Re: any ideas how lens broke?

[Thomas Trusk]

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We are currently experiencing a second similar experience (in 2 years) with a 40X
oil lens.  This time the repair set us back $4000.  Since this is becoming an
expensive problem, I've been exploring the cause and possible preventive
measures.  In our system, the motorized XY stage has three "ledges" about 1 cm
above the focal plane of a 1x3 slide which present obstacles to objectives as they
rotate.  Indeed, these ledges show signs of wear where crashes have occurred.  All
users are trained in the use of objectives, including centering the subject between
these ledges, and ensuring oil objectives are in their raised resting positions to
minimize the possibility of crashing.  Obviously this is insufficient.

Checking out objectives is not efficient in our core so I am considering modifying
the stage to raise the focal plane to where the ledges no longer present a danger.  
I realize this modification will only work for epiFL as it will move the sample away
from the substage condenser.  Only a few users need that for DIC anyway, and
tend to be more experienced users.  Does anyone see any other problems with
raising the focal plane?  Thanks!

Thomas Trusk, PhD
Director, Josh Spruill Imaging Facility
Dept of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC 29425

[Zac Arrac Atelaz]

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Thomas:

 

Transmitted light will be your major issue, you can also modify the insert for something softer like acrylic or nylamid, where the objective can hit but get little or no damage at all.


Best regards

Gabriel OH

 

> Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2014 07:32:12 -0500
> From: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: any ideas how lens broke?
> To: [hidden email]
>
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> We are currently experiencing a second similar experience (in 2 years) with a 40X
> oil lens. This time the repair set us back $4000. Since this is becoming an
> expensive problem, I've been exploring the cause and possible preventive
> measures. In our system, the motorized XY stage has three "ledges" about 1 cm
> above the focal plane of a 1x3 slide which present obstacles to objectives as they
> rotate. Indeed, these ledges show signs of wear where crashes have occurred. All
> users are trained in the use of objectives, including centering the subject between
> these ledges, and ensuring oil objectives are in their raised resting positions to
> minimize the possibility of crashing. Obviously this is insufficient.
>
> Checking out objectives is not efficient in our core so I am considering modifying
> the stage to raise the focal plane to where the ledges no longer present a danger.
> I realize this modification will only work for epiFL as it will move the sample away
> from the substage condenser. Only a few users need that for DIC anyway, and
> tend to be more experienced users. Does anyone see any other problems with
> raising the focal plane? Thanks!
>
> Thomas Trusk, PhD
> Director, Josh Spruill Imaging Facility
> Dept of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology
> Medical University of South Carolina
> Charleston, SC 29425

     

[Craig Brideau]

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I created acrylic and plexiglass inserts for the stage on our inverted C1Si
for just this reason. The inserts are cradled in place of the usual
slide/dish insert holder. If an impact occurs it just lifts the insert up,
or at the very least if a jam occurs it is against the soft plastic which
can't harm the lens.
The root of the problem is that the objectives can rise too high on samples
that are high up on the stage. The working objective is safe, but the other
lenses on the turret can collide with the rails on the slide holder insert
or even crash into the stage body proper. The replacement inserts minimize
this error, and I train all the users to watch for it.

Craig Brideau


On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 11:41 AM, Zac Arrac Atelaz <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> Thomas:
>
>
>
> Transmitted light will be your major issue, you can also modify the insert
> for something softer like acrylic or nylamid, where the objective can hit
> but get little or no damage at all.
>
>
> Best regards
>
> Gabriel OH
>
>
>
> > Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2014 07:32:12 -0500
> > From: [hidden email]
> > Subject: Re: any ideas how lens broke?
> > To: [hidden email]
> >
> > *****
> > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your
> posting.
> > *****
> >
> > We are currently experiencing a second similar experience (in 2 years)
> with a 40X
> > oil lens. This time the repair set us back $4000. Since this is becoming
> an
> > expensive problem, I've been exploring the cause and possible preventive
> > measures. In our system, the motorized XY stage has three "ledges" about
> 1 cm
> > above the focal plane of a 1x3 slide which present obstacles to
> objectives as they
> > rotate. Indeed, these ledges show signs of wear where crashes have
> occurred. All
> > users are trained in the use of objectives, including centering the
> subject between
> > these ledges, and ensuring oil objectives are in their raised resting
> positions to
> > minimize the possibility of crashing. Obviously this is insufficient.
> >
> > Checking out objectives is not efficient in our core so I am considering
> modifying
> > the stage to raise the focal plane to where the ledges no longer present
> a danger.
> > I realize this modification will only work for epiFL as it will move the
> sample away
> > from the substage condenser. Only a few users need that for DIC anyway,
> and
> > tend to be more experienced users. Does anyone see any other problems
> with
> > raising the focal plane? Thanks!
> >
> > Thomas Trusk, PhD
> > Director, Josh Spruill Imaging Facility
> > Dept of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology
> > Medical University of South Carolina
> > Charleston, SC 29425
>
>

[Guy Cox-2]

Sounds like a sound idea but I'm surprised by the statement about the objective crashing into the stage or the rails.  Motorized inverted microscopes I've used drop the objective well down when rotating and only bring it up to the parfocal position when in place.  There can still be problems if you've failed to tell the software that you have changed the objective in that position ....

      Guy

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Craig Brideau
Sent: Monday, 4 August 2014 5:41 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: any ideas how lens broke?

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
*****

I created acrylic and plexiglass inserts for the stage on our inverted C1Si for just this reason. The inserts are cradled in place of the usual slide/dish insert holder. If an impact occurs it just lifts the insert up, or at the very least if a jam occurs it is against the soft plastic which can't harm the lens.
The root of the problem is that the objectives can rise too high on samples that are high up on the stage. The working objective is safe, but the other lenses on the turret can collide with the rails on the slide holder insert or even crash into the stage body proper. The replacement inserts minimize this error, and I train all the users to watch for it.

Craig Brideau


On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 11:41 AM, Zac Arrac Atelaz <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> Thomas:
>
>
>
> Transmitted light will be your major issue, you can also modify the
> insert for something softer like acrylic or nylamid, where the
> objective can hit but get little or no damage at all.
>
>
> Best regards
>
> Gabriel OH
>
>
>
> > Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2014 07:32:12 -0500
> > From: [hidden email]
> > Subject: Re: any ideas how lens broke?
> > To: [hidden email]
> >
> > *****
> > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your
> posting.
> > *****
> >
> > We are currently experiencing a second similar experience (in 2
> > years)
> with a 40X
> > oil lens. This time the repair set us back $4000. Since this is
> > becoming
> an
> > expensive problem, I've been exploring the cause and possible
> > preventive measures. In our system, the motorized XY stage has three
> > "ledges" about
> 1 cm
> > above the focal plane of a 1x3 slide which present obstacles to
> objectives as they
> > rotate. Indeed, these ledges show signs of wear where crashes have
> occurred. All
> > users are trained in the use of objectives, including centering the
> subject between
> > these ledges, and ensuring oil objectives are in their raised
> > resting
> positions to
> > minimize the possibility of crashing. Obviously this is insufficient.
> >
> > Checking out objectives is not efficient in our core so I am
> > considering
> modifying
> > the stage to raise the focal plane to where the ledges no longer
> > present
> a danger.
> > I realize this modification will only work for epiFL as it will move
> > the
> sample away
> > from the substage condenser. Only a few users need that for DIC
> > anyway,
> and
> > tend to be more experienced users. Does anyone see any other
> > problems
> with
> > raising the focal plane? Thanks!
> >
> > Thomas Trusk, PhD
> > Director, Josh Spruill Imaging Facility Dept of Regenerative
> > Medicine and Cell Biology Medical University of South Carolina
> > Charleston, SC 29425
>
>

[Craig Brideau]

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
*****

It tends to happen when the users are focusing on something near the edges
of the stage opening. The unused objectives on the turret bump up against
the inner edge of the stage cavity. The objectives can be damaged if the
user tries to keep moving the stage or is overly aggressive while trying to
focus. This is mostly a training issue but my plastic stage inserts have
saved the lenses on a few occasions just the same.

Craig
On Aug 4, 2014 3:16 AM, "Guy Cox" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Sounds like a sound idea but I'm surprised by the statement about the
> objective crashing into the stage or the rails.  Motorized inverted
> microscopes I've used drop the objective well down when rotating and only
> bring it up to the parfocal position when in place.  There can still be
> problems if you've failed to tell the software that you have changed the
> objective in that position ....
>
>                                                 Guy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
> On Behalf Of Craig Brideau
> Sent: Monday, 4 August 2014 5:41 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: any ideas how lens broke?
>
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> I created acrylic and plexiglass inserts for the stage on our inverted
> C1Si for just this reason. The inserts are cradled in place of the usual
> slide/dish insert holder. If an impact occurs it just lifts the insert up,
> or at the very least if a jam occurs it is against the soft plastic which
> can't harm the lens.
> The root of the problem is that the objectives can rise too high on
> samples that are high up on the stage. The working objective is safe, but
> the other lenses on the turret can collide with the rails on the slide
> holder insert or even crash into the stage body proper. The replacement
> inserts minimize this error, and I train all the users to watch for it.
>
> Craig Brideau
>
>
> On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 11:41 AM, Zac Arrac Atelaz <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
> > *****
> > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your
> posting.
> > *****
> >
> > Thomas:
> >
> >
> >
> > Transmitted light will be your major issue, you can also modify the
> > insert for something softer like acrylic or nylamid, where the
> > objective can hit but get little or no damage at all.
> >
> >
> > Best regards
> >
> > Gabriel OH
> >
> >
> >
> > > Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2014 07:32:12 -0500
> > > From: [hidden email]
> > > Subject: Re: any ideas how lens broke?
> > > To: [hidden email]
> > >
> > > *****
> > > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> > > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> > > Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your
> > posting.
> > > *****
> > >
> > > We are currently experiencing a second similar experience (in 2
> > > years)
> > with a 40X
> > > oil lens. This time the repair set us back $4000. Since this is
> > > becoming
> > an
> > > expensive problem, I've been exploring the cause and possible
> > > preventive measures. In our system, the motorized XY stage has three
> > > "ledges" about
> > 1 cm
> > > above the focal plane of a 1x3 slide which present obstacles to
> > objectives as they
> > > rotate. Indeed, these ledges show signs of wear where crashes have
> > occurred. All
> > > users are trained in the use of objectives, including centering the
> > subject between
> > > these ledges, and ensuring oil objectives are in their raised
> > > resting
> > positions to
> > > minimize the possibility of crashing. Obviously this is insufficient.
> > >
> > > Checking out objectives is not efficient in our core so I am
> > > considering
> > modifying
> > > the stage to raise the focal plane to where the ledges no longer
> > > present
> > a danger.
> > > I realize this modification will only work for epiFL as it will move
> > > the
> > sample away
> > > from the substage condenser. Only a few users need that for DIC
> > > anyway,
> > and
> > > tend to be more experienced users. Does anyone see any other
> > > problems
> > with
> > > raising the focal plane? Thanks!
> > >
> > > Thomas Trusk, PhD
> > > Director, Josh Spruill Imaging Facility Dept of Regenerative
> > > Medicine and Cell Biology Medical University of South Carolina
> > > Charleston, SC 29425
> >
> >
>