laser launch protocol
Locked
|
Anyone have experience aligning a new KrAr laser on a Microradiance 2000? I just installed
a new laser and have a service scheduled in 2-3 weeks to align the laser (when service engineer gets back from a training session in Germany). It would be great if I could get it useable sooner and I would feel a great sense of accomplishment! It looks straightforward (two mirrors, 4 adjustment screws), but I know hitting a 50um fiber is not trivial. If someone routinely does this on their own and has step by step instructions I would love to hear from you. thanks michael |
|
|
If you can hook the other end of the fiber up to some sort of optical
power meter, then you are in business. Basically stare at the readout on the meter while adjusting the screws. Try to scan out a 'raster' pattern: go back and forth on one axis, while moving the other axis in a sweep from left to right. Eventually you will see the power meter react, which means you are close to the fiber tip. Then just keep making small adjustments to optimize for power. Note that you can get stuck on local maxima rather than the true maxima. To prevent this, when you think you are on the maximum value, move off of it a significant distance with one axis and see that things drop off, then move back, then try the other direction. If you don't see any higher values anywhere then you are on the true maximum. Craig On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 4:09 PM, Michael Bastiani <[hidden email]> wrote: > Anyone have experience aligning a new KrAr laser on a Microradiance 2000? I just installed > a new laser and have a service scheduled in 2-3 weeks to align the laser (when service > engineer gets back from a training session in Germany). It would be great if I could get it > useable sooner and I would feel a great sense of accomplishment! It looks straightforward > (two mirrors, 4 adjustment screws), but I know hitting a 50um fiber is not trivial. If > someone routinely does this on their own and has step by step instructions I would love to > hear from you. > thanks > michael > |
|
|
If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Matthew 15:14 - (laser safety ;-)
This is not a trivial process. To the best of my knowledge, aligning the beam into the fiber optic is not the only step required if the laser has been replaced. The laser will firstly need retuning/aligning internally and then needs recalibrating.
I would suggest contacting your local service organisation and enquire if there is another engineer that can visit sooner.
PH If you can hook the other end of the fiber up to some sort of optical |
|
|
Depending on the complexity of the system it can be risky to do this
sort of alignment. If you have any experience it is not so bad, but if you don't know what you are doing and the system is complex you can make things worse. Fortunately it seems to have worked out in this case from what Michael tells me. I do encourage people to tinker, otherwise they never learn, but I suggest you go slowly and carefully and take all necessary safety precautions (goggles,etc.). Craig On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 6:06 AM, Prof Hindsight <[hidden email]> wrote: > If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Matthew 15:14 - > (laser safety ;-) > > This is not a trivial process. To the best of my knowledge, aligning the > beam into the fiber optic is not the only step required if the laser has > been replaced. The laser will firstly need retuning/aligning internally and > then needs recalibrating. > > I would suggest contacting your local service organisation and enquire if > there is another engineer that can visit sooner. > > PH > > On 8 April 2010 23:18, Craig Brideau <[hidden email]> wrote: >> >> If you can hook the other end of the fiber up to some sort of optical >> power meter, then you are in business. Basically stare at the readout >> on the meter while adjusting the screws. Try to scan out a 'raster' >> pattern: go back and forth on one axis, while moving the other axis in >> a sweep from left to right. Eventually you will see the power meter >> react, which means you are close to the fiber tip. Then just keep >> making small adjustments to optimize for power. Note that you can get >> stuck on local maxima rather than the true maxima. To prevent this, >> when you think you are on the maximum value, move off of it a >> significant distance with one axis and see that things drop off, then >> move back, then try the other direction. If you don't see any higher >> values anywhere then you are on the true maximum. >> >> Craig >> >> >> On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 4:09 PM, Michael Bastiani >> <[hidden email]> wrote: >> > Anyone have experience aligning a new KrAr laser on a Microradiance >> > 2000? I just installed >> > a new laser and have a service scheduled in 2-3 weeks to align the laser >> > (when service >> > engineer gets back from a training session in Germany). It would be >> > great if I could get it >> > useable sooner and I would feel a great sense of accomplishment! It >> > looks straightforward >> > (two mirrors, 4 adjustment screws), but I know hitting a 50um fiber is >> > not trivial. If >> > someone routinely does this on their own and has step by step >> > instructions I would love to >> > hear from you. >> > thanks >> > michael >> > > > |
|
|
In reply to this post by Michael Bastiani
Hi ,its a bit far for me , otherwise I would replace this laser for you free of charge!
Farhad
Confocalservice Ltd.
On 8 April 2010 23:09, Michael Bastiani <[hidden email]> wrote: Anyone have experience aligning a new KrAr laser on a Microradiance 2000? I just installed |
 
|
Alice Rodriguez Diaz |
Re: laser launch protocol
|
|
Try Prof Dan Kiehart, Duke University. Best, Alice Rodriguez-Diaz From: Confocal Microscopy
List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of ConfocalService
Ltd. Hi ,its a bit far for me , otherwise I would replace this
laser for you free of charge! Farhad Confocalservice Ltd.
On 8 April 2010 23:09, Michael Bastiani <[hidden email]>
wrote: Anyone have experience aligning a new KrAr laser on a
Microradiance 2000? I just installed |
|
|
Do you have any other lasers on the launch?
Mike
On Mon, Apr 12, 2010 at 10:38 AM, Alice Rodriguez Diaz <[hidden email]> wrote:
-- Mike Mathews Spectrofuge Corporation 919-361-2197 Office 919-423-1131 Cell [hidden email] www.Spectrofuge.com |
|
|
Alice Rodriguez Diaz |
Re: laser launch protocol
|
|
Without much more detail of the situation … the tip of the
fiber of course cannot be touched, the rest is a matter of extreme patience and
very small and delicate movements. It should take about a day or two depending
on your setup. But again, send a detailed email to Dan Kiehart (Duke). We did
this all the time with Zeiss scopes. From: Confocal Microscopy
List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mike Mathews Do you have any other lasers on the launch? Mike
On Mon, Apr 12, 2010 at 10:38 AM, Alice Rodriguez Diaz <[hidden email]> wrote: Try Prof Dan Kiehart, Duke
University. Best, Alice Rodriguez-Diaz From:
Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
On Behalf Of ConfocalService Ltd. Hi
,its a bit far for me , otherwise I would replace this laser for you free of
charge! Farhad
Confocalservice
Ltd.
On
8 April 2010 23:09, Michael Bastiani <[hidden email]>
wrote: Anyone
have experience aligning a new KrAr laser on a Microradiance 2000? I just
installed
|
| Free forum by Nabble | Edit this page |