We have a Zeiss Axioobserver Z1 in a multi-user facility, and one of the users 
just came up to me with the remains of the strutured illumination grid (VH) in 
her hand. Apparently she withdrew the slider, went to replace the VH grid with 
the VL grid, and found the glass grid had separated from the metal frame. You 
can see where the grid is glued to the frame in just two of the corners, and in 
one of the corners there's a tiny sliver of glass still stuck to the frame that 
has broken away from the main grid.

I'd like to ask the list if the same has happened to any other Apotome users. 
Of course I can't rule out that the grid was mistreated, but I strongly suspect 
that it was the heat from the fluorescence illumination that has stressed the 
grid, causing it to crack and fail. When the slider it was removed from the 
scope this last time, the grid was properly in place in it's mounting point, so 
can't see that it suffered much physical abuse while mounted inside the 
scope. If this is has happened to other users, to the extent that it might be 
classified as a design fault, I just might be able to persuade Zeiss to replace 
the defective part.

I'd also like to attempt to repair it, at least before accepting the near-
inevitable and buying a new one. The glass sits snugly in the frame, and will 
sit flush with the sliver that remains glued to the frame, so I'm fairly confident 
that I'll be able to realign it correctly. My question is - which glue should I use 
to stick it back in the frame? Superglue would seem the obvious choice, but 
will it resist the high temperatures in the illumination pathway?

Many thanks in advance for any advice,

Chris Wood
Instituto de Biotecnología
UNAM