Leica DM IRBE - Adapting Z-stage

[KeithEPrater]

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Hello all!

I have a Leica DM IRBE inverted scope that I am trying to outfit with a
z-stage. The stage is, as far as I know, the original stage that came with
this scope. However, the other bits that completed the DM IRBE as a confocal
system are long lost. What I have is the fluorescence scope itself and its
z-stage.

What I am trying to do is get this z-stage to talk to our PC and control it
via MicroManager or something similar. The cable coming out from our z-stage
has a 15-pin connector (male). Is there any way I can adapt this 15-pin
connector so that MicroManager or another program can detect and drive it?
The PC has no 15-pin female port. I am thinking a 15-pin to USB adapter
might work, as MicroManager searches USB drives for devices.

What I'd like to achieve is essentially a deconvolution scope. Was wondering
if anyone here has any ideas on how to achieve this.

Thanks in advance!

Keith Prater

[Barbara Foster]

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Hi, Keith

You might want to talk to Eric Drier at Mad City Labs.  I had a
chance to visit them last year and they have some really interesting
"bits and pieces."  Also, Eric is very savvy when it comes to setting
up experiments.

Good hunting!
Barbara Foster, President and Sr. Consultant

Microscopy/Microscopy Education
P: [phone]
W: www.MicroscopyEducation.com

We are now scheduling courses through the balance of 2012




At 01:44 PM 5/21/2012, Keith Prater wrote:

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>To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
>*****
>
>Hello all!
>
>I have a Leica DM IRBE inverted scope that I am trying to outfit with a
>z-stage. The stage is, as far as I know, the original stage that came with
>this scope. However, the other bits that completed the DM IRBE as a confocal
>system are long lost. What I have is the fluorescence scope itself and its
>z-stage.
>
>What I am trying to do is get this z-stage to talk to our PC and control it
>via MicroManager or something similar. The cable coming out from our z-stage
>has a 15-pin connector (male). Is there any way I can adapt this 15-pin
>connector so that MicroManager or another program can detect and drive it?
>The PC has no 15-pin female port. I am thinking a 15-pin to USB adapter
>might work, as MicroManager searches USB drives for devices.
>
>What I'd like to achieve is essentially a deconvolution scope. Was wondering
>if anyone here has any ideas on how to achieve this.
>
>Thanks in advance!
>
>Keith Prater

[Kurt Thorn]

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Without knowing something about what signals that 15 pin connector
carries and if it is some standard format, it's pretty much impossible
to do anything with it.  Merely knowing the connector format doesn't
tell you much.  As a trivial example, the VGA monitor standard uses a
15-pin connector, but I don't think connecting your stage to a graphics
card will achieve much :)

Kurt


On 5/21/2012 11:16 AM, Keith Prater wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> Hello all!
>
> I have a Leica DM IRBE inverted scope that I am trying to outfit with a
> z-stage. The stage is, as far as I know, the original stage that came with
> this scope. However, the other bits that completed the DM IRBE as a confocal
> system are long lost. What I have is the fluorescence scope itself and its
> z-stage.
>
> What I am trying to do is get this z-stage to talk to our PC and control it
> via MicroManager or something similar. The cable coming out from our z-stage
> has a 15-pin connector (male). Is there any way I can adapt this 15-pin
> connector so that MicroManager or another program can detect and drive it?
> The PC has no 15-pin female port. I am thinking a 15-pin to USB adapter
> might work, as MicroManager searches USB drives for devices.
>
> What I'd like to achieve is essentially a deconvolution scope. Was wondering
> if anyone here has any ideas on how to achieve this.
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Keith Prater
>
>

[David Baddeley]

I'm not familiar with that particular model, but the 15 pin
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Hi Keith,

I'm not familiar with that particular model, but the 15 pin connector is most likely a proprietary connector for connecting the stepper motor / voice coil to a separate driver box. The driver box would then connect to the computer via a serial line (DB9 or DB25 connector). If you're lucky the driver might be in the microscope stand itself (have a look for a 15 pin female connector on the back of the stand), and the stand might have a serial port which allows it to be connected to the computer.

cheers,
David


________________________________
 From: Keith Prater <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Tuesday, 22 May 2012 6:16 AM
Subject: Leica DM IRBE - Adapting Z-stage
 
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Hello all!

I have a Leica DM IRBE inverted scope that I am trying to outfit with a
z-stage. The stage is, as far as I know, the original stage that came with
this scope. However, the other bits that completed the DM IRBE as a confocal
system are long lost. What I have is the fluorescence scope itself and its
z-stage.

What I am trying to do is get this z-stage to talk to our PC and control it
via MicroManager or something similar. The cable coming out from our z-stage
has a 15-pin connector (male). Is there any way I can adapt this 15-pin
connector so that MicroManager or another program can detect and drive it?
The PC has no 15-pin female port. I am thinking a 15-pin to USB adapter
might work, as MicroManager searches USB drives for devices.

What I'd like to achieve is essentially a deconvolution scope. Was wondering
if anyone here has any ideas on how to achieve this.

Thanks in advance!

Keith Prater

[ugez323]

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Hi

We have done something very similar recently. We had a DMIRB setup on an old
PC with AT cards in the back. The Z-drive was functioning and is probably
the expensive bit so decided to see if we could get it working via micromanager.

We haven't done it yet! Waiting for parts, but basically the z drive is a
stepper motor and so draws high current and is not drivable direct from the
PC. You need an interface and we have ordered one from Prior (no commercial
connection other than we have bought parts from them). It is the basic z drive
interface unit. Which allows you to plug the drive in to that and then the
PC links
via either USB or serial.

These are compatible with Micromanager apparently.

I am sure Prior or similar companies could provide advice.

Jonathan

University College London

[KeithEPrater]

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Hello all,

thanks so much for all the advice! I have plenty of ideas to work with now.
Sorry that I could not provide more information about this stage; it has
passed through a lot of laboratories and unfortunately is without any
documentation, even so much as a brand name stamped on it. To compound that
problem, my knowledge of electronics is quite limited.

Jonathan - is the controller you purchased the OptiScan or ProScan? This
sounds like it might be the solution we're after. Please let me know how it
works out once you get the parts and have a go at setting it up.

Thanks again everyone!

On Mon, May 21, 2012 at 7:41 PM, Jonathan Knowles <[hidden email]>wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> Hi
>
> We have done something very similar recently. We had a DMIRB setup on an
> old
> PC with AT cards in the back. The Z-drive was functioning and is probably
> the expensive bit so decided to see if we could get it working via
> micromanager.
>
> We haven't done it yet! Waiting for parts, but basically the z drive is a
> stepper motor and so draws high current and is not drivable direct from the
> PC. You need an interface and we have ordered one from Prior (no commercial
> connection other than we have bought parts from them). It is the basic z
> drive
> interface unit. Which allows you to plug the drive in to that and then the
> PC links
> via either USB or serial.
>
> These are compatible with Micromanager apparently.
>
> I am sure Prior or similar companies could provide advice.
>
> Jonathan
>
> University College London
>