LSM 900 Upright start-up and shut-down procedure

Owned by Andrew Vaughan
Last updated: Sept 07, 2022
3 min read

Start-up procedure

  1. Remove the dust sheet from the microscope stand and put it in the box beneath the table.

  2. Make sure the 10x objective lens is in position with the turret knob rotated so the lens is halfway between being raised and lowered. For a full description of this, see the technical note on how to rotate the Axio Examiner nosepiece.

    The previous user may have left a lens lowered in the down position, or they may have left the knob in the up orientation, in which case the turret can be accidentally revolved into a position between two objective lenses. In the former case it is important to raise the lens to avoid damage when you start up the machine or when you put a sample on the stage. In the latter case you will not be able to lower an objective lens until the turret is correctly rotated into position.

  3. Turn on the main switch on the power distribution unit behind the microscope stand. This supplies power to the PC and monitor as well as the Examiner and WSB PiezoDrive control boxes on the shelf above the microscope stand.
  4. Turn on the System and Components switches on the PSU box in the Component Rack. Turn the Laser key in the LM box one quarter-turn clockwise from 0 to I. The white Laser ON LED will come on for a short time after the key has been turned.
  5.  The HXP 120 V fluorescent light source will automatically come on because its power is drawn from the Component Rack. The HXP120 is used for looking at your specimen down the eyepieces but is not needed for confocal imaging.

  6. Wait for the Laser ON LED on the LM box to go off; there will be a short sequence of beeps when this happens. You must wait for the Laser ON LED to go off before you boot the PC, otherwise the software might not recognise the components.

  7. Turn on the PC. Log into Windows. Double-click the Zen icon to open the software.

Shut-down procedure

  1. Wipe the objective lenses with lens tissue to remove residual oil.
  2. Park the 10x lens with the nosepiece turret dial in the half way position.
  3. Save your data and close Zen.
  4. Wait until the microscope icon (below) in the notification area disappears. This indicates that the devices have disconnected from the PC.
  5. Shut-down Windows.
  6. Once the PC is off, turn the Laser key back to 0.
  7. Turn off the System and Components switches on the Component Rack.
  8. Turn off the main switch behind the microscope stand.
  9. Cover the stand with the dust sheet.