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Dear Arvydas,
my (intimate) experience with 8 lsm510 machines is the following; during the
first 5 years or 10k usage hours, there is almost no expensive problem, so
the service contract is rather unnecessary, as long as you are able to do
the minimum cleaning etc yourself. After 5 years or 10k, considerable costs
have to be covered, mostly for new lasers (though this may not be the case
in the future, if you operate mainly solid state lasers), but also some
elctronics problems, new computer etc. To my knowledge (and we in vain have
tried to negotiate something alike) there is no 'mobility guarantee' some
car companies offer, so you anyways pay all replaced parts, the only costs
covered by the service is cleaning (which you can save) and travel of the
service people (which may depend on where you are).
We decided against service contracts and will rather replace the machines.
We would strongly appreciate a service contract that covers all costs to
have the (or a replacement) microscope operational within 24 hours. It would
convert all our troubles into a number which coud be handled.
Hope that helps. Cheers, jens.
Arvydas Matiukas wrote:
>
> Search the CONFOCAL archive at
> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>
> Hello confocal people,
>
> I need an advice/recommandations regarding long term (up to 10 years)
> efficient service strategy for Zeiss confocal machines (LSM 510 or
> similar).
>
> I have been supervizing LSM510 NLO for three years, and so far my
> experience
> with (standard) Zeiss service contract was generally OK.
>
> However basic question is about the long term strategy, and specifically
> my
> former
> colleagues from Lithuania who are buying a new Zeiss confocal system
> are interested in a long-term optimal service quality/cost ratio. You
> know,
> they are at
> state university, so after huge initial injection ($1M) it will be quite
> dififcult to
> get any substiantial support (i.e. <$10k/year). Under these circumstances,
> at what age of the confocal system it may be reasonable to drop
> (standard)
> Zeiss service contract and switch to on-demand service.
>
> It would greatly appreciate if experienced confocal people (ay any
> country,
> especially having older machines, 4-10 year old)
> would comment on cost-efficient service/maintenance strategies, drawbacks
> of
> dropping Zeiss service contract, and average/potential lifetimes/breaks of
> key
> components of the confocal system. The system is expected to be used
> ~1000hrs/year.
>
> It is not very urgent issue, and I would appreciate sharing any
> experience/ideas/strategies.
> Maybe this post will inspire exchange of views/ideas useful for many
> confocal people.
>
>
> Many thanks,
> Arvydas
>
> *--------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Arvydas Matiukas, Ph.D.
> Director of Confocal&Two-Photon Imaging Core Facility
> Department of Pharmacology
> SUNY Upstate Medical University
> 766 Irving Ave., WH 3159
> Syracuse, NY 13210
> tel.: 315-464-7997
> fax: 315-464-8014
> email: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
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