I have toyed with the idea of owning a SEM over the years - never bit but every so often think about it. I have seen several 80's models in the $5-10k range (But shipping is going to really cost.) Here is one that sold for US$1400
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=m ... cctid=7218 that is less than quite a few optical set-ups.
I bought and used a Cambridge Instruments Stereoscan at work back in the eighties. You would probably need to spend a few hundred over-hauling the pumps but would very likely still get a decent image off of it up to ~30-50,000x. The Stereoscans where good in that you didn't need complicated hook-ups with nitrogen/compressed air etc. - you just plugged them in to the socket. Standard filaments so vacuum requirements are not too bad (compared to field emission) and they had a small neat turbo pump. But of course you still need to buy a gold coater, and they are at least another $1000 (And a new target will double that)
amazing set.
