Posted by
Rusty Nicovich on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/DIY-phase-contrast-annulus-tp7584253p7584255.html
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Ben,
You could use chemical etching to reproduce your printed annulus on a piece
of copper or brass. Electronics DIYers make PC boards by laser printing a
pattern onto glossy paper, using an iron to transfer the toner to a piece
of copper-clad PC board, and the ferric chloride to etch away the copper.
Same principle will work on brass. Takes some trial and error and a few
nasty chemicals, but is a great way to get high-resolution parts out of
sheet metal.
Another option is to have the annulus laser-cut. Shouldn't cost more than
$20 for something annulus-sized. Usually you need to supply the operator
with an Adobe Illustrator or other vector drawing format but you already
have the drawing. The cutter here is run by the architecture design school
and their cutter has a resolution of ~300 microns. Should be able to get
stainless steel or even powder-coated aluminum cut without too much
hassle. This would be my preference since it requires less OH&S work on my
part.
Rusty
On Tue, Sep 29, 2015 at 9:53 AM, Smith, Benjamin E. <
[hidden email]>
wrote:
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>
> Hey Microscopists,
> A lab here has a nice phase objective but no annulus, so I decided to
> see if I could make one for them. I measured the phase plate diameter at
> the focal plane, and printed out an annulus that lined-up perfectly.
> However, too much light gets through the ink to be of much use, so I was
> wondering if anyone had experience with an easy way to make a fully opaque
> annulus.
>
> Cheers,
> Ben Smith
>
> Benjamin E. Smith, Ph.D.
> Samuel Roberts Noble Microscopy Laboratory
> Research Scientist, Confocal Facility Manager
> University of Oklahoma
> Norman, OK 73019
> E-mail:
[hidden email]
> Voice 405-325-4391
> FAX 405-325-7619
>
http://www.microscopy.ou.edu/