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I've built a number of Thorlabs systems 'on a stick' and I find the biggest
issue is the table or platform the whole system sits on. The post won't
cantilever too bad if it is on a stable base, but it will aggravate any
instabilities if you have a 'noisy' tabletop. I have a half-meter high
system on posts like this that is quite stable (CARS system), but it is on
a 45cm thick optical table which is floated. On a smaller scale, I have a
widefield system on a 10cm thick top that is 25cm tall that is fairly
sturdy with just neoprene damping feet under the breadboard. What sort of
bench/table do you have? Then I could suggest more accordingly.  If you are
building inverted a simple solution is to use a very short post or optical
rail (XT66 or XT95) or a heavy tapped block like the TS240 Tombstone:

http://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=223

Craig


On Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 1:12 PM, Jens-Bernhard Bosse <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> Dear List,
>
> I am looking for  a simple and most importantly stable inverted microscope
> design/layout for fluorescence microscopy and single particle tracking. It
> should consist of readily available "Lego bricks" (e.g. Thorlabs parts) and
> be versatile so that additional components can be added later. Thorlabs
> seems to prefer a design in which the objective is mounted on a damped post
> as in their optical tweezers setup (
> http://www.thorlabs.com/NewGroupPage9.cfm?ObjectGroup_ID=3959) , but I am
> not sure if this is the most stable layout.
>
> Thank you!
>
> Jens
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> Jens B. Bosse Ph.D.
> Enquist Lab
> Department of Molecular Biology
> and
> Princeton Neuroscience Institute
> Princeton University
> 301 Schultz Lab
> Washington Rd
> 08544 Princeton, NJ, USA
>
> Phone: +1-609-258-4990
> Email:  [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Web: http://molbio.princeton.edu/labs/enquist/
>