Year 2003, New Leica TCS SP2 Aobs Vis-Uv Confocal Microscope $424,968. Only reference I could find, University of Alabama financial year reports 1993-2006. Should have some nice gear in it. Big Thumbs Up.
These Con-focal Microscopes are one of the coolest microscopes out there. When I was at the Pasteur Institute, some of the researchers there had engineered a mouse to have "fluorescent die" in their neurons, which would light up when it fired when viewed under the microscope. So they were pretty much seeing individuals neurons fire (their research was on Alzheimer's). By the way, the observation was in-vivo, so they had to place an anesthetized mouse with a small window on top of their exposed brain under the lens for the observation. Very neat on how these things are used.
I used to fix these up and replace the lasers in them, the one that really could not be easily substituted was the 561nm from krypton, and the 594nm from the hene. To make them work with different lasers is simply a matter of adjusting the AOBS unit. 🤓
Thank god that it was Mike that found this. If it had been Dave Jones he would have been talking for days. Would be interesting to go through the specs of that beast. We have a confocal microscope at work but it seems much smaller and simpler than that.
We use a IV at uni. Let me know if you would like to know anything specific. Search for a sc5 manual to see very similar setup as the II but the IVs manual is a bit more clearly explained. Software and interface is the same. the other table is normally a air laser table. quite long startup times on these machines, you have to key them on, wait 15min then key lasers.
Wow, this is a serious instrument! It seems the loose block contains some bandpassfilters and the configuration of the four setscrews are usually to adjust a fibre to a beam that exits a module. But so much more there, i'd love to see more investigation. Please keep up the good work.
My lab manager occasionally has kit like this to give away, but due to various liability issues they instead call a surplus company who come and take it for free. I die a little bit on the inside every time I see such kit go out the door when I could theoretically come and pick it up and play around with its insides for hours/days!
The end reminds me day I found a quite big copy machine on the roadside and picked it up in the trunk. Later I found I was absolutely unable to unload it... I had to take it apart in the confined space of the trunk, it was... painfull and tedious.
Rather than teardowns, I'd like to see you engineer stuff. Like a copper based small diameter single slice limb MRI scanner. Maybe momentary saltwater cooled or even nitrogen. But uncooled would be most elegant if possible. It's not the easiest device to make but you have nice flair for keeping things simple. And it's fair to say it has commercial potential. Of the billionaire variety.
Awesome video as always. Cant wait to see the other parts to this video. On another note what a cable management nightmare inside of that thing. jeeeeze
In a previous life I worked in a lab with a similar instrument. Healthy six-figure sums. I am used to seeing vibration isolation and water-cooling so this may be a lower resolution model.
I've seen a Leica device before that was used for testing mounted assemblies have not shifted due to thermal expansion for precision work in robotics. It's sort of a laser scanning device that measures distances.
With regards to interlock and laser safety, I know that at the laser department at my university you had to be get all lasers centralised in a room so that you could turn them off and that a light would show up in front of the door when some class 3/4 lasers were turned on. I expect to see at least 2 or 3 interlocks/shutters on one of these
Man, the yellow solid-state laser. Hnnng, do want. You can probably make your own power supply, it's nothing fancy. A small current control loop, a temperature cutoff - I'd give it 80-100mA for 30mW of output.
I can't stop laughing about the unloading of the equipment. I can't even begin to guess how many times I've done that. Couple hours of work to move something a few meters.
+Markus Birth (mbirth) I think they probably left out a decimal point for $18.7K for an MSRP, and a lower street price when they find that no one is buying it at that price.
Why was that thing for sale? Was it broken or obsolete? It seems so amazing that a piece of gear from ~2004 that was obviously worth an incredible amount of money could be depreciated so much that it'd end up on ebay and only be worth gutting and selling for parts.
The argon laser is why it ended up for sale most likely. This one uses a bunch of laser sources. Newer ones are all solid state lasers and its all fits in something that is desktop PC size. 🤓
Least that has a laser in it. Boring 3Kva ups I have here is just gonna have some bigass transformers and power semi's, along with a bunch of batteries and relays. Mind you I'm happy with my 520nm 1W laser - sets fire to things from across the room. Eye protection a must!
Leica has quite some expertise in building laser stuff themselves, just have a look at their laser trackers, which would be an incredible thing to tear down...
I really like your videos.. but I actually get nausea from the shaky hand sot footage .. would you mind turning on video stabilization? Even RUclips offers it in their video manager... ... tried it... I could not watch it to the end... :-(
I love technology like this. But when I think that when assembling it a single bad connection, lose screw or misaligned mirror can make the whole device unuseable, I feel a little bit queasy.
![What is a Confocal Microscope - Webinar [Leica Microsystems]](/img/1.gif)
Year 2003, New Leica TCS SP2 Aobs Vis-Uv Confocal Microscope $424,968. Only reference I could find, University of Alabama financial year reports 1993-2006. Should have some nice gear in it.
Big Thumbs Up.
These Con-focal Microscopes are one of the coolest microscopes out there. When I was at the Pasteur Institute, some of the researchers there had engineered a mouse to have "fluorescent die" in their neurons, which would light up when it fired when viewed under the microscope. So they were pretty much seeing individuals neurons fire (their research was on Alzheimer's).
By the way, the observation was in-vivo, so they had to place an anesthetized mouse with a small window on top of their exposed brain under the lens for the observation. Very neat on how these things are used.
You misspelled ‘dye’.
I used to fix these up and replace the lasers in them, the one that really could not be easily substituted was the 561nm from krypton, and the 594nm from the hene. To make them work with different lasers is simply a matter of adjusting the AOBS unit. 🤓
Thank god that it was Mike that found this. If it had been Dave Jones he would have been talking for days.
Would be interesting to go through the specs of that beast. We have a confocal microscope at work but it seems much smaller and simpler than that.
The way it was extracted out of the car and transported to the table was fascinating and educational.
We use a IV at uni. Let me know if you would like to know anything specific. Search for a sc5 manual to see very similar setup as the II but the IVs manual is a bit more clearly explained.
Software and interface is the same. the other table is normally a air laser table.
quite long startup times on these machines, you have to key them on, wait 15min then key lasers.
I love when you do the sped up parts. The audio is cool sounding.
wow - very respectable piece of gear! Gotta love those stack-able crates for lifting heavy equipment up to a table, I do the same!
Wow, this is a serious instrument! It seems the loose block contains
some bandpassfilters and the configuration of the four setscrews are
usually to adjust a fibre to a beam that exits a module. But so much
more there, i'd love to see more investigation. Please keep up the good work.
Looking forward to seeing you power up and do experiments with many of those items.
My lab manager occasionally has kit like this to give away, but due to various liability issues they instead call a surplus company who come and take it for free. I die a little bit on the inside every time I see such kit go out the door when I could theoretically come and pick it up and play around with its insides for hours/days!
But
You could be a thief.
That thing looks indeed very interesting. Looking forward to the next parts.
You know you're a 3d printer guy when you see a nema 17 motor and get excited :p
+MiggyManMike
haha, likewise
Pathetic
The end reminds me day I found a quite big copy machine on the roadside and picked it up in the trunk. Later I found I was absolutely unable to unload it... I had to take it apart in the confined space of the trunk, it was... painfull and tedious.
lol @ the end. You need a bigger workshop area Mike.
The computer in the setup picture is a HP X4000 Xeon Workstation.
I have an old one here :)
Rather than teardowns, I'd like to see you engineer stuff. Like a copper based small diameter single slice limb MRI scanner. Maybe momentary saltwater cooled or even nitrogen. But uncooled would be most elegant if possible.
It's not the easiest device to make but you have nice flair for keeping things simple. And it's fair to say it has commercial potential. Of the billionaire variety.
Salt water cooled?
What are you talking about?!
i'm sure i saw one of those melles griot laser controllers at CDL a few weeks back, trouble is... they don't keep things very long!
+DextersLab2013 i checked, looks like it was a different model laser control :-(
bit of kit that.was the connector marked trigger burnt up ?
Cant wait for the other videos :)
Awesome, can't wait to see more! The end bit needed some Yakkity Sax playing in the background! :D
The best part was Mike unloading it from his car.
can't wait to see the crazy stuff that you will do with this!
Awesome video as always. Cant wait to see the other parts to this video. On another note what a cable management nightmare inside of that thing. jeeeeze
the beer box /transporting thing was awesome mike :0) , i feel you man , , awesome find , eager to see ep2 , cheers mate
Now thats some interesting stuff!
rare lasers, rare opticals
loads of pcb's
In a previous life I worked in a lab with a similar instrument. Healthy six-figure sums. I am used to seeing vibration isolation and water-cooling so this may be a lower resolution model.
Yeah, Lasers! One of my favorite topics! :D
somebody needs a cart... lol The tear down should be fun!
Mike, we need you when the Zombie Apocalypse strikes!
Gotta love your optical instrumentation porn.
Seems like you're quite knowlegable in that area Mike. That makes a very interesting video.
Love the end. Looks like you could use some help... or wheels... :)
Jebus! I didn't quite get the scale of the size and weight of this thing until seeing you trying to drag it across your workshop
I absolutely love your Video's Mike - Thank you :)
What about getting a better camera for these videos? And some lights perhaps?
Enjoyed the video... Part 1 of 47
I've seen a Leica device before that was used for testing mounted assemblies have not shifted due to thermal expansion for precision work in robotics. It's sort of a laser scanning device that measures distances.
That isn’t a coherent thought.
With regards to interlock and laser safety, I know that at the laser department at my university you had to be get all lasers centralised in a room so that you could turn them off and that a light would show up in front of the door when some class 3/4 lasers were turned on. I expect to see at least 2 or 3 interlocks/shutters on one of these
lol
You can’t write English
Man, the yellow solid-state laser. Hnnng, do want.
You can probably make your own power supply, it's nothing fancy.
A small current control loop, a temperature cutoff - I'd give it 80-100mA for 30mW of output.
Mike, could you link your Ebay page? Wouldn't mind having a look at what you've got to sell
On the desktop site, the sidebar has plenty of content about how and what the system does.
very interesting cant wait for part 2....20
I can't stop laughing about the unloading of the equipment. I can't even begin to guess how many times I've done that. Couple hours of work to move something a few meters.
Wow, what's your limit for "buying something for the hell of it?" :) Going to be a great series.
its amazing how you can find all kinds of stuff on ebay
how much did that set you back mike ?
How much does that thing weigh?
The Benny Hill theme would fit perfectly at the end
According to this: lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1312&L=confocalmicroscopy&P=7008 … the price was around $187k in 2005.
+Markus Birth (mbirth) I think they probably left out a decimal point for $18.7K for an MSRP, and a lower street price when they find that no one is buying it at that price.
+Razor2048 lecia units are much cheaper in the US. getting one from GmbH can easily be 150,000 to 500,000 GBP
Like to see the rest of that laser voodoo thing
Why was that thing for sale? Was it broken or obsolete? It seems so amazing that a piece of gear from ~2004 that was obviously worth an incredible amount of money could be depreciated so much that it'd end up on ebay and only be worth gutting and selling for parts.
+Daniel G
Obsolete. Things move fast in the world of tech.
The argon laser is why it ended up for sale most likely. This one uses a bunch of laser sources. Newer ones are all solid state lasers and its all fits in something that is desktop PC size. 🤓
Definitely not the usual sort of teardown! Shame the rest of the microscope isn't with it.
To get that working you need 1.21 jigowatts going to the flux capacitor
and here's me with an old dvd player to take apart. ..
Least that has a laser in it. Boring 3Kva ups I have here is just gonna have some bigass transformers and power semi's, along with a bunch of batteries and relays. Mind you I'm happy with my 520nm 1W laser - sets fire to things from across the room. Eye protection a must!
Leica has quite some expertise in building laser stuff themselves, just have a look at their laser trackers, which would be an incredible thing to tear down...
lol, the address on that sticker is around 5km south of where im living.
electro optical pornograpy. that made me giggle.
That's One big ass tear down.
It needs keys to start it..smart!
I really like your videos.. but I actually get nausea from the shaky hand sot footage .. would you mind turning on video stabilization? Even RUclips offers it in their video manager...
... tried it... I could not watch it to the end... :-(
Is that a Scirocco mate :)
somehow the whole thing looks like its half a prototype from the wiring, cobled together modules and such
+madinatore Stuff like this is usually hand-built to order
+mikeselectricstuff hey mike just curious how much did you pay for this bit of gear if you don't mind me asking
+Willy Nebula The eBay auction that never got any bids started at £250.
Would be interesting to know what this cost used like this, I would guess the pay was around 200 - 400£.
Yellow lasers? Let's light up the sodium layer in the atmosphere and have a disco!
I love technology like this. But when I think that when assembling it a single bad connection, lose screw or misaligned mirror can make the whole device unuseable, I feel a little bit queasy.
kilowatt input, half watt output. that's crazy.
with so much stuff youve done how do you keep your lab / garage from overflowing with useless shit?
Argon laser not that interesting .. well hey, I'll trade you a portion of my soul for it :)
i can tell you alot about this if you give me your email mike