Abstract: A device for the axial and rotational movement of a sample is disclosed comprising a mount member for mounting the sample, which is rotatable about and movable along an axis, characterised in that the mount member has a helical screw thread which produces the movement along said axis simultaneously with the rotation. A sample may be scanned or machined whilst being axially and rotationally moved. The screw thread may be disengageable perphaps by relative movement of co-operating screw threads into and out of engagement with each other by a lever to allow movement of the mount member along the axis without rotation when desired. The screw thread on one of the members may be formed from a piece or layer of a deformable material, which deforms to form a mating screw thread upon being brought into engagement with the screw thread on the other member. Also desclosed is a method of scanning a sample.

Abstract: A device is disclosed having a base, and a re-orientatable sample holder adapted on at least first and second sides to be repeatably (perhaps kinematically) mounted to the base wherein the relationship between the at least two surfaces when mounted on the base is known whereby when a sample is mounted to the holder, the relationship between the different orientations of the sample when different surfaces of the holder are received on the base is known. The relationship between the at least two surfaces may be established by reference features on the sample holder which provide positional information about the holder when received on a base. The reference features may be provided by a reference block, spheres or rods associated with the holder. Also disclosed is a device for and methods of operating on, for example scanning or machining, a sample in at least two stages using a base and re-orientatable sample holder according to the invention.

Abstract: A device for the axial and rotational movement of a sample is disclosed comprising a mount member for mounting the sample, which is rotatable about and movable along an axis, characterised in that the mount member has a helical screw thread which produces the movement along said axis simultaneously with the rotation. A sample may be scanned or machined whilst being axially and rotationally moved. The screw thread may be disengageable perphaps by relative movement of co-operating screw threads into and out of engagement with each other by a lever to allow movement of the mount member along the axis without rotation when desired. The screw thread on one of the members may be formed from a piece or layer of a deformable material, which deforms to form a mating screw thread upon being brought into engagement with the screw thread on the other member. Also desclosed is a method of scanning a sample.