Hi Dan,
I can answer this question for you because I know exactly what the problem is.
The problem is that JEOL has provided us with the mapping call for x-ray mapping, but they have *not* provided the video call for fast analog signal imaging. Therefore, because the minimum pixel dwell time for the mapping call is 100 us or 0.1 msec, a 1024 x 1024 map will take 100 seconds just for the mapping, not counting any overhead.
Here is the list of JEOL instrument calls for the 8230/8530 that we are still waiting for:
1. Get/set image shift.
2. Read gun vacuum (existing EIKS function works) and sample vacuum (existing EIKS function does not work).
3. Get video image (fast X/Y image for analog signals, BSE, SE, etc)
4. Open/close the gun valve (e.g, JEOL FEG V1), to protect gun vacuum
5. Acquire SE and BSE signals simultaneously (JEOL "comparison mode")
6. Command to set picoammeter auto-range on/off? May not exist, but why does the new JEOL picoammeter take 1 to 2 seconds to "settle"?
7. Command to get/set JEOL 8530 EPMA/SEM condenser lens mode.
8. Command for the PHA multi-channel analyzer (MCA) call, to improve the PHA scan speed.
Please feel free to bug Charlie about this. It helps when his customers call him!