Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

Here you can discuss DIY adaptations to the microscope.
Post Reply
Message
Author
Saul
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:30 pm
Location: IL USA
Contact:

Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#1 Post by Saul » Wed Aug 07, 2019 11:19 pm

Finally got missing parts and could finish all dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator's versions . Now it could be used for:
Nikon Optiphot (1)
Nikon Metaphot (2)
Olympus BH2 BHT BHTU (4)
Nikon Microphot FX (2)
Nikon Microphot FXA
Nikon Microphot SA
Nikon Labophot I (3)

Image

Nikon Labophot

Image

Nikon Optiphot

Image

Nikon Metaphot/Microphot FX

Image

Nikon Microphot SA/FXA


Image

Olympus BH2 BHT BHTU

Image

Labophot version can be used with the broken plastic part in the microscope base (holder "wings") - couple screws/nuts are needed ...

Image

MicroBob
Posts: 3154
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2016 9:11 am
Location: Northern Germany

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#2 Post by MicroBob » Thu Aug 08, 2019 7:39 am

Hi Saul,
this is a very nice looking product! I'm sure that will be able to sell a lot of them at the given price point. Is it necessary for these microscopes to have the light source exactly at the original position or is there a frosted surface in the light path that acts as the light source?

Bob

Saul
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:30 pm
Location: IL USA
Contact:

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#3 Post by Saul » Thu Aug 08, 2019 6:30 pm

MicroBob wrote:Hi Saul,
this is a very nice looking product! I'm sure that will be able to sell a lot of them at the given price point. Is it necessary for these microscopes to have the light source exactly at the original position or is there a frosted surface in the light path that acts as the light source?

Bob
Thanks Bob ! It is correct. I used frosted surface behind the lens. For lensless set frosted material can be easily placed behind the front panel .

I had some ideas to make it more universal, like to use for UV - main UV source from the back, from the top would be a normal LED for observation ( to avoid photobleaching). Or vice versa. And flash option, of course. But it is for the future :)

Image

Image

Image

Image

Saul
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:30 pm
Location: IL USA
Contact:

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#4 Post by Saul » Thu Aug 15, 2019 5:58 pm

Olympus BH2 BHT BHTU version with the fly eye lens.
Anybody knows, can be Olympus BH2 BHT BHTU type housing connection used on the Olympus BX40/41 ? And vice versa ?

Image

Image

Saul
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:30 pm
Location: IL USA
Contact:

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#5 Post by Saul » Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:19 pm

Olympus BHS version

Image

Image

Image

Image

Unit has fly-eye type colimating lens
Image

With extra diffuser
Image

User avatar
daruosha
Posts: 273
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2019 7:10 am
Location: Tehran, Iran

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#6 Post by daruosha » Mon Feb 17, 2020 11:13 pm

You made it all by yourself or it's commercial product? I've never seen such a refined solution like this before. I mount my flash on a tripod shooting towards the mirror beneath the condenser. No contest for me :)
Daruosh.

Saul
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:30 pm
Location: IL USA
Contact:

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#7 Post by Saul » Tue Feb 18, 2020 12:51 am

daruosha wrote:
Mon Feb 17, 2020 11:13 pm
You made it all by yourself or it's commercial product? I've never seen such a refined solution like this before. I mount my flash on a tripod shooting towards the mirror beneath the condenser. No contest for me :)
Thanks ! It is made by myself. It took some time .... :roll:

User avatar
daruosha
Posts: 273
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2019 7:10 am
Location: Tehran, Iran

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#8 Post by daruosha » Tue Feb 18, 2020 1:03 am

Saul wrote:
Tue Feb 18, 2020 12:51 am
It took some time .... :roll:
I can imagine that. Well done.
Daruosh.

Saul
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:30 pm
Location: IL USA
Contact:

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#9 Post by Saul » Wed Mar 18, 2020 2:00 am

Olympus BX40 series

https://youtu.be/UuhMU_Lvnic

Image

Saul
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:30 pm
Location: IL USA
Contact:

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#10 Post by Saul » Fri Jun 19, 2020 2:11 am

One more model (in parallel to the existing one) - more powerful, swap-able heatsink (let's say you want UV version also), can be used for non flash version, etc.

Even more, the same heatsink can be used for both LEDs - reversed to the another side.

Image

Image


Even more, the same heatsink can be used for both LEDs - reversed to the another side. Parts are kept together by strong neodymium magnets and centered by the hex screws (non-detachable version - heatsink is mounted permanently).
r
Image

LED power is set to the approx 20w (could be even more by attaching extra heatsinks to the extrusion (which works very well as a heatsink)). Photo, of course , is just for fun, but extra heatsinks are not a problem ...

Image

Using optical glass light guide instead open path allowed me to use more powerful LED and create higher, more concentrated light output.

Image

Unit is powered from the separate power supply

Image

It could be used with the different faceplates, same as the previous model

MicroBob
Posts: 3154
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2016 9:11 am
Location: Northern Germany

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#11 Post by MicroBob » Fri Jun 19, 2020 7:27 am

Hi Saul,
again a great design! Thank you for sharing your methods so openly!

Bob

Saul
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:30 pm
Location: IL USA
Contact:

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#12 Post by Saul » Fri Jun 19, 2020 5:47 pm

MicroBob wrote:
Fri Jun 19, 2020 7:27 am
Hi Saul,
again a great design! Thank you for sharing your methods so openly!

Bob
Bob, thank you very much for your words !

More photos

Image

Image

Image

Saul
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:30 pm
Location: IL USA
Contact:

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#13 Post by Saul » Tue Mar 02, 2021 4:53 am

Finalized version with heatsink which can handle approx. 22w (continuous duty). This design allows to use more powerful LEDs also (there is no heat stress on the 3D printed body) with bigger heatsink (or adding additional surfaces to the existing one (big plus of the T-Slot extrusion)). That all allows to use different LEDs, depending on the user's needs .

COB emitting surface diameter should be 12-15mm, to match light guide dimensions.
Was able to squeeze electronics inside, so no external voltage upconverter is needed, just simple power supply.

Photos show Optiphot 2/ Microphot FXA version, but other faceplates are available (same like on the lower power versions)
First photo shows optional power connector for DIY set if needed (standard set has everything inside)

_DSC5324-web633x950U100-G14.jpg
_DSC5324-web633x950U100-G14.jpg (69.05 KiB) Viewed 10023 times
_DSC5325-web633x950U100-G14.jpg
_DSC5325-web633x950U100-G14.jpg (67.18 KiB) Viewed 10023 times

User avatar
zzffnn
Posts: 3200
Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2015 3:57 am
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Contact:

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#14 Post by zzffnn » Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:45 am

Such elegant work, Saul!

Do you plan to sell such finished customized light sources on eBay?

My DIY solution is similar to daruosha (I use prism under condenser to reflect speedlite) and nowhere as elegant as yours.

Saul
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:30 pm
Location: IL USA
Contact:

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#15 Post by Saul » Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:52 pm

LED version only, but can be upgraded to the direct flash plus LED version also. Picture shows simple heatsink, but unit can be used with much more powerful LEDs using bigger heatsinks.


Comp-copy-1024.jpg
Comp-copy-1024.jpg (53.46 KiB) Viewed 9898 times

Saul
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:30 pm
Location: IL USA
Contact:

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#16 Post by Saul » Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:54 pm

zzffnn wrote:
Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:45 am
Such elegant work, Saul!
Do you plan to sell such finished customized light sources on eBay?
My DIY solution is similar to daruosha (I use prism under condenser to reflect speedlite) and nowhere as elegant as yours.
Thanks Fan !
Yes, it will be on eBay.
Or, if somebody is interested, please PM me

Greg Howald
Posts: 1185
Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2020 6:44 am

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#17 Post by Greg Howald » Fri Mar 12, 2021 4:39 am

My. What a very good job. Congrats.
Greg

ADi
Posts: 301
Joined: Fri May 05, 2023 4:05 pm

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#18 Post by ADi » Thu May 25, 2023 6:28 pm

Hi Saul,
Great job!
Best, ADi

Saul
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:30 pm
Location: IL USA
Contact:

Re: Dimmable LED/flash microscope illuminator

#19 Post by Saul » Fri May 26, 2023 2:24 am

ADi wrote:
Thu May 25, 2023 6:28 pm
Hi Saul,
Great job!
Best, ADi
Thanks ADi !
Now it looks a little bit different: https://is.gd/9CPjOI
It comes with a non-PWM dimmable 60W power supply with a voltage indicator and an inline switch that allows you to disconnect the LED at any power level. All models have a fly-eye type collimating/diffusing lens, and the LED has a power output of 27W (110-120 Lm/W) and a high CRI of 97-98. The continuous duty mode is up to 20W , but if you need higher output wattage it can go up to 27-30w
Just have to update my listing photos :)

Saul

Post Reply