Fibre optic light sources

Here you can discuss different microscopic techniques and illumination methods, such as Brightfield, Darkfield, Phase Contrast, DIC, Oblique illumination, etc.
Message
Author
jfiresto
Posts: 342
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2019 8:19 am
Location: Northern Germany

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#31 Post by jfiresto » Mon Jan 02, 2023 9:02 pm

imkap wrote:
Mon Jan 02, 2023 8:57 pm
Brochure says for the second knob: "Mechanical brightness control without variation of the light’s color temperature" so I presumed it is an iris.

For the small switch it says: "Switch for optimizing the illumination", I suppose it is the one you mention, hopefully the supplements are included :?
I edited my above post. You should have both, along with some refinements Schott made to the classic design over the years.
-John

User avatar
imkap
Posts: 750
Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:44 pm

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#32 Post by imkap » Mon Jan 02, 2023 9:06 pm

blekenbleu wrote:
Mon Jan 02, 2023 8:51 pm
imkap wrote:
Mon Jan 02, 2023 8:16 pm
It has an iris and some options, even an LCD screen
Those smaller tips should work better near microscope objectives than do more typical 13mm tips...
I hope so, although focusing lens will be on my TO DO list ;)

ddy5
Posts: 78
Joined: Sun May 03, 2020 12:37 pm
Location: Maryland, USA

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#33 Post by ddy5 » Tue Jan 10, 2023 2:50 pm

The Schott KL series are very nice lights. I've used a KL1500 for years without problems.

I recently opened up a KL2500. The constant light temperature intensity control turns out not to be an iris. It's a large, thin perforated metal wheel. The size and number of the perforations vary systematically. When the dial is turned all the way in one direction, the light goes through hundreds of tiny holes. In the other direction, the light goes through a smaller number of larger holes. Seems like a very clever way of maintaining a uniform beam and avoiding the change in beam diameter that an iris would cause.

Cheers, David

User avatar
imkap
Posts: 750
Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:44 pm

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#34 Post by imkap » Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:45 pm

ddy5 wrote:
Tue Jan 10, 2023 2:50 pm
The Schott KL series are very nice lights. I've used a KL1500 for years without problems.

I recently opened up a KL2500. The constant light temperature intensity control turns out not to be an iris. It's a large, thin perforated metal wheel. The size and number of the perforations vary systematically. When the dial is turned all the way in one direction, the light goes through hundreds of tiny holes. In the other direction, the light goes through a smaller number of larger holes. Seems like a very clever way of maintaining a uniform beam and avoiding the change in beam diameter that an iris would cause.

Cheers, David
Thanks for the info, David I thought that the iris might cause some different effects, but presumed they solved this somehow.

The light still didn't arrive :roll: I'll sure post some impressions when it does.

P. S. There are some more of these (Zeiss branded) on ebay in Europe at half a price I paid :mrgreen: if anyone is interested I'll send a link. Of course I saw them a day after ordering. But no matter, karma always comes back. I just got 3 microphones in great working condition at maybe 50% of a usual used price, so when it all adds up I'm quite happy. :D

User avatar
imkap
Posts: 750
Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:44 pm

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#35 Post by imkap » Thu Jan 19, 2023 11:21 pm

The unit arrived and it is in great condition, I've checked the guides they seem to be working and the light is very strong, so we're happy. I think I understand the purpose of the focusing lens now, so I'll try to DIY. I have some spare eyepieces which might do the purpose and a 3d printer.
DSC05248.jpg
DSC05248.jpg (61.15 KiB) Viewed 3353 times

User avatar
imkap
Posts: 750
Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:44 pm

Re: Fibre optic light source focusing lens DIY

#36 Post by imkap » Fri Jan 20, 2023 12:01 am

I have some delaminated KPL W 10x eyepieces which seem to have a perfect housing (the top part) for making of the focusing lens like these on the link below.
https://www.schott.com/en-us/products/k ... ccessories

I'd just have to make a lower part (3d print or even make it on a lathe) which could be attached to the cable and screw it on the top part. Meiji techno has similar focusing lens for their cables and the focal length of these is 28mm. If I understand correctly (I found the info on Cloudy Nights :mrgreen:), my eyepieces should be 25mm, so I suppose it should be close enough. Especially that I don't know what FL was used by Schott on their units. I don't suppose it should make a difference except that I'd need to make the housing of a proper length to be able to focus with the lens I have...
Do you think it should work? :D
Thanks
kpl.jpeg
kpl.jpeg (9.43 KiB) Viewed 3352 times

viktor j nilsson
Posts: 760
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:12 pm
Location: Lund, Sweden

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#37 Post by viktor j nilsson » Fri Jan 20, 2023 7:18 am

Yes for sure, I have used Wild 10x eyepieces as collimating optics for light sources before, and they seem very good for the job.

User avatar
imkap
Posts: 750
Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:44 pm

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#38 Post by imkap » Fri Jan 20, 2023 1:26 pm

viktor j nilsson wrote:
Fri Jan 20, 2023 7:18 am
Yes for sure, I have used Wild 10x eyepieces as collimating optics for light sources before, and they seem very good for the job.
Thanks

User avatar
imkap
Posts: 750
Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:44 pm

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#39 Post by imkap » Sun Jan 22, 2023 7:36 pm

Done, it works nice... Who says delaminated eyepieces aren't useful :)
WhatsApp Image 2023-01-22 at 20.02.10_cr.jpg
WhatsApp Image 2023-01-22 at 20.02.10_cr.jpg (32.58 KiB) Viewed 3235 times
Last edited by imkap on Sun Jan 22, 2023 8:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Hobbyst46
Posts: 4277
Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:02 pm

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#40 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sun Jan 22, 2023 7:58 pm

imkap wrote:
Sun Jan 22, 2023 7:36 pm
Done, it works nice... Who says delaminated eyepieces aren.t useful :)
Please, are those lamps halogen or LED ? what wattage ?

User avatar
imkap
Posts: 750
Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:44 pm

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#41 Post by imkap » Sun Jan 22, 2023 8:00 pm

Hobbyst46 wrote:
Sun Jan 22, 2023 7:58 pm
imkap wrote:
Sun Jan 22, 2023 7:36 pm
Done, it works nice... Who says delaminated eyepieces aren.t useful :)
Please, are those lamps halogen or LED ? what wattage ?
The 15V 150W halogen lamp is in the housing and optic fibers lead the light through the goosenecks.

Hobbyst46
Posts: 4277
Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:02 pm

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#42 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sun Jan 22, 2023 8:06 pm

imkap wrote:
Sun Jan 22, 2023 8:00 pm
Hobbyst46 wrote:
Sun Jan 22, 2023 7:58 pm
imkap wrote:
Sun Jan 22, 2023 7:36 pm
Done, it works nice... Who says delaminated eyepieces aren.t useful :)
Please, are those lamps halogen or LED ? what wattage ?
The 15V 150W halogen lamp is in the housing and optic fibers lead the light through the goosenecks.
Thanks. So 75W per arm... my own Stereo top lamp is a 1W LED, intensity will probably suffer if I add a KPL eyepiece...

MichaelG.
Posts: 3976
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:24 am
Location: North Wales

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#43 Post by MichaelG. » Mon Jan 23, 2023 1:37 am

imkap wrote:
Mon Jan 02, 2023 8:57 pm
Brochure says for the second knob: "Mechanical brightness control without variation of the light’s color temperature" so I presumed it is an iris.
.
The Volpi illuminator has a very cleverly arranged disc with tapered slots.
… I have the patent ‘somewhere’ :oops:

Will try to locate it tomorrow.

MichaelG.
.
Edit: __ easier than I expected: It’s available, in English, as Canadian Patent CA2075990 (A1) ― 1992-06-19
Too many 'projects'

Sliding Focus
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2020 6:26 pm
Location: Ghent, NY, USA

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#44 Post by Sliding Focus » Wed Jan 25, 2023 11:20 pm

That is very clever to use eyepieces for the focusing lenses, and it looks like it worked great! Focusing lenses are definitely nice to have, IMO.

User avatar
imkap
Posts: 750
Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:44 pm

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#45 Post by imkap » Wed Jan 25, 2023 11:43 pm

Sliding Focus wrote:
Wed Jan 25, 2023 11:20 pm
That is very clever to use eyepieces for the focusing lenses, and it looks like it worked great! Focusing lenses are definitely nice to have, IMO.
Yeah, it works great and was to my surprise very easy to make, just put the eyepieces on the printed adapters... :lol:

elaniobro
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:00 pm

Re: Fibre optic light sources

#46 Post by elaniobro » Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:32 pm

Hi, I stumbled upon this post while googling.

I was wondering if someone could help me understand why, a Dolan Jenner MI-150 Fiber Lite can list for $1-200 on ebay but also costs $700 new. I was also hoping one of you might be able to help me understand the pros/cons when compared to a Schott

I was all ready to dish out hundred for an AM scope 300w halogen -> Fiber, but seeing these strong LED/Fiber for cheap has me second guessing myself. Vibrations from one of the Halogens, with fans to keep cool, is a concern for me, given I plan to use this with a focus rail Microscope Objective on my mirror less camera setup.

Lastly, I am thinking a mini O ring would be best, to place on the microscope objective through for best illumination.

Post Reply