Detection arm assembly

Step-by-step assembly instructions

The detection path can have two interchangeable configurations:

Assembly (exploded view)

Installing the F-stage

The F (focus) stage is the first step of Benchtop building. The center of the rail XT66 must be along the breadboard center line.

❗ The angles of mechanical components should be kept at right angles to simplify optical alignment later. Use the try square to keep edges of components at right angles, before bolting them together.

Steps

1. Locate the top left M6 mounting hole on the breadboard as shown.
2. 3D model of the mounted F-stage
3. Adjust the angle between F-stage and its mounting plate with the try square before tightening the M6 bolts.
4. Align the F-stage mounting plate with the base breadboard edges, then tighten the bolts.
5. Align the XT66SD-250 rail with the stage edge, then tighten the bolts.

Mounting the camera

For camera mounting, 3 parts must be printed (ThorlabsSM2L30-XT66P2M-BASE, ThorlabsSM2L30-XT66P2M-TOP, Iris15-XT66P2M). See /custom-parts/detection-objective-mounts for the STL models.

🔧 We use Prusa 3D printer with PETG filament, since dimensional accuracy is not very critical for these parts.

Steps

1. Print the parts, remove any strings/hair with a coarse sand paper if needed (PETG tends to print with a lot of stringing)
2. Bolt the ThorlabsSM2L30-XT66P2M-BASE and ThorlabsSM2L30-XT66P2M-TOP together with M6 screws/nuts, and attach the base to the XT66P2/M rail carriage.
3. Screw the two SM2 tubes together, attach the F-mount, and place it into the 3D printed mount on the XT66P2/M rail carriage.
4. The Iris 15 camera has imperial mounting thread 1/4-20, which is rather shallow. Cut 5 mm off the 50-mm long 1/4-20 mm bolt (the longest in Thorlabs 1/4-20 kit), using wise and a hand saw (for metal). Use the shortened bolt to mount the Iris 15 camera on the Iris15-XT66P2M pedestal and the XT66P2/M rail carriage.
5. Attach the camera to the F-mount.
6. The camera should be oriented with the longer sensor size vertically, and the data port on the top. Sensor orientation is important for the rolling shutter mode readout running horizontally.

Mounting and focusing of the tube lens

Inserting a filter into the filter wheel, and mounting the latter

Here we use ZWO EFW Mini filter wheel and a 25-mm mounted quadband filter from Chroma.

⚠️ Filters are delicate optical elements which must be handled with care, and using powder-free gloves. Avoid pressing on the filter, or leaving finger prints. If necessary, it can be gently cleaned from dust using compressed air.

Configurations: microscope objective vs telecentric lens

Microscope objectives

Large-FOV plan apochromat infinity-corrected objectives with a suitable tube lens.

• magnification range: 2x - 20x
• NA range: 0.05 - 0.28
• lateral resolution: 2.5 - 1.5 microns
• filter wheel: 5-pos Zwo EFW mini
• filter wheel mounting: in the infinity space (between objective and tube lens)
• filter diameter: 25 mm

Telecentric lenses

Industrial telecentric lenses with high field flatness.

• magnification range: 0.9 - 2x
• NA range: 0.04 - 0.1
• lateral resolution: 5.5 - 2.5 microns
• filter wheel: 5-pos 3D printed wheel controlled by a Dynamixel servo.
• filter wheel mounting: between the sample and the objective, on the optical table.
• filter diameter: 50 mm

In both configurations the camera and objective are mounted on a focusing linear stage which adjusts the objective position to match the light-sheet illumination plane.

Red parts are 3D printed holders for the objective and the camera.

⚠️ The objective holder rail carrier should be clamped tight, while the camera holder carrier should be left loose on the rail to avoid over-constraining.

Detection objectives comparison summary

Detection-obj-overview.xlsx.

Recommended parts list

Benchtop-partslist-latest.xlsx

⚠️ The early version of Benchtop used Mitutoyo BD (Bright and Darkfield) Plan Apo objectives for historical (ease of ordering) reasons. These objectives are now replaced by the M Plan Apo series. The BD and M series have identical optical specs, but BDs are thicker, use less common mounting thread, and need a 3D printed cover ring to block unwanted light coming through their illumination ring.