AFM Probes, Tips, and Cantilevers - TipsNano

What AFM Probes, Tips, and Cantilevers - TipsNano does

Tipsnano OÜ, operating as TipsNano, is a privately held Estonian manufacturer specializing in scanning probe microscopy (SPM) consumables and accessories, headquartered in Tallinn (Kristiina 15-214). The company designs, manufactures, and sells atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes, tips, cantilevers, scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) fiber probes, calibration gratings, HOPG substrates, and TERS silicon probes. Its product portfolio spans six categories — AFM Standard, AFM Special (including patented single crystal diamond probes with sub-10nm tip radius and 10x silicon lifetime), SNOM, HOPG, Calibration, and TERS — covering all major AFM modes (contact, semicontact, noncontact, conductive, magnetic, force modulation, nanoindentation, and lithography). Manufacturing includes clean-room colloidal probe production using a 6-axis micromanipulator and proprietary boron-doped diamond coating processes, with patent protection pending on the DEP_HARD single crystal diamond probe manufacturing method. Calibration gratings are traceable to PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt).

The company operates a direct-to-customer e-commerce model through its website tipsnano.com, supporting EUR and USD pricing with global shipping from Estonia. It serves three primary segments: research institutions and universities (primary), industrial R&D and manufacturing QC laboratories, and optical microscopy specialists requiring SNOM platforms. Sales channels include self-serve online ordering for standard catalog products and email-based consultation ([email protected]) for custom mixed cantilever sets (MIX_GL/50). B2B checkout requires company name and VAT number, with volume discounts applied through set packages of 5, 10, 15, or 50 units. Pricing ranges from €170 for calibration gratings to €3,500 for SNOM fiber probes, plus a €70 delivery fee; revenue is entirely transactional with no subscription component. SNOM fiber probes are designed for compatibility with NT-MDT NTEGRA and Solver SPM platforms, with integrated quartz tuning forks.

TipsNano appears to be an independently owned, privately held niche specialist with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, management team, or financial statements. Product launches have been steady but infrequent — new cantilever sets (March 2025), TGL1 calibration grating (August 2023), and PFM_S test sample (April 2022) — suggesting measured product development. The company has filed patent protection for its DEP_HARD diamond probe manufacturing process, indicating investment in IP-based defensibility within the narrow AFM accessory market.

Name

AFM Probes, Tips, and Cantilevers - TipsNano

Legal name

Tipsnano OÜ

Website

https://tipsnano.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Tipsnano OÜ is a privately held Estonian manufacturer of atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes, tips, cantilevers, and SNOM fiber probes, selling globally via a direct e-commerce platform to research institutions, universities, and industrial R&D laboratories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Instrumentation Consumables (AFM/SPM Probes)

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Metrology, Inspection & Process Control Equipment (HDAHAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

MEMS Actuators & Micro-Mechanisms (Micromirrors/Microfluidics) (HDAHALAJ)

Keywords

• AFM probes
• Scanning probe microscopy
• Cantilever sensors
• SNOM fiber probes
• Calibration gratings

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallinn

HQ country

Estonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. AFM Probes and Cantilevers Sales: Primary revenue from selling AFM probes, tips, and cantilevers. Products sold in configured sets (5, 10, 15, 50 units) with per-set pricing. Single-crystal diamond probes command premium pricing (€790-€2,250). Standard silicon cantilevers range from €170-€1,200. Transaction-based one-time purchases with no recurring subscription component.
2. Custom Mixed Cantilever Sets: Personal Mixed Cantilever Sets (MIX_GL/50) configured per customer specifications. Customers select probes from predefined list including various coatings (Au, Pt, PtIr). Requires email consultation or form submission. Higher average order value through customization.
3. SNOM Fiber Probes: Specialized scanning near-field optical microscopy fiber probes. Sold in sets of 10 with premium pricing (€2,100-€3,500). Compatible with NT-MDT systems and other SPM platforms. Includes probes with and without tuning forks.
4. Calibration Standards and Test Samples: Calibration gratings (TGZ1, TGZ2, TGG1, TGQ1) and test samples (PFM_S) for SPM calibration and verification. Essential consumables for research labs maintaining AFM equipment. Prices range €170-€380 per unit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TipsNano manufactures and sells Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) probes, tips, and cantilevers, along with SNOM fiber probes, HOPG substrates, calibration gratings, and TERS probes for scanning probe microscopy (SPM) applications. Products are sold in pre-configured sets of 5, 10, 15, or 50 units covering all major AFM modes (contact, semicontact, noncontact, conductive, magnetic, force modulation), with custom mixed cantilever sets configured per customer specifications.

Product overview

TipsNano is a specialized supplier of accessories for scanning probe microscopes (SPM), offering a comprehensive portfolio of AFM cantilevers, probes, tips, and calibration standards. The product portfolio is organized into five main categories: AFM Standard cantilevers (NSG, HA, CSG, FMG series) for general microscopy; AFM Special products including super sharp variants, high aspect ratio whisker tips, and diamond-coated probes; Single Crystal Diamond probes (DEP, DRP series) providing 10x longer lifetime than silicon with sub-10nm resolution; SNOM fiber probes for near-field optical microscopy; and Calibration standards (gratings, HOPG, test samples) for instrument calibration. The products integrate as a complete AFM workflow solution, from specialized imaging probes to metrology validation tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Single Crystal Diamond Probes Premium AFM probes with single crystal diamond tips (DEP, DRP series) offering high durability (10x silicon lifetime), typical tip radius 2-25nm, and applications for topography and electrical measurements. Targets AFM researchers requiring wear-resistant probes for extended imaging and industrial R&D users.
• Colloidal Probes Colloidal AFM probes with micron-scale SiO2 spheres attached to tipless cantilevers, including CPC (Contact mode), CPN (Noncontact/Semicontact), and CPFM (Force Modulation) series. Used for surface force measurement, adhesion forces, and cell mechanics studies.
• SNOM Fiber Probes Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy fiber probes with apertures 100-125nm, operating wavelengths 450-770nm, and compatibility with NT-MDT systems including optional quartz tuning-fork integration. For near-field optical microscopy and SNOM imaging applications.
• Calibration Gratings Precision SPM calibration standards including TGT1 (tip shape estimation), TGG1 (X/Y axis calibration), TGQ1 (3D calibration, 20nm step), TGZ2 (Z-axis calibration, 110nm step), and TGL1 (multiparameter calibration with multiple periods and structures).
• Test Samples Reference samples including PFM_S for Piezoresponse Force Microscopy calibration using piezoelectric single crystal lead PMN-PT.
• HOPG Reference Materials Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite samples for STM/AFM applications available in ZYB, ZYH, and ZYA quality grades, including monochromator variants for calibration purposes.
• TERS Silicon Probes Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy silicon probes for combined AFM-Raman measurements.
• Cantilever Sets Pre-configured cantilever packages including SS_FD_SET (super sharp + diamond tips), MSSET/30 (mixed modes), UNISET (comprehensive mode coverage), and MIX_GL/50 (customizable golden series) for various AFM applications.
• AFM Standard Cantilevers Standard AFM cantilevers including NSG30, NSG10, NSG_L, HA_NC series for semicontact/noncontact AFM modes with resonant frequencies ranging from 125-235 kHz and force constants from 3.5-100 N/m.
• AFM Special Cantilevers Specialized AFM cantilevers including super sharp (CSG10_SS, FMG01_SS), high aspect ratio (NSC05), diamond coated (DCP30), and top visual (VIT_P) variants for specialized imaging applications.
• Conductive AFM Cantilevers Conductive AFM cantilevers with various tip coatings including PtIr (CSG10/Pt, FMG01/Pt, NSG30/Pt), Au (CSG01/Au, NSG01/Au), and W2C+ (HA_FM/W2C+, HA_HR/W2C+) for electrical AFM modes including SKM, SCM, SRIM, EFM, and LAO Lithography.
• Magnetic AFM Cantilevers High resolution long lifetime magnetic probes including MFM01 and MFM_LM series for magnetic force microscopy. MFM_LM features resonant frequency 45-115kHz and force constant 2.8-9.5N/m for low coercive magnetic samples.

Quantifiable outcome

• Single crystal diamond tips maintain sharpness for entire working day and beyond, vs typical silicon probe degradation
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nanosensors (now NanoWorld Group): Long-established German/Swiss AFM probe specialist (PointProbe, SuperSharp-Silicon series); directly competes in standard and super-sharp silicon cantilever categories.
• AppNano: US-based AFM probe manufacturer (Applied NanoStructures) offering silicon, conductive, and specialized probes; competes for the same academic and industrial AFM customers.
• NanoWorld (Neuchâtel): Swiss manufacturer of AFM probes (including the well-known NCH and PPP series); directly comparable as a specialty probe-only supplier serving the same academic and industrial research customers.
• NT-MDT: Major AFM/SPM instrument maker that also sells its own probes (including SNOM fiber probes); TipsNano already has a product-compatibility relationship with NT-MDT NTEGRA/Solver platforms, making it both partner and competitor.
• Mikromasch (standalone USA presence): Legacy MikroMasch brand continues to supply silicon AFM probes (Hi'Res, HQ:NSC, etc.) globally; directly comparable product offering across standard and specialized silicon probes.
• BudgetSensors: Bulgarian AFM probe manufacturer offering low-cost silicon cantilevers, frequently used by academic labs; competes on price in the standard-probe segment where TipsNano's diamond and specialty SKUs differentiate.
• Bruker AFM Probes: Largest global AFM probe manufacturer (legacy MikroMasch/Veeco). Directly competes with TipsNano across the full AFM cantilever/probe catalog and benefits from captive demand via Bruker's own AFM instruments.

Regional players

• Ted Pella / NanoAndMore: Distributor and reseller of multiple AFM probe lines (including some TipsNano competitors) primarily serving European and North American research markets; adjacent competitor via catalog distribution.

Emerging players

• Rocky Mountain Nanotechnology: Small US specialist in functionalized and customized AFM/SECM probes; competes in the specialized, low-volume segment where TipsNano's custom MIX_GL sets and conductive coatings also play.

Broad incumbents

• Asylum Research (Oxford Instruments) — probes: Oxford Instruments' AFM brand sells proprietary probes alongside its Cypher and MFP-3D instruments; competes for high-end probe demand as part of a wider AFM instrumentation portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AFM Probes, Tips, and Cantilevers - TipsNano