Lasos argon laser repeated failure in Leica SP5

[Zoltan]

Dear List Members,

We have a fairly new Leica SP5 system (15 months old) that has a Lasos multi-line argon laser, part number LGK 7872 ML05, which now has failed for the second time within a year.  The error appears if we turn the total power slider to 30% or more, in which case the laser starts to "stutter" (i.e. cuts out randomly during scanning) that produces randomly distributed blank lines and bands in the acquired image.  If we then move the power slider back to below 30%, the laser performance returns to normal. Upon the first appearance of this error, Leica simply replaced the head and the power supply, but now the same error appeared again, making us more than suspicious that this is a common form of failure for this laser in the Leica system.

  Did anyone experience the same or similar problem?  If so, how did you resolve it?  Was it laser specific, manufacturer related or Leica related?

  Any information will be much appreciated!  Thank you very much,

 

Zoltan

--
Zoltan Cseresnyes
Facility Manager, Imaging Suite
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3EJ
United Kingdom

[Christian Müller-11]

Had the same defect with a Coherent argon laser in a different system.
After replacement everything works fine. Thus not neccessarily a
specific Leica-related problem.

Christian

Zoltan Cseresnyes schrieb:
> the laser starts to "stutter" (i.e. cuts out randomly during scanning)
> that produces randomly distributed blank lines and bands in the
> acquired image.
>   Did anyone experience the same or similar problem?  If so, how did
> you resolve it?  Was it laser specific, manufacturer related or Leica
> related?
>   Any information will be much appreciated!  Thank you very much,


--
......................................................................
Dr. Christian M. Müller
Clinical Neuroanatomy
NeuroScience Center, Hs. 89
Goethe University Frankfurt
D-60528 Frankfurt/M., Germany

[Jon Ekman-2]

It sounds like a bad argon laser/power supply. We have gone through several Argon lasers from Lasos over the past couple years on one of our SP2s. On a couple occasions, the lasers have  arrived dead. Hopefully, because you are closer to Leica on that side of the pond you don’t have to wait as long as we do for replacement parts.

 

-Jon

 

From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Zoltan Cseresnyes
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 8:30 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Lasos argon laser repeated failure in Leica SP5

 

Dear List Members,

We have a fairly new Leica SP5 system (15 months old) that has a Lasos multi-line argon laser, part number LGK 7872 ML05, which now has failed for the second time within a year.  The error appears if we turn the total power slider to 30% or more, in which case the laser starts to "stutter" (i.e. cuts out randomly during scanning) that produces randomly distributed blank lines and bands in the acquired image.  If we then move the power slider back to below 30%, the laser performance returns to normal. Upon the first appearance of this error, Leica simply replaced the head and the power supply, but now the same error appeared again, making us more than suspicious that this is a common form of failure for this laser in the Leica system.

  Did anyone experience the same or similar problem?  If so, how did you resolve it?  Was it laser specific, manufacturer related or Leica related?

  Any information will be much appreciated!  Thank you very much,

 

Zoltan

--
Zoltan Cseresnyes
Facility Manager, Imaging Suite
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3EJ
United Kingdom

[Michael Weber-4]

Zoltan,

to me it sounds more like a problem with overheating. The system I was
working with had quite similar troubles, and it turned out that the
laser itself was getting to hot and switched off at some point. There is
a temperature security switch close to the Argon laser. To evaluate
this, try stepwise laser-power measurements from 0 to 100% laser power
(AOTF at 100%). In my case power increased until 50% and then dropped
slightly towards 100% - clear sign for overheating.

Another candidate might be related to the AOTF, if the temperature
control of this one fails it could also switch on and off due to
overheating. But then the problems would also appear with other visible
lines not coming from the Argon.

Michael


Zoltan Cseresnyes wrote:

> Dear List Members,
>
> We have a fairly new Leica SP5 system (15 months old) that has a Lasos
> multi-line argon laser, part number LGK 7872 ML05, which now has failed
> for the second time within a year.  The error appears if we turn the
> total power slider to 30% or more, in which case the laser starts to
> "stutter" (i.e. cuts out randomly during scanning) that produces
> randomly distributed blank lines and bands in the acquired image.  If we
> then move the power slider back to below 30%, the laser performance
> returns to normal. Upon the first appearance of this error, Leica simply
> replaced the head and the power supply, but now the same error appeared
> again, making us more than suspicious that this is a common form of
> failure for this laser in the Leica system.
>   Did anyone experience the same or similar problem?  If so, how did you
> resolve it?  Was it laser specific, manufacturer related or Leica related?
>   Any information will be much appreciated!  Thank you very much,
>  
> Zoltan
>
> --
> Zoltan Cseresnyes
> Facility Manager, Imaging Suite
> Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
> Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3EJ
> United Kingdom

[Graham Wright-5]

Zoltan,

We also has the LASOS multi-line argon laser fail prematurely in our SP5
(the whole system was only about 8 months old). In contrast to your problem
it was a complete failure and the laser and power supply was replaced, then
with the new laser in place one of the downstream control boards was also
replaced as it was misbehaving limiting the laser power at the sample. It
was a good as new post repair and continues to be so (now at nearly 18
months old).

Interestingly, we also had the 488 solid state laser in our SPE die within a
year of purchase too (again this was replaced and is now fine). I would be
interested to hear from other SPE owners as to whether they have had
problems with laser failure in their systems.

Best wishes,
Graham

-----
Graham Wright
Microscopy & Imaging Facility

Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory
1 Research Link
National University of Singapore
Singapore 117604

P:    [phone]
E:     [hidden email]
W:    http://microscopy.tll.org.sg

----- Original Message -----
From: Zoltan Cseresnyes
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 10:29 PM
Subject: Lasos argon laser repeated failure in Leica SP5


Dear List Members,

We have a fairly new Leica SP5 system (15 months old) that has a Lasos
multi-line argon laser, part number LGK 7872 ML05, which now has failed for
the second time within a year.  The error appears if we turn the total power
slider to 30% or more, in which case the laser starts to "stutter" (i.e.
cuts out randomly during scanning) that produces randomly distributed blank
lines and bands in the acquired image.  If we then move the power slider
back to below 30%, the laser performance returns to normal. Upon the first
appearance of this error, Leica simply replaced the head and the power
supply, but now the same error appeared again, making us more than
suspicious that this is a common form of failure for this laser in the Leica
system.
  Did anyone experience the same or similar problem?  If so, how did you
resolve it?  Was it laser specific, manufacturer related or Leica related?
  Any information will be much appreciated!  Thank you very much,

Zoltan

--
Zoltan Cseresnyes
Facility Manager, Imaging Suite
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3EJ
United Kingdom

[Zoltan]

Hi Graham,

 

Thanks for that very valuable piece of information!  Interestingly, we also had the first failure of the (original) laser when the SP5 was much less than a year old, this is now the second time that error occurred.  More similarity: the power limiting error was also present in our system, it would cut down the power when the slider was set above 30% or so. It's very good to know though that your current unit has been behaving well for 18 months!

  Thanks again,

 

Zoltan

On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 1:32 AM, Dr. Graham Wright <[hidden email]> wrote:

Zoltan,

We also has the LASOS multi-line argon laser fail prematurely in our SP5 (the whole system was only about 8 months old). In contrast to your problem it was a complete failure and the laser and power supply was replaced, then with the new laser in place one of the downstream control boards was also replaced as it was misbehaving limiting the laser power at the sample. It was a good as new post repair and continues to be so (now at nearly 18 months old).

Interestingly, we also had the 488 solid state laser in our SPE die within a year of purchase too (again this was replaced and is now fine). I would be interested to hear from other SPE owners as to whether they have had problems with laser failure in their systems.

Best wishes,
Graham

-----
Graham Wright
Microscopy & Imaging Facility

Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory
1 Research Link
National University of Singapore
Singapore 117604

P:    [phone]
E:     [hidden email]
W:    http://microscopy.tll.org.sg

----- Original Message ----- From: Zoltan Cseresnyes

To: [hidden email]

Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 10:29 PM

Subject: Lasos argon laser repeated failure in Leica SP5

Dear List Members,

We have a fairly new Leica SP5 system (15 months old) that has a Lasos multi-line argon laser, part number LGK 7872 ML05, which now has failed for the second time within a year.  The error appears if we turn the total power slider to 30% or more, in which case the laser starts to "stutter" (i.e. cuts out randomly during scanning) that produces randomly distributed blank lines and bands in the acquired image.  If we then move the power slider back to below 30%, the laser performance returns to normal. Upon the first appearance of this error, Leica simply replaced the head and the power supply, but now the same error appeared again, making us more than suspicious that this is a common form of failure for this laser in the Leica system.
 Did anyone experience the same or similar problem?  If so, how did you resolve it?  Was it laser specific, manufacturer related or Leica related?
 Any information will be much appreciated!  Thank you very much,

Zoltan

--
Zoltan Cseresnyes
Facility Manager, Imaging Suite
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3EJ
United Kingdom

--

Zoltan Cseresnyes
Facility manager, Imaging Suite

[Zoltan]

Dear All,

 

Thank you all very much for the suggestions that I received so far!  I tried to reply to most posters directly (i.e. off-list) and will test the possibilities that were raised when I have  a Leica engineer in next week.  Overheating of the laser and/or the AOTF, underpressured tube, and faulty (sparking) power supply seem to be the most likely possibilities based on your replies.  

  It's very educational to see how many labs have the same or similar problems; I'll definitely keep you posted on the outcome of our "investigation".

  Thanks again,

 

Zoltan

On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 12:28 PM, Zoltan Cseresnyes <[hidden email]> wrote:

Hi Graham,

 

Thanks for that very valuable piece of information!  Interestingly, we also had the first failure of the (original) laser when the SP5 was much less than a year old, this is now the second time that error occurred.  More similarity: the power limiting error was also present in our system, it would cut down the power when the slider was set above 30% or so. It's very good to know though that your current unit has been behaving well for 18 months!

  Thanks again,

 

Zoltan

On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 1:32 AM, Dr. Graham Wright <[hidden email]> wrote:

Zoltan,

We also has the LASOS multi-line argon laser fail prematurely in our SP5 (the whole system was only about 8 months old). In contrast to your problem it was a complete failure and the laser and power supply was replaced, then with the new laser in place one of the downstream control boards was also replaced as it was misbehaving limiting the laser power at the sample. It was a good as new post repair and continues to be so (now at nearly 18 months old).

Interestingly, we also had the 488 solid state laser in our SPE die within a year of purchase too (again this was replaced and is now fine). I would be interested to hear from other SPE owners as to whether they have had problems with laser failure in their systems.

Best wishes,
Graham

-----
Graham Wright
Microscopy & Imaging Facility

Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory
1 Research Link
National University of Singapore
Singapore 117604

P:    [phone]
E:     [hidden email]
W:    http://microscopy.tll.org.sg

----- Original Message ----- From: Zoltan Cseresnyes

To: [hidden email]

Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 10:29 PM

Subject: Lasos argon laser repeated failure in Leica SP5

Dear List Members,

We have a fairly new Leica SP5 system (15 months old) that has a Lasos multi-line argon laser, part number LGK 7872 ML05, which now has failed for the second time within a year.  The error appears if we turn the total power slider to 30% or more, in which case the laser starts to "stutter" (i.e. cuts out randomly during scanning) that produces randomly distributed blank lines and bands in the acquired image.  If we then move the power slider back to below 30%, the laser performance returns to normal. Upon the first appearance of this error, Leica simply replaced the head and the power supply, but now the same error appeared again, making us more than suspicious that this is a common form of failure for this laser in the Leica system.
 Did anyone experience the same or similar problem?  If so, how did you resolve it?  Was it laser specific, manufacturer related or Leica related?
 Any information will be much appreciated!  Thank you very much,

Zoltan

--
Zoltan Cseresnyes
Facility Manager, Imaging Suite
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3EJ
United Kingdom

--

Zoltan Cseresnyes
Facility manager, Imaging Suite

--

Zoltan Cseresnyes
Facility manager, Imaging Suite