Lots of thanks to everyone who got back to me with ideas and suggestions. Olympus has kept our scanner for a couple of weeks, found nothing, discussed the matter with engineers from Japan and finally brought it back. The mystery remains unsolved. Now (that is, today) the instrument is working fine. However, a bottle with fluorescent beads from the fridge disappeared...

Mike Model  



-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rosemary White
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 4:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: exorcising spirits from Fluoview

We had a very similar problem, but it turned out to be the connection
between the fibre-optic cable and the laser - it had come slightly loose.
Since you've checked the cables, I guess it has to be something else.

good luck,
Rosemary

Rosemary White
CSIRO Plant Industry
GPO Box 1600
Canberra, ACT 2601
Australia

ph 61 2 6246 5475
fx 61 2 6246 5334


On 7/10/09 10:27 PM, "MODEL, MICHAEL" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I apologize if this is a second message to the list, I think the first one
> didn't go through
>
> We are having a bizzare scanning problem. Straight vertical lines in an object
> become slightly zigzagged with a period of up to 6-7 scan lines, and there
> also may be some oscillation in the intensity. The period and the magnitude of
> this periodic noise depends on the scan speed and the scan size. So far we
> (with the help of an Olympus engineer) have established that:
>
> 1. It doesn't seem to be the scanner controller or the galvo mechanism
> 2. It does not seem to be the electric power in the building
> 3. It is not a mechanical vibration
> 4. It is not a computer
> 5. It is not the cables
> 6. It is not a 60 Hz noise
>
> Sometimes connecting the scanner controller to the outlet through a long
> extension cord seemed to help which may suggest a problem with grounding, but
> as soon as we concluded that, the trick stopped working. The trouble could not
> be reproduced at the Olympus testing lab.
>
> Has anyone experienced anything similar and successfully resolved the problem?
>
> Many thanks in advance!
>
> Mike Model