Problem with Nikon A1 confocal

[Carol Norris]

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Hello All,

We are in the midst of a seemingly intractable problem with our Nikon  
A1R confocal.  It appears to be a communication issue between the  
image transfer boards in the computer and the confocal controller.  
The initial symptom was an FIFO error message while attempting to  
scan. Upon shut down and restart of the hardware and software, the  
confocal grabber failed to load and Elements came up missing all the  
confocal controls.  We don't have a maintenance contract, so in  
conference with the Nikon repair guys and a lot of help from our  
imaging specialist, we have tried replacing the computer board and  
the cables, and then the controller board.  None of this really makes  
any difference. Periodically in the midst of plugging and unplugging  
cards and cables, the system will work briefly before the error  
messages start showing up.  We actually got it to work for 20 minutes  
with all the old parts back in, but we are now back to a steady diet  
of the "no communication" error message.  I am ready to set up a  
visit from a service engineer, but the Nikon repair dept has sent a  
request for help to the lead engineers in Japan, so we are waiting on  
that.  Has anyone out there ever experienced this kind of problem,  
and if so, what fixed it?

Thanks,
Carol


Carol E. Norris, Ph.D
Facility Scientist
Flow Cytometry/Confocal Microscopy Facility
Biotechnology/Bioservices Center
University of Connecticut Unit 3149
91 N. Eagleville Rd
Storrs, CT 06269-3149

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Fax [phone]

[Sylvie Le Guyader-2]

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Hi Carol

We have had hardware-software communication problems on our 2 Nikon confocals and worked very closely with Nikon Europe who have now solved all issues. This involved updates for the Ti SDK as well as the scanner firmware. I would recommend that Nikon US contact Nikon Europe (Amsterdam) to ask for the update.

Hope that helps

Sylvie

On 13 Apr 2012, at 17:40, "Carol Norris" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> Hello All,
>
> We are in the midst of a seemingly intractable problem with our Nikon A1R confocal.  It appears to be a communication issue between the image transfer boards in the computer and the confocal controller.  The initial symptom was an FIFO error message while attempting to scan. Upon shut down and restart of the hardware and software, the confocal grabber failed to load and Elements came up missing all the confocal controls.  We don't have a maintenance contract, so in conference with the Nikon repair guys and a lot of help from our imaging specialist, we have tried replacing the computer board and the cables, and then the controller board.  None of this really makes any difference. Periodically in the midst of plugging and unplugging cards and cables, the system will work briefly before the error messages start showing up.  We actually got it to work for 20 minutes with all the old parts back in, but we are now back to a steady diet of the "no communication" error message.  I am ready to set up a visit from a service engineer, but the Nikon repair dept has sent a request for help to the lead engineers in Japan, so we are waiting on that.  Has anyone out there ever experienced this kind of problem, and if so, what fixed it?
>
> Thanks,
> Carol
>
>
> Carol E. Norris, Ph.D
> Facility Scientist
> Flow Cytometry/Confocal Microscopy Facility
> Biotechnology/Bioservices Center
> University of Connecticut Unit 3149
> 91 N. Eagleville Rd
> Storrs, CT 06269-3149
>
> Phone [phone]
> Fax [phone]