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Dear Guenter,

Not an experienced user of such filter wheels, but I know that the new Nikon
TE2000 inverted microscope comes optionally with motorized excitation and
emission filter wheels. Don't know about their performance (speed,
vibration) though.

The same goes for the Olympus IX81. According to the brochure the switching
time of the filter wheels is 600 ms. The Olympus Cell series come with a
much faster excitation filter wheel built into the illumination system. If I
remember correctly the 'Cell M' system comes with the 'MT10' illumination
source whose filter wheel switches in 80 ms. The 'Cell R' system comes with
the 'MT20' illumination source whose filter wheel switches in 50 ms. This
last system uses a separate Unix bord for accurately driving and
synchronizing the hardware components. Since the MT10 and MT20 are connected
to the scope by a fiber, there should be no vibration problems.

The filter wheels (and all other hardware) are controlled through the
respective manufacturer's software packages.

Best regards,

Kevin



Kevin Braeckmans, Ph.D.
Lab. General Biochemistry & Physical Pharmacy
Ghent University
Harelbekestraat 72
9000 Ghent
Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)9 264.80.78
Fax: +32 (0)9 264.81.89
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
 

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: Confocal Microscopy List 
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Namens Guenter Giese
> Verzonden: maandag 7 november 2005 13:43
> Aan: [log in to unmask]
> Onderwerp: fluorescence emission filter wheels
> 
> Search the CONFOCAL archive at
> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
> 
> Dear microscopists,
> 
> a non-confocal question to an experienced audience:
> 
> Does anybody have long term experience with emission filter 
> wheels for wide field fluorescence systems? Issues are 
> robustness, vibration / vibration isolation, speed, and usage 
> of standard 25 mm filters. 
> 
> The filter wheel controller should provide an interface (COM 
> or USB port) for communication with standard imaging software.
> 
> Are there, besides Sutter, Ludl, Prior, ASI, other renowned 
> manufacturers of such filter wheels?
> 
> Guenter
> 
> ------------------------------------------
> Dr. Guenter Giese
> Light Microscopy Facility Manager
> Dept. of Biomedical Optics, MPI fuer Medizinische Forschung 
> Jahnstr. 29, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany Phone (+49) 
> 6221-486-360 (Fax: -325)
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> http://lightmicro.mpimf-heidelberg.mpg.de
>