Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure pertain to a probe cassette for holding a probe, e.g. an atomic force microscopy, at a predefined holding position for automated pickup. The probe cassette comprises a main body 3 including a support face 1 for supporting the probe; and one or more physical confinement elements 50 formed or affixed along said support face, said one or more physical confinement elements providing a plurality of engagement faces disposed along a perimeter of the predefined holding position, said engagement faces extending in a direction out of the support face, so as to define a pocket 9 for holding the probe, wherein the pocket is dimensioned to restrict a lateral shift of the probe in any direction along the support face.