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MRC-1024 and solid state lasers

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Stephen C. Kempf

MRC-1024 and solid state lasers

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We are still running an MRC-1024 and have reached the point that it's time to get the laser rebuilt again. One of our group has suggested switching to solid state lasers. Has anyone done this with a 1024? If so, how much did it cost and how difficult was it?

If no one has made this conversion, I'd be interested in anyones thoughts on the advisability of trying to do this. It seems to me that there are a number of technical issues that would have to be addressed, including how to make changes in the intensity of each laser (e.g., 10%, 30 %, etc.) and how to channel the out put of two or three different lasers into the scan head.

Any comments are welcome.

Thank you,

Steve Kempf

______________________________________________________________________________
Stephen C. Kempf E-mail: [hidden email]
Associate Professor Tel: 334-844-3924
Department of Biological Sciences Cell: 334-703-6689
331 Funchess Hall Fax: 334-844-9234
Auburn University, AL 36849
Lab Web site - http://gump.auburn.edu/kempflab/
Course web sites:
Vert. Dev. - http://www.auburn.edu/academic/classes/zy/vert_embryo/index_vert_embryo.html
Histology - http://www.auburn.edu/academic/classes/zy/hist0509/index_histology.html

Craig Brideau

Re: MRC-1024 and solid state lasers

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http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
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Cost will depend heavily on what wavelengths you need. Certain
wavelengths, mainly around Cyan, tend to be expensive.

Craig

On Thu, Dec 1, 2011 at 10:36 AM, Stephen C. Kempf <[hidden email]>wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> We are still running an MRC-1024 and have reached the point that it's time
> to get the laser rebuilt again. One of our group has suggested switching to
> solid state lasers. Has anyone done this with a 1024? If so, how much did
> it cost and how difficult was it?
>
> If no one has made this conversion, I'd be interested in anyones thoughts
> on the advisability of trying to do this. It seems to me that there are a
> number of technical issues that would have to be addressed, including how
> to make changes in the intensity of each laser (e.g., 10%, 30 %, etc.) and
> how to channel the out put of two or three different lasers into the scan
> head.
>
> Any comments are welcome.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Steve Kempf
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Stephen C. Kempf E-mail:
> [hidden email]
> Associate Professor Tel:
> 334-844-3924
> Department of Biological Sciences Cell: 334-703-6689
> 331 Funchess Hall Fax:
> 334-844-9234
> Auburn University, AL 36849
> Lab Web site - http://gump.auburn.edu/kempflab/
> Course web sites:
> Vert. Dev. -
> http://www.auburn.edu/academic/classes/zy/vert_embryo/index_vert_embryo.html
> Histology -
> http://www.auburn.edu/academic/classes/zy/hist0509/index_histology.html
>

Guy Cox-2

Re: MRC-1024 and solid state lasers

In reply to this post by Stephen C. Kempf

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

The Nikon C1 has a laser mounting/combining box which is completely separate from the rest of the system. It will put 3 SS or diode lasers into one fibre, and at least early versions had simple manual polarization-based attentuator for each laser. You might be able to get one as a spare from Nikon, and all you then have to do is plug the fibre-optic cable into your MRC 1024. (Well, there's some alignment, of course).

Guy

Optical Imaging Techniques in Cell Biology
by Guy Cox CRC Press / Taylor & Francis
http://www.guycox.com/optical.htm
______________________________________________
Associate Professor Guy Cox, MA, DPhil(Oxon)
Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis,
Madsen Building F09, University of Sydney, NSW 2006

Phone +61 2 9351 3176 Fax +61 2 9351 7682
Mobile 0413 281 861
______________________________________________
http://www.guycox.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Stephen C. Kempf
Sent: Friday, 2 December 2011 4:36 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: MRC-1024 and solid state lasers

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

We are still running an MRC-1024 and have reached the point that it's time to get the laser rebuilt again. One of our group has suggested switching to solid state lasers. Has anyone done this with a 1024? If so, how much did it cost and how difficult was it?

If no one has made this conversion, I'd be interested in anyones thoughts on the advisability of trying to do this. It seems to me that there are a number of technical issues that would have to be addressed, including how to make changes in the intensity of each laser (e.g., 10%, 30 %, etc.) and how to channel the out put of two or three different lasers into the scan head.

Any comments are welcome.

Thank you,

Steve Kempf

______________________________________________________________________________
Stephen C. Kempf E-mail: [hidden email]
Associate Professor Tel: 334-844-3924
Department of Biological Sciences Cell: 334-703-6689
331 Funchess Hall Fax: 334-844-9234
Auburn University, AL 36849
Lab Web site - http://gump.auburn.edu/kempflab/
Course web sites:
Vert. Dev. - http://www.auburn.edu/academic/classes/zy/vert_embryo/index_vert_embryo.html
Histology - http://www.auburn.edu/academic/classes/zy/hist0509/index_histology.html

Craig Brideau

Re: MRC-1024 and solid state lasers

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Also, don't knock the venerable argon laser. It's only about $6-10k for a
decent one these days, and with one laser you get 457nm, 476nm, 488nm, and
514nm. Trying to get all four wavelengths with diode lasers would cost you
around $30k or so.

Craig

On Thu, Dec 1, 2011 at 6:54 PM, Guy Cox <[hidden email]> wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> The Nikon C1 has a laser mounting/combining box which is completely
> separate from the rest of the system. It will put 3 SS or diode lasers
> into one fibre, and at least early versions had simple manual
> polarization-based attentuator for each laser. You might be able to get
> one as a spare from Nikon, and all you then have to do is plug the
> fibre-optic cable into your MRC 1024. (Well, there's some alignment, of
> course).
>
> Guy
>
> Optical Imaging Techniques in Cell Biology
> by Guy Cox CRC Press / Taylor & Francis
> http://www.guycox.com/optical.htm
> ______________________________________________
> Associate Professor Guy Cox, MA, DPhil(Oxon)
> Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis,
> Madsen Building F09, University of Sydney, NSW 2006
>
> Phone +61 2 9351 3176 Fax +61 2 9351 7682
> Mobile 0413 281 861
> ______________________________________________
> http://www.guycox.net
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
> On Behalf Of Stephen C. Kempf
> Sent: Friday, 2 December 2011 4:36 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: MRC-1024 and solid state lasers
>
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> We are still running an MRC-1024 and have reached the point that it's time
> to get the laser rebuilt again. One of our group has suggested switching to
> solid state lasers. Has anyone done this with a 1024? If so, how much did
> it cost and how difficult was it?
>
> If no one has made this conversion, I'd be interested in anyones thoughts
> on the advisability of trying to do this. It seems to me that there are a
> number of technical issues that would have to be addressed, including how
> to make changes in the intensity of each laser (e.g., 10%, 30 %, etc.) and
> how to channel the out put of two or three different lasers into the scan
> head.
>
> Any comments are welcome.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Steve Kempf
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Stephen C. Kempf E-mail:
> [hidden email]
> Associate Professor Tel:
> 334-844-3924
> Department of Biological Sciences Cell: 334-703-6689
> 331 Funchess Hall Fax:
> 334-844-9234
> Auburn University, AL 36849
> Lab Web site - http://gump.auburn.edu/kempflab/
> Course web sites:
> Vert. Dev. -
> http://www.auburn.edu/academic/classes/zy/vert_embryo/index_vert_embryo.html
> Histology -
> http://www.auburn.edu/academic/classes/zy/hist0509/index_histology.html
>

Guy Cox-2

Re: MRC-1024 and solid state lasers

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

True, but the 1024 usually used an argon-krypton laser so you'd need to invest in new filters and dichroics. Aligning a Bio-Rad filter block requires a special jig and even so isn't easy. (We used to have the jig but I doubt if many places do). With DPSS and OPSL you could probably get close enough to use existing filters.

Guy

Optical Imaging Techniques in Cell Biology
by Guy Cox CRC Press / Taylor & Francis
http://www.guycox.com/optical.htm
______________________________________________
Associate Professor Guy Cox, MA, DPhil(Oxon)
Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis,
Madsen Building F09, University of Sydney, NSW 2006

Phone +61 2 9351 3176 Fax +61 2 9351 7682
Mobile 0413 281 861
______________________________________________
http://www.guycox.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Craig Brideau
Sent: Friday, 2 December 2011 1:27 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: MRC-1024 and solid state lasers

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Also, don't knock the venerable argon laser. It's only about $6-10k for a
decent one these days, and with one laser you get 457nm, 476nm, 488nm, and
514nm. Trying to get all four wavelengths with diode lasers would cost you
around $30k or so.

Craig

On Thu, Dec 1, 2011 at 6:54 PM, Guy Cox <[hidden email]> wrote:

Stephen Cody-2

Re: MRC-1024 and solid state lasers

In reply to this post by Stephen C. Kempf

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Dear Steve,

I did this successfully in my last position at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne.

My system was an Argon Ion Laser though.

I swapped the primary dichroic for a quad dichroic that Chroma had in stock ( one I had arranged for Nikon to have custom made previously by Chroma for a C1). I'll find the part number later.

As for controlling the laser that was the nice part. I took all the Bio-Rad bits and pieces from the front of Argon laser. This includes a filter wheel assembly with ND filters and another with excitation filters, as well as a fibre launcher and mount. You'll also need the circuit board Bio-Rad used to control these items that is also found in the box in front of your laser.

The lasers I purchased were the Cobalt Dual Calypso 488 and 532nm 20 + 20 mW, 594 and 633 nm HeNe lasers. At the time these were the best available, I never liked the 543nm HeNe. The 561 had not been released then. These days there are many lasers to choose from.

I combined them with dichroics and could then select wavelengths with the normal Bio-Rad hardware and software.

Much to my surprise I borrowed a 405nm laser and found despite the rhetoric from Bio-Rad the 405nm was transmitted by their fibre fairly efficiently. Well enough to image DAPI.

Unfortunately this system was decommissioned after I moved on from the Ludwig, but I might get my laser combiner back. It did need to be realigned about every 3 months.

All up it cost about $27,000 AUD (from memory) when the Australian dollar was not worth very much. I built this probably around 2005 although I can't be sure.

I'm going on leave for a couple of weeks, but when back to work, I'll try and send you diagrams and part numbers off list. I hope I can find them.

Steve

Stephen H. Cody

On 02/12/2011, at 4:36 AM, "Stephen C. Kempf" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> We are still running an MRC-1024 and have reached the point that it's time to get the laser rebuilt again. One of our group has suggested switching to solid state lasers. Has anyone done this with a 1024? If so, how much did it cost and how difficult was it?
>
> If no one has made this conversion, I'd be interested in anyones thoughts on the advisability of trying to do this. It seems to me that there are a number of technical issues that would have to be addressed, including how to make changes in the intensity of each laser (e.g., 10%, 30 %, etc.) and how to channel the out put of two or three different lasers into the scan head.
>
> Any comments are welcome.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Steve Kempf
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Stephen C. Kempf E-mail: [hidden email]
> Associate Professor Tel: 334-844-3924
> Department of Biological Sciences Cell: 334-703-6689
> 331 Funchess Hall Fax: 334-844-9234
> Auburn University, AL 36849
> Lab Web site - http://gump.auburn.edu/kempflab/
> Course web sites:
> Vert. Dev. - http://www.auburn.edu/academic/classes/zy/vert_embryo/index_vert_embryo.html
> Histology - http://www.auburn.edu/academic/classes/zy/hist0509/index_histology.html