Dear Bill,

(all of the following are rough numbers and statements:) with a standard
all solid state laser system you will be save for about 5kHours or
3years, and running the system in a clean and well conditioned
environment, you do not expect to adjust the system more often than once
a year (if at all). The current cost to replace one laser are 20k$,
expected to cost less in 3 years from now. Strong fluctuations in
intensity are a sign of the laser dying, you would  typically realize
shortly  -two weeks or some hours- before the end.  A skilled engineer
will be able to replace a laser, though it is not typically done by a
user. You would need a suitable power-meter to efficiently couple the
laser. You can ask the manufacturer to guarantee a max down time.  You
can also try to negotiate an extended warranty from the manufacturer to
find out how far he trusts his product ;-)
You may want to check if you rather want to invest in a nearby
microscopy service facility, running several systems, so you would be
sure at any time to have access to a working system.

My best wishes, jens

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of William Lieberson
Sent: Friday, July 30, 2010 20:50 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: failures and expectations for laser combiners

Hi Everyone:

Our lab is considering the purchase of a new confocal microscope with a
laser 
combiner.  This will be our first confocal microscope so I'm trying to
get an 
idea of what to expect before we make the investment.

We're a small company with limited budget.  Currently we've allocated
enough 
for the initial purchase but almost nothing for maintenance.  Although
I'm sure 
I can get some relevant info from the microscope manufacturer I realize
that 
the prospect of selling us a service contract might influence the story.
Your 
perspective based on a user's experience is what I'm looking for.

I've heard that the lasers have limited lifetime and are quite expensive
to 
replace after the warranty expires.   How long do the lasers typically
last?  
What kind of advance notice will we see before they die?  What kind of 
adjustments do they need along the way?  How often?

The projects that we are doing are typically on critical timelines.  I
may be 
able to get funding for a service contract if I can make solid arguments
that 
we will minimize down time.  When a laser fails, how long is the
instrument out 
of commission?  Will we have to ship the whole laser combiner back to
the 
manufacturer for laser replacement?

We have an engineer here who seems to be able to fix almost anything,
but I 
don't want to make unrealistic assumptions about what's possible.  Do
users 
typically replace lasers?  Are there any special tools required?
Special 
training?  

I really appreciate whatever guidance you can offer.  If you'd like to
take this 
conversation off-line you can send email directly to me.

Thanks,

Bill

William Lieberson, Lab Manager
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