A design is reported for a system of transferrable sample holders and matin
g experimental stations, that allows samples to be transferred between prep
aration and analysis tools with high positional accuracy. The sample holder
s are designed to be manipulated/transported using standard "ESCA stub" com
patible hardware. Provisions are made for heating, cooling, and temperature
measurement. (C) 2000 American Vacuum Society. [S0734-2101(00)08805-9].