Posted by
Boswell, Carl A - (cboswell) on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Design-specifications-for-an-imaging-core-tp5008946p5010375.html
Answers depend on what you are going to put in the room and how big the room
is. If the room is big and more than one imaging system is in it, then
curtains may be required. Curtains are primarily a problem if they are
between the vents and the system; something that the HVAC folks can deal
with. If the imaging system is a turnkey system, then most of the
heating/cooling issues can be settled with 1) getting total heat output
(watts) from the vendor, then having the HVAC facility make sure the room
has the air exchange capacity and 2) putting an environmental chamber around
the microscope to keep any breezes off the instrument.
We did have some issues with the air flow locally altering the temp of the
optics table that one system is on, causing misalignments and variable light
output to the specimen. We eventually got some tarps and draped them over a
scaffolding to block the direct air flow. The only thing missing were a few
old tires to hold it all down. This microscope has a light-tight box around
it so the optics are stable, and there have been no issues with overheating
as of yet. One of the nice features of this custom system is that all
computers, UPS devices, chillers, power units are in an electronics cabinet
that is directly vented to the ceiling vent using a custom-built box that
still allows the vent to work normally. This clears a lot of heat that
never makes it to the room, per se. On another turnkey system, the laser
box (4 lasers) are directly vented, via a flexible hose, to the ventilation
system, again avoiding heat escaping into the room.
I second the comment that providing enough room to get behind hardware is
important.
C
Carl A. Boswell, Ph.D.
Molecular and Cellular Biology
University of Arizona
520-954-7053
FAX 520-621-3709
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter" <
[hidden email]>
To: <
[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 10:01 AM
Subject: Re: Design specifications for an imaging core
>I hate curtains. I have partitions, 6 feet high to divide the room into
> bays which allow the air to circulate to the 'air conditioning'. It is
> ok unless we need the lights on in a bay. We can also rearrange the
> partitions if new kit arrives, etc. Hot air extracts through the wall
> help keep the temperature stable. There is never enough space, being
> able to get behind equipment can be handy, better than crawling under or
> reaching over.
> Closing doors seem to cause vibration, especially with modern drywall.
> The Patterson Institute in Manchester has some info online about their
> design
http://www.paterson.man.ac.uk/imaging/lab.stm>
> Peter
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, 2010-05-05 at 09:01 -0500, Martin Wessendorf wrote:
>> Dear All--
>>
>> Some space here is being remodeled for use as an imaging core and it'd
>> be helpful to know what other institutions have specified (or WISH they
>> had specified) as requirements for the space. (It'd also be helpful to
>> know what people think, in retrospect, was a waste of money.)
>>
>> One thing that particularly concerns me is temperature stability--we
>> really don't want 5-degree C air from the air-conditioning system
>> blasting down onto a microscope that's in the middle of a z-series.
>> However, I can only guess at the limits of acceptability. What have
>> other groups specified and found works? I expect that saying "hold the
>> set-point +/- 0 degrees" isn't going to be helpful to the contractor.
>>
>> --My recollection is that the list has covered similar topics in the
>> recent past, but the search terms I've tried aren't coming up with the
>> hits I'm looking for.
>>
>> Thanks--
>>
>> Martin Wessendorf
>