Argon laser replacement
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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. ***** ar listers, I am replacing Lasos Argon laser on 510 confocal. I am replacing myself as the confocal is off contract. I purchased the same laser model from the manufacturer for $4k (that is a good deal compared to $2-3k for retubing by third party companies). The new laser head runs fine. However I ran in a problem when trying to align laser beam into the fiber. The beam is first combined with two HeNe laser beams, passes AOTF, and goes into the fiber. I can align the argon beam to be combined with other two beams until the AOTF. At the AOTF output the 488nm argon beam seems to be exiting at slight angle and does not go into the fiber. Please advise how to align the argon beam, especially if you have such experience. Any other insights or ideas are welcome as well. You can reply off list if preferred. Thanks, Arvydas Arvydas Matiukas, Ph.D. Director of Confocal&Two-Photon Imaging Core Facility Department of Neuroscience and Physiology SUNY Upstate Medical University email: [hidden email] |
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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. ***** The AOTF works by deflecting part of the beam. You can't really align it without the AOTF being active to permit the main portion beam to pass the 'through' path. Even then, you have to be very careful about the alignment through the AOTF as it is fairly angle sensitive. Do you have the AOTF active and set to 100% transmission for the argon line while you are aligning? Also, if possible run your argon in 'Standby' mode instead of 'Run' to decrease the power out of the laser for safety. *I am not a laser technician follow my advice at your own risk legal etc etc wear proper safety equipment Craig Brideau On Mon, Apr 11, 2016 at 8:29 AM, Arvydas Matiukas <[hidden email]> wrote: > ***** > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. > ***** > > ar listers, > > > I am replacing Lasos Argon laser on 510 confocal. > I am replacing myself as the confocal is off contract. > I purchased the same laser model from the manufacturer > for $4k (that is a good deal compared to $2-3k for retubing by third party > companies). > > > The new laser head runs fine. However I ran in a problem > when trying to align laser beam into the fiber. The beam > is first combined with two HeNe laser beams, passes AOTF, and goes into > the fiber. I can align the argon beam > to be combined with other two beams until the AOTF. At > the AOTF output the 488nm argon beam seems to be exiting at slight angle > and does not go into the fiber. > > > Please advise how to align the argon beam, especially > if you have such experience. Any other insights or ideas > are welcome as well. You can reply off list if preferred. > > > Thanks, > Arvydas > > > > > > > > > > > > Arvydas Matiukas, Ph.D. > Director of Confocal&Two-Photon Imaging Core Facility > Department of Neuroscience and Physiology > SUNY Upstate Medical University > email: [hidden email] > |
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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. ***** Craig, you are right about setting 100% AOTF transmission for all beams being aligned (it was confirmed by another specialist as well). I am going to do that and reflect the beams to the side for more precise alignment over far distance. Thanks for reminding me laser safety that I was following all the time. Arvydas >>> Craig Brideau <[hidden email]> 4/11/2016 2:25 PM >>> ***** To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. ***** The AOTF works by deflecting part of the beam. You can't really align it without the AOTF being active to permit the main portion beam to pass the 'through' path. Even then, you have to be very careful about the alignment through the AOTF as it is fairly angle sensitive. Do you have the AOTF active and set to 100% transmission for the argon line while you are aligning? Also, if possible run your argon in 'Standby' mode instead of 'Run' to decrease the power out of the laser for safety. *I am not a laser technician follow my advice at your own risk legal etc etc wear proper safety equipment Craig Brideau On Mon, Apr 11, 2016 at 8:29 AM, Arvydas Matiukas <[hidden email]> wrote: > ***** > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. > ***** > > ar listers, > > > I am replacing Lasos Argon laser on 510 confocal. > I am replacing myself as the confocal is off contract. > I purchased the same laser model from the manufacturer > for $4k (that is a good deal compared to $2-3k for retubing by third party > companies). > > > The new laser head runs fine. However I ran in a problem > when trying to align laser beam into the fiber. The beam > is first combined with two HeNe laser beams, passes AOTF, and goes into > the fiber. I can align the argon beam > to be combined with other two beams until the AOTF. At > the AOTF output the 488nm argon beam seems to be exiting at slight angle > and does not go into the fiber. > > > Please advise how to align the argon beam, especially > if you have such experience. Any other insights or ideas > are welcome as well. You can reply off list if preferred. > > > Thanks, > Arvydas > > > > > > > > > > > > Arvydas Matiukas, Ph.D. > Director of Confocal&Two-Photon Imaging Core Facility > Department of Neuroscience and Physiology > SUNY Upstate Medical University > email: [hidden email] > |
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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. ***** A few side notes: 1. The Zeiss techs use the 543nm HeNe as a reference laser - so assuming this is still aligned properly you will want to localize the Argon with this prior to the AOTF. 2. The AOTF controller box requires a hardwired control paddle to bypass the frequency calibrations set in the firmware by a calibration routine run downstream. Typically the tech would perform a gross alignment with the 543 at the input coupler of the AOTF. Then the tech would set the AOTF so the zero order passes through for a given line and adjust the fine position after the AOTF. Once this is set then a software calibration is run that will then set the controller firmware to a particular frequency for a given line. This frequency will change slightly when you change lasers - so the old one will likely be wrong for the new laser you are installing. This means that using the software to set your laser to 100% will likely be very tricky to get the final alignment correct due to the slight offsets in the crystal frequency. 3. I would recommend contacting Zeiss to request a service manual for the 510. Not sure how far you will get - but since they have discontinued service for this model you might get them to release this manual. It has a very detailed multi step protocol that would save you tons of headaches getting this right. Hope this helps! -Jason > On Apr 11, 2016, at 12:52 PM, Arvydas Matiukas <[hidden email]> wrote: > > ***** > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. > ***** > > Craig, > > you are right about setting 100% AOTF transmission for all beams > being aligned (it was confirmed by another specialist as well). I am going > to do that and reflect the beams to the side for more precise alignment > over far distance. > Thanks for reminding me laser safety that I was following all the time. > > Arvydas > >>>> Craig Brideau <[hidden email]> 4/11/2016 2:25 PM >>> > ***** > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. > ***** > > The AOTF works by deflecting part of the beam. You can't really align it > without the AOTF being active to permit the main portion beam to pass the > 'through' path. Even then, you have to be very careful about the alignment > through the AOTF as it is fairly angle sensitive. Do you have the AOTF > active and set to 100% transmission for the argon line while you are > aligning? Also, if possible run your argon in 'Standby' mode instead of > 'Run' to decrease the power out of the laser for safety. > *I am not a laser technician follow my advice at your own risk legal etc > etc wear proper safety equipment > > Craig Brideau > > > On Mon, Apr 11, 2016 at 8:29 AM, Arvydas Matiukas <[hidden email]> > wrote: > >> ***** >> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: >> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy >> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. >> ***** >> >> ar listers, >> >> >> I am replacing Lasos Argon laser on 510 confocal. >> I am replacing myself as the confocal is off contract. >> I purchased the same laser model from the manufacturer >> for $4k (that is a good deal compared to $2-3k for retubing by third party >> companies). >> >> >> The new laser head runs fine. However I ran in a problem >> when trying to align laser beam into the fiber. The beam >> is first combined with two HeNe laser beams, passes AOTF, and goes into >> the fiber. I can align the argon beam >> to be combined with other two beams until the AOTF. At >> the AOTF output the 488nm argon beam seems to be exiting at slight angle >> and does not go into the fiber. >> >> >> Please advise how to align the argon beam, especially >> if you have such experience. Any other insights or ideas >> are welcome as well. You can reply off list if preferred. >> >> >> Thanks, >> Arvydas >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Arvydas Matiukas, Ph.D. >> Director of Confocal&Two-Photon Imaging Core Facility >> Department of Neuroscience and Physiology >> SUNY Upstate Medical University >> email: [hidden email] >> |
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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. ***** I was able to align argon laser into the fiber and obtain normal images. It seems that the primary issue was the laser head position not the AOTF (AOTF only complicates the alignment by splitting each beam into two). If I screw the laser into the standard position I cannot align it by slightly adjusting the position and first mirror. If the laser is unscrewed and shifted ~2mm to the side its beam can be aligned in few minutes. Unless there is a better solution I would need to increase the adjustment holes in the laser "legs" and fix laser in the aligned position. Jason, thanks for the notes on the AOTF. I assume gas lasers have quite precise wavelengths to work with old AOTF frequencies. Thanks, Arvydas >>> Jason Kirk <[hidden email]> 4/11/2016 3:14 PM >>> ***** To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. ***** A few side notes: 1. The Zeiss techs use the 543nm HeNe as a reference laser - so assuming this is still aligned properly you will want to localize the Argon with this prior to the AOTF. 2. The AOTF controller box requires a hardwired control paddle to bypass the frequency calibrations set in the firmware by a calibration routine run downstream. Typically the tech would perform a gross alignment with the 543 at the input coupler of the AOTF. Then the tech would set the AOTF so the zero order passes through for a given line and adjust the fine position after the AOTF. Once this is set then a software calibration is run that will then set the controller firmware to a particular frequency for a given line. This frequency will change slightly when you change lasers - so the old one will likely be wrong for the new laser you are installing. This means that using the software to set your laser to 100% will likely be very tricky to get the final alignment correct due to the slight offsets in the crystal frequency. 3. I would recommend contacting Zeiss to request a service manual for the 510. Not sure how far you will get - but since they have discontinued service for this model you might get them to release this manual. It has a very detailed multi step protocol that would save you tons of headaches getting this right. Hope this helps! -Jason > On Apr 11, 2016, at 12:52 PM, Arvydas Matiukas <[hidden email]> wrote: > > ***** > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. > ***** > > Craig, > > you are right about setting 100% AOTF transmission for all beams > being aligned (it was confirmed by another specialist as well). I am going > to do that and reflect the beams to the side for more precise alignment > over far distance. > Thanks for reminding me laser safety that I was following all the time. > > Arvydas > >>>> Craig Brideau <[hidden email]> 4/11/2016 2:25 PM >>> > ***** > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. > ***** > > The AOTF works by deflecting part of the beam. You can't really align it > without the AOTF being active to permit the main portion beam to pass the > 'through' path. Even then, you have to be very careful about the alignment > through the AOTF as it is fairly angle sensitive. Do you have the AOTF > active and set to 100% transmission for the argon line while you are > aligning? Also, if possible run your argon in 'Standby' mode instead of > 'Run' to decrease the power out of the laser for safety. > *I am not a laser technician follow my advice at your own risk legal etc > etc wear proper safety equipment > > Craig Brideau > > > On Mon, Apr 11, 2016 at 8:29 AM, Arvydas Matiukas <[hidden email]> > wrote: > >> ***** >> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: >> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy >> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. >> ***** >> >> ar listers, >> >> >> I am replacing Lasos Argon laser on 510 confocal. >> I am replacing myself as the confocal is off contract. >> I purchased the same laser model from the manufacturer >> for $4k (that is a good deal compared to $2-3k for retubing by third party >> companies). >> >> >> The new laser head runs fine. However I ran in a problem >> when trying to align laser beam into the fiber. The beam >> is first combined with two HeNe laser beams, passes AOTF, and goes into >> the fiber. I can align the argon beam >> to be combined with other two beams until the AOTF. At >> the AOTF output the 488nm argon beam seems to be exiting at slight angle >> and does not go into the fiber. >> >> >> Please advise how to align the argon beam, especially >> if you have such experience. Any other insights or ideas >> are welcome as well. You can reply off list if preferred. >> >> >> Thanks, >> Arvydas >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Arvydas Matiukas, Ph.D. >> Director of Confocal&Two-Photon Imaging Core Facility >> Department of Neuroscience and Physiology >> SUNY Upstate Medical University >> email: [hidden email] >> |
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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. ***** Sounds like the beam on the new laser is exiting the laser at a slightly different location from the old one. The exact pointing angle and exit location on any laser can vary, so it is not surprising that you had to shift it around. I like to use short slots instead of holes for mounting as it allows you to nudge the laser a little bit before locking it down. Gas lasers by their nature emit at very specific wavelengths. They are the most likely to always work with the AOTF settings. Diode lasers and DPSS can vary by around 5nm center wavelength, so you have to be careful with those. You can specify an acceptable wavelength deviation when you buy diode-based systems, but this costs extra and isn't always available. I'm glad you were able to get it working! Craig On Mon, Apr 11, 2016 at 4:50 PM, Arvydas Matiukas <[hidden email]> wrote: > ***** > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. > ***** > > I was able to align argon laser into the fiber and obtain normal images. > It seems that the primary issue was the laser head position not the AOTF > (AOTF only complicates the alignment by splitting each beam into two). > > If I screw the laser into the standard position I cannot align it by > slightly adjusting > the position and first mirror. If the laser is unscrewed and shifted ~2mm > to the side its beam can be aligned in few minutes. Unless there is a > better > solution I would need to increase the adjustment holes in the laser "legs" > and fix laser in the aligned position. > > Jason, thanks for the notes on the AOTF. I assume gas lasers have quite > precise wavelengths to work with old AOTF frequencies. > > Thanks, > Arvydas > > >>> Jason Kirk <[hidden email]> 4/11/2016 3:14 PM >>> > ***** > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting. > ***** > > A few side notes: > > 1. The Zeiss techs use the 543nm HeNe as a reference laser - so assuming > this is still aligned properly you will want to localize the Argon with > this prior to the AOTF. > > 2. The AOTF controller box requires a hardwired control paddle to bypass > the frequency calibrations set in the firmware by a calibration routine run > downstream. Typically the tech would perform a gross alignment with the > 543 at the input coupler of the AOTF. Then the tech would set the AOTF so > the zero order passes through for a given line and adjust the fine position > after the AOTF. Once this is set then a software calibration is run that > will then set the controller firmware to a particular frequency for a given > line. This frequency will change slightly when you change lasers - so the > old one will likely be wrong for the new laser you are installing. This > means that using the software to set your laser to 100% will likely be very > tricky to get the final alignment correct due to the slight offsets in the > crystal frequency. > > 3. I would recommend contacting Zeiss to request a service manual for the > 510. Not sure how far you will get - but since they have discontinued > service for this model you might get them to release this manual. It has a > very detailed multi step protocol that would save you tons of headaches > getting this right. > > Hope this helps! > > -Jason > > > > On Apr 11, 2016, at 12:52 PM, Arvydas Matiukas <[hidden email]> > wrote: > > > > ***** > > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: > > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy > > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your > posting. > > ***** > > > > Craig, > > > > you are right about setting 100% AOTF transmission for all beams > > being aligned (it was confirmed by another specialist as well). I am > going > > to do that and reflect the beams to the side for more precise alignment > > over far distance. > > Thanks for reminding me laser safety that I was following all the time. > > > > Arvydas > > > >>>> Craig Brideau <[hidden email]> 4/11/2016 2:25 PM >>> > > ***** > > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: > > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy > > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your > posting. > > ***** > > > > The AOTF works by deflecting part of the beam. You can't really align it > > without the AOTF being active to permit the main portion beam to pass the > > 'through' path. Even then, you have to be very careful about the > alignment > > through the AOTF as it is fairly angle sensitive. Do you have the AOTF > > active and set to 100% transmission for the argon line while you are > > aligning? Also, if possible run your argon in 'Standby' mode instead of > > 'Run' to decrease the power out of the laser for safety. > > *I am not a laser technician follow my advice at your own risk legal etc > > etc wear proper safety equipment > > > > Craig Brideau > > > > > > On Mon, Apr 11, 2016 at 8:29 AM, Arvydas Matiukas <[hidden email]> > > wrote: > > > >> ***** > >> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: > >> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy > >> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your > posting. > >> ***** > >> > >> ar listers, > >> > >> > >> I am replacing Lasos Argon laser on 510 confocal. > >> I am replacing myself as the confocal is off contract. > >> I purchased the same laser model from the manufacturer > >> for $4k (that is a good deal compared to $2-3k for retubing by third > party > >> companies). > >> > >> > >> The new laser head runs fine. However I ran in a problem > >> when trying to align laser beam into the fiber. The beam > >> is first combined with two HeNe laser beams, passes AOTF, and goes into > >> the fiber. I can align the argon beam > >> to be combined with other two beams until the AOTF. At > >> the AOTF output the 488nm argon beam seems to be exiting at slight angle > >> and does not go into the fiber. > >> > >> > >> Please advise how to align the argon beam, especially > >> if you have such experience. Any other insights or ideas > >> are welcome as well. You can reply off list if preferred. > >> > >> > >> Thanks, > >> Arvydas > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> Arvydas Matiukas, Ph.D. > >> Director of Confocal&Two-Photon Imaging Core Facility > >> Department of Neuroscience and Physiology > >> SUNY Upstate Medical University > >> email: [hidden email] > >> > |
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