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lighting microscope stage

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Alessandro Esposito

lighting microscope stage

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Hi all,
a simple curiosity. How do you illuminate the stage of your confocal
microscope to handle samples? We have two SP5s with boxes from Life
Imaging Services. When we change samples we use battery-operated torches
with or without clip... or using the halogen lamp of the microscope with the
condenser arm tilted.

I was wondering if you have suggestions to improve this aspect... I am almost
tempted to use the Perspex box as a light guide for diffuse illumination, but it
is probably going too far :)

Cheers,

Alessandro

Boswell, Carl A - (cboswell)

Re: lighting microscope stage

Hi Allesandro,
Here are a couple of options. The first is cheaper but the clip attachment may need some adaption. http://www.kliplite.com/NylonUniversalKliplite.html.
The second is more expensive but can be acquired with a weighted base so it can be free-standing http://www.littlite.com/index.php . I got a couple of these a while back and the gooseneck adjustability is a real bonus.
C

Carl A. Boswell
520-954-7053

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Alessandro Esposito
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2011 6:38 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: lighting microscope stage

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

Hi all,
a simple curiosity. How do you illuminate the stage of your confocal microscope to handle samples? We have two SP5s with boxes from Life Imaging Services. When we change samples we use battery-operated torches with or without clip... or using the halogen lamp of the microscope with the condenser arm tilted.

I was wondering if you have suggestions to improve this aspect... I am almost tempted to use the Perspex box as a light guide for diffuse illumination, but it is probably going too far :)

Cheers,

Alessandro

Craig Brideau

Re: lighting microscope stage

In reply to this post by Alessandro Esposito

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This was a big problem in our lab. I cobbled together some LED spot lights
from miscellaneous parts. A simple solution is to go buy a bag of white
LEDs from an online vendor. Then get a summer student to solder a few of
them in series with an appropriate current-limiting resistor and a switch.
Use a wall transformer (wall wort) DC power supply to run them. A 12 VDC
supply will typically run 3 high brightness white LEDs at ~3.6V/LED with
about 100mA current draw. This is more than enough to make a stage visible.
The LEDs can be simply mounted with tape at appropriate locations around
the microscope to light the stage.
Since I never do anything the simple way, I actually made some nice
spotlights with REALLY high intensity white LEDs. I got some cheap 1"
plastic aspheric condensor lenses from Edmund optics. I threw them in some
Thorlabs cage parts. I got some high-intensity power LEDs from Digikey and
a 6V 2A wall transformer. The LED is held against a blank cage plate with
thermal grease and an adapter. The blank plate, being aluminum, makes a
sufficient heat sink for the LED. It draws about 350mA. Thanks to the
condensor lens, I have about a 2' stand-off distance from the light source
to the stage. It produces a directional 4" circle of light (30-degree cone)
so it lights up the stage without a lot of light pollution in the room. The
heat sink only gets up to about 40 degrees C so it is safe to handle. The
whole assembly is mounted on a 12" tall, 0.5" diameter steel post next to
the microscope. The users turn it on and off with a nearby switch, and can
point it in any direction. Since it is powered by a plug-in transformer, it
never has dead battery issues. Finally, since it is an LED, it will never
burn out either (effectively) so if the users leave it on there's no panic.
If anyone wants I can take a picture of the lamp and send it along.

Craig

On Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 7:37 AM, Alessandro Esposito <
[hidden email]> wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> Hi all,
> a simple curiosity. How do you illuminate the stage of your confocal
> microscope to handle samples? We have two SP5s with boxes from Life
> Imaging Services. When we change samples we use battery-operated torches
> with or without clip... or using the halogen lamp of the microscope with
> the
> condenser arm tilted.
>
> I was wondering if you have suggestions to improve this aspect... I am
> almost
> tempted to use the Perspex box as a light guide for diffuse illumination,
> but it
> is probably going too far :)
>
> Cheers,
>
> Alessandro
>

Adams,Henry P

Re: lighting microscope stage

In reply to this post by Alessandro Esposito

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

I have an OKO Labs and Solent plastic cages enclosing my microscopes. I went to a Lowes store (a do it yourself building supply) and checked out their battery operated led lights that fit under cabinets to light counter workspaces. I found several small ones that can be mounted inside the box over the stage or I can lay them on top of the box. I've had them about a year without having to change batteries yet. The work great, look good, and the ones the fit inside the box can be easily snapped on and off if you need to look around in out of the way places of your chamber for things that dropped. Of course, I always have a small flashlight around just in case.

hank adams
U.T.M.D.Anderson Cancer Center
Houston Tx

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Alessandro Esposito
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2011 8:38 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: lighting microscope stage

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

Hi all,
a simple curiosity. How do you illuminate the stage of your confocal
microscope to handle samples? We have two SP5s with boxes from Life
Imaging Services. When we change samples we use battery-operated torches
with or without clip... or using the halogen lamp of the microscope with the
condenser arm tilted.

I was wondering if you have suggestions to improve this aspect... I am almost
tempted to use the Perspex box as a light guide for diffuse illumination, but it
is probably going too far :)

Cheers,

Alessandro

tineke vendrig

Re: lighting microscope stage

In reply to this post by Alessandro Esposito

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
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Maybe you can use an office lamp with al clip?

Tineke Vendrig, ing
technical engeneer optical microscopy
Delft University of Technology
Bionano Science
Kavli Institute of Nanoscience
Lorentzweg 1
2628LJ Delft
room F185
Tel: +31 27 89299
Fax:+31 15 2781202
email: [hidden email]
mobile phone: 06-24341412

2011/10/23 Alessandro Esposito <[hidden email]>

Barbara Foster

Re: lighting microscope stage

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*****

I have several goose-neck fiber optic lights that I have used in the
past for what is called "external oblique
illumination." Originally, they were used on a stereo
microscope. They work really well because you can place them behind
or to the side and can direct the light wherever you need it without
having to clip anything anywhere.

There are also some goose-neck utility lights now. I think you can
find them in an automotive shop.

Good hunting!
Barbara Foster, President and Sr. Consultant

Microscopy/Microscopy Education
P: (972)924-5310
W: www.MicroscopyEducation.com

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At 07:12 PM 10/24/2011, you wrote:

>*****
>To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
>*****
>
>Maybe you can use an office lamp with al clip?
>
> Tineke Vendrig, ing
>technical engeneer optical microscopy
>Delft University of Technology
>Bionano Science
>Kavli Institute of Nanoscience
>Lorentzweg 1
>2628LJ Delft
>room F185
>Tel: +31 27 89299
>Fax:+31 15 2781202
>email: [hidden email]
>mobile phone: 06-24341412
>
>2011/10/23 Alessandro Esposito <[hidden email]>
>
> > *****
> > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> > *****
> >
> > Hi all,
> > a simple curiosity. How do you illuminate the stage of your confocal
> > microscope to handle samples? We have two SP5s with boxes from Life
> > Imaging Services. When we change samples we use battery-operated torches
> > with or without clip... or using the halogen lamp of the microscope with
> > the
> > condenser arm tilted.
> >
> > I was wondering if you have suggestions to improve this aspect... I am
> > almost
> > tempted to use the Perspex box as a light guide for diffuse illumination,
> > but it
> > is probably going too far :)
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Alessandro
> >

Craig Brideau

Re: lighting microscope stage

In reply to this post by tineke vendrig

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

We tried office lamps, but they produce a lot of light pollution. Basically
the cone of light out of them is very broad and they are very bright, so the
whole room gets lit up and will bother other systems nearby.

Craig

On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 1:10 AM, Tineke Vendrig <[hidden email]>wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> Maybe you can use an office lamp with al clip?
>
> Tineke Vendrig, ing
> technical engeneer optical microscopy
> Delft University of Technology
> Bionano Science
> Kavli Institute of Nanoscience
> Lorentzweg 1
> 2628LJ Delft
> room F185
> Tel: +31 27 89299
> Fax:+31 15 2781202
> email: [hidden email]
> mobile phone: 06-24341412
>
> 2011/10/23 Alessandro Esposito <[hidden email]>
>
> > *****
> > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> > *****
> >
> > Hi all,
> > a simple curiosity. How do you illuminate the stage of your confocal
> > microscope to handle samples? We have two SP5s with boxes from Life
> > Imaging Services. When we change samples we use battery-operated torches
> > with or without clip... or using the halogen lamp of the microscope with
> > the
> > condenser arm tilted.
> >
> > I was wondering if you have suggestions to improve this aspect... I am
> > almost
> > tempted to use the Perspex box as a light guide for diffuse illumination,
> > but it
> > is probably going too far :)
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Alessandro
> >
>

rjpalmer

Re: lighting microscope stage

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

You can use book lights - they come in clip-on versions and are
battery powered. You can also get so-called grill lights - look at
Amazon. These are dual 6-LED lamps mounted on swivel heads with a
magnetic base that is also a clip. They take 3 AA batteries. They
are designed to clip/stick to your barbeque grill so you can cook at
night. Only in America..................

On Oct 25, 2011, at 3:19 PM, Craig Brideau wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> We tried office lamps, but they produce a lot of light pollution.
> Basically
> the cone of light out of them is very broad and they are very
> bright, so the
> whole room gets lit up and will bother other systems nearby.
>
> Craig
>
>
> On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 1:10 AM, Tineke Vendrig <[hidden email]
> >wrote:
>
>> *****
>> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
>> *****
>>
>> Maybe you can use an office lamp with al clip?
>>
>> Tineke Vendrig, ing
>> technical engeneer optical microscopy
>> Delft University of Technology
>> Bionano Science
>> Kavli Institute of Nanoscience
>> Lorentzweg 1
>> 2628LJ Delft
>> room F185
>> Tel: +31 27 89299
>> Fax:+31 15 2781202
>> email: [hidden email]
>> mobile phone: 06-24341412
>>
>> 2011/10/23 Alessandro Esposito <aesposito@quantitative-
>> microscopy.org>
>>
>>> *****
>>> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>>> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
>>> *****
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>> a simple curiosity. How do you illuminate the stage of your confocal
>>> microscope to handle samples? We have two SP5s with boxes from Life
>>> Imaging Services. When we change samples we use battery-operated
>>> torches
>>> with or without clip... or using the halogen lamp of the
>>> microscope with
>>> the
>>> condenser arm tilted.
>>>
>>> I was wondering if you have suggestions to improve this aspect...
>>> I am
>>> almost
>>> tempted to use the Perspex box as a light guide for diffuse
>>> illumination,
>>> but it
>>> is probably going too far :)
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Alessandro
>>>
>>

Cameron Nowell

Re: lighting microscope stage

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

Hi Alessandro,

We have black out incubators and use this sort of thing

http://www.voltelectronics.com.au/adjustable-led-swivel-light.html?utm_s
ource=myshopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Home+Automation+Electrics&u
tm_term=Adjustable+LED+Swivel+Light

It is battery powered (though ours are hooked up to the 12v of the
incubator) and just stuck on the inside of the incubator with double
sided tape.

Cheers

Cam

Cameron J. Nowell
Microscopy Manager
Centre for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Melbourne - Parkville Branch
PO Box 2008
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria, 3050
AUSTRALIA
Office: +61 3 9341 3155
Mobile: +61422882700
Fax: +61 3 9341 3104
Facility Website

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
On Behalf Of rjpalmer
Sent: Wednesday, 26 October 2011 6:32 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: lighting microscope stage

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

You can use book lights - they come in clip-on versions and are
battery powered. You can also get so-called grill lights - look at
Amazon. These are dual 6-LED lamps mounted on swivel heads with a
magnetic base that is also a clip. They take 3 AA batteries. They
are designed to clip/stick to your barbeque grill so you can cook at
night. Only in America..................

On Oct 25, 2011, at 3:19 PM, Craig Brideau wrote:

<[hidden email]

> >wrote:
>
>> *****
>> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
>> *****
>>
>> Maybe you can use an office lamp with al clip?
>>
>> Tineke Vendrig, ing
>> technical engeneer optical microscopy
>> Delft University of Technology
>> Bionano Science
>> Kavli Institute of Nanoscience
>> Lorentzweg 1
>> 2628LJ Delft
>> room F185
>> Tel: +31 27 89299
>> Fax:+31 15 2781202
>> email: [hidden email]
>> mobile phone: 06-24341412
>>
>> 2011/10/23 Alessandro Esposito <aesposito@quantitative-
>> microscopy.org>
>>
>>> *****
>>> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>>> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
>>> *****
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>> a simple curiosity. How do you illuminate the stage of your confocal
>>> microscope to handle samples? We have two SP5s with boxes from Life
>>> Imaging Services. When we change samples we use battery-operated
>>> torches
>>> with or without clip... or using the halogen lamp of the
>>> microscope with
>>> the
>>> condenser arm tilted.
>>>
>>> I was wondering if you have suggestions to improve this aspect...
>>> I am
>>> almost
>>> tempted to use the Perspex box as a light guide for diffuse
>>> illumination,
>>> but it
>>> is probably going too far :)
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Alessandro
>>>
>>

Robert J. Palmer Jr., Ph.D.
Natl Inst Dental Craniofacial Res - Natl Insts Health
Oral Infection and Immunity Branch
Bldg 30, Room 310
30 Convent Drive
Bethesda MD 20892
ph 301-594-0025
fax 301-402-0396

This communication is intended only for the named recipient and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged or subject to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd does not waive any rights if you have received this communication in error.
The views expressed in this communication are those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd.

Keith Morris

Re: lighting microscope stage

In reply to this post by tineke vendrig

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

We do use mains small office lamps [bendy goose neck types], as a small
amount of stray light occasionally doesn't affect the type of standard
bright field, fluorescence and confocal microscopy we do.

Every microscope in our microscope room has it's own small bendy halogen
lamp [the cheap £5 kind], so users can switch their light on and off and
point it where needed as required. We use 25w tungsten filament or 10w
halogen bulbs [i.e. downgrade the brightness from the standard 40w and 20w
bulbs respectively] as there are multiple microscopes/users in our main
microscope room and it can get quite crowded. We avoid the new 'low-energy'
bulb varieties as we need the light full on immediately to say read the
slide label, and then switch them straight off when not needed.

Owing to the PC world going from eye friendly white keyboards to a 1970s
trendy European black, the desk lights are needed for the users to see the
PC keyboard letters. To give a bit of coverage, the lamps can sit raised
above the desks on power supplies etc. with a little trimmed anti-slip
rubber matting underneath to keep the lamp in place. The lamps don't really
give off much more light than our 24" monitors, and the lamps are required
for note taking, reading and setting up more complicated live cell work.

Our confocal with the XL incubator and many stage inserts has the 10w
Halogen bendy lamp on a shelf just above the stage/incubator so that it can
illuminate the microscope stage area directly or be slid round to illuminate
the confocal desk/keyboard area. As the lamps are quite directional, have an
easy switch, and are very adjustable, they don't shine on other microscope
areas (much). It also gives an opportunity for social interaction : i.e. 'Do
you mind if I switch my lamp on/off' etc..

It works for us, and the lamps are used all the time with no problems.

Regards

Keith

Blue bendy lamp with 10w halogen [they are quite directional]:
http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/olympus-bx-51
Vintage lamp with 25watt tungsten [it also has a bendy neck]:
http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/nikon-microscope

There a white bendy lamp with 10w halogen on a shelf immediately above the
left side of the left monitor [not shown in photo] that can shine directly
onto the stage or onto the keyboard area:
http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/zeiss-confocal
The light generally goes off when scanning or acquiring images.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr Keith J. Morris,
Molecular Cytogenetics and Microscopy Core,
Laboratory 00/069 and 00/070,
The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics,
Roosevelt Drive,
Oxford OX3 7BN,
United Kingdom.

Telephone: +44 (0)1865 287568
Email: [hidden email]
Web-pages: http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/molecular-cytogenetics-and-microscopy

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On
Behalf Of Tineke Vendrig
Sent: 25 October 2011 08:11
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: lighting microscope stage

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

Maybe you can use an office lamp with al clip?

Tineke Vendrig, ing
technical engeneer optical microscopy
Delft University of Technology
Bionano Science
Kavli Institute of Nanoscience
Lorentzweg 1
2628LJ Delft
room F185
Tel: +31 27 89299
Fax:+31 15 2781202
email: [hidden email]
mobile phone: 06-24341412

2011/10/23 Alessandro Esposito <[hidden email]>