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This paper presents the optimization of the ionization, extraction and focalization of our new generation of microfabricated time-of-flight mass spectrometer (μ-TOF). Using electron impact ionization, we show ionization efficiencies in the range of 1.10⁻⁶ ion/neutral, which is in the same order of magnitude as macroscale electron impact ionizers. A generated ion current in the range of a few tens of nanoamperes lead to an ionization yield around 0.1%, in the same range as the best microfabricated ionizers. The extracted and focalized ion beam is collected in a Micro Channel Plate detector and used to record mass spectra. Using decreasingly concentrated gas mixtures, we show the ability of the linear microfabricated time-of-flight mass spectrometer to detect up to 100 ppm of alkanes in helium. This work pulls the μ-TOF one step closer towards a fully integrated portable analytical system.