down further into lower level nested mappings. All steps must contain a step_general nested mapping that contains information applicable to all step types. Depending on the specific step type, other unique nested mappings at the same level of step_general key-value pairs will be required. The following subsections provide more detailed information on these nested mappings, namely:

  • Step General: Step settings applicable to all step types, including stage position and frequency settings.

  • Image: Step settings to take images with the electron or ion beams.

  • Laser: Step settings to perform patterning/milling with the femtosecond laser beam.

  • FIB: Step settings to perform patterning/milling with the focused ion beam.

  • EBSD and EDS: Step settings to collect EBSD, EDS, or EBSD with concurrent (combined) EDS data.

  • Custom: Step settings to run a custom script as an operation. Recommended for advanced users only.