I think the image at reply 7 is the rotating sa...

I think the image at reply 7 is the rotating sample wheel (SWTS) to deliver samples to the optical and atomic force microscopes taken with the afm. Did you find the page here with limited information on substrates ("ten sets of six materials" is kinda vague)but apparently they can apply different polymers and clean them up when they are done. They have some good sample images as well.
I agree with max that this most likely is a calibration sequence.