Aryeh Weiss |
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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy ***** We are now convinced that our argon ion laser must be replaced. It flickers and the power output has dropped quite a bit. The local Leica rep will happily replace it for about 15,600 Euro + 8 hours labor... Lasos informs us that this is a special order model for Leica, they cannot sell it directly, and have no equivalent "non-oem" model. So, my questions for the SP5 experts on the list. 1. Has anyone replaced the argon-ion laser with an equivalent "non-oem" laser? 2. Has anyone had their laser rebuilt? If so by whom, and were the results good? (Replies to me from the people who rebuild lasers are welcome...) 3. Is anyone using a solid state laser in an SP5 to provide the 488nm and 514nm lines? Cobolt makes such a combined laser (basically 2 lasers set up in one box to put out coalligned 514nm and 488nm lines). It is expensive, but given what Leica wants for the argon laser, it may be worth considering. Any input on this will be much appreciated. --aryeh -- Aryeh Weiss Faculty of Engineering Bar Ilan University Ramat Gan 52900 Israel Ph: 972-3-5317638 FAX: 972-3-7384051 |
Pascal Weber |
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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy ***** I just changed my argon laser by the original model (13 500 eur). I think the problem you may encounter is the control of solid-state laser. The program may display errors. I think if you replace a diode with a diode no worries. |
Markus Burkhardt |
In reply to this post by Aryeh Weiss
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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy ***** Dear Aryeh, we have replaced our Ar-laser after 6300 hours of operation (after the flickering started, we could still use it for a couple of months by reducing the tube current setting to about 15% in the LASAF software). We replaced the laser head and the power supply, as LASOS and Leica recommend. However, you could think about only replacing the laser and by that save about 35% of the costs. It's a bit risky as I have no idea whether an old power supply can indeed damage a new laser. But if you find out how to check the proper functioning of the power supply, this could be an option. Best regards, Markus |
Aryeh Weiss |
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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy ***** Here is something SP5 (and maybe others) will want to know. We finally figured out why our argon-ion laser was flickering. Actually, it turned out to be an unstable electro-mechanical shutter in front of the laser. They have this light leaf shutter which opened to its "up" position, but then it has this slight random vibration that partially interrupts the beam in a random way (not constant amplitude). Arghh.... Anyway, Leica has identical shutters on the other lasers, so we swapped the argon-ion shutter with the 594nm shutter (594 is used least, since we have 561nm and 633nm lasers), So far, the 594 does not suffer the same fate -- it is possible that the 594 beam goes through the aperture a bit lower than the argon ion beam. Does anyone know who actually makes this shutter? It only has a Leica part number on it. Also, if anyone has experienced "hysteresis" (ie, the fiber does not follow the screw smoothly) in alignment of those 4-screw fiber aligners, (double Arghh....), I am interested in becoming wiser about this. --aryeh -- Aryeh Weiss Faculty of Engineering Bar Ilan University Ramat Gan 52900 Israel Ph: 972-3-5317638 FAX: 972-3-7384051 |
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