Fast Scanning is not inherently its own mode distinct from tapping mode, but it does come with a host of its own considerations. Time is your most precious resource – we all know this. Many modern AFM’s can utilize scan rates much faster (~3-10Hz) than standard tapping mode probes allow (<2Hz).

You can commonly acquire 3-5 images or even more, with no loss in resolution or effort, with probes designed for fast scanning. Bear in mind, many fast scanning probes can be quite miniature in size (typically <60um long) so not all optical-beam detection on all AFMs may be able to fully utilize their capabilities. For example, an OI Vero, Cypher, or Jupiter AFM are fully compatible, but an MFP-3D may struggle.