Half-mirror

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Saul
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Half-mirror

#1 Post by Saul » Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:38 am

Looking for the half-mirror (not dichroic) for the Nikon BF/DF DIY cube.

Proof of the concept was made with the SurplusShed dichroic mirror (at the left),working model is at the right, used half-mirror leftover piece.

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microb
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Re: Half-mirror

#2 Post by microb » Fri Jun 26, 2020 3:49 pm

What are the dimensions of beam splitter mirror?

Saul
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Re: Half-mirror

#3 Post by Saul » Fri Jun 26, 2020 3:56 pm

microb wrote:
Fri Jun 26, 2020 3:49 pm
What are the dimensions of beam splitter mirror?
Ideal (in my case) - 18mm x 27mm.
Or little bit less

DonSchaeffer
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Re: Half-mirror

#4 Post by DonSchaeffer » Fri Jun 26, 2020 5:20 pm

What are these for--using a camera?

Saul
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Re: Half-mirror

#5 Post by Saul » Fri Jun 26, 2020 6:31 pm

DonSchaeffer wrote:
Fri Jun 26, 2020 5:20 pm
What are these for--using a camera?
No , in the microscope as the BF/DF cube for the vertical EPI illuminator, please see this one, or UV version

DonSchaeffer
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Re: Half-mirror

#6 Post by DonSchaeffer » Fri Jun 26, 2020 7:55 pm

This looks like it can do some interesting illumination tricks.

microb
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Re: Half-mirror

#7 Post by microb » Sat Jun 27, 2020 12:45 am

I'm assuming that's a resin printed dovetailed cube. I don't know where it goes, but could you fit a 20mm 50/50 non-polarizing beam splitter cube in there?

Then you could get one of these to experiment with for $22:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cube-Beam-Spli ... Sw~w9dAwM2

I'm surprised Edmund Optics, Newport Optics, chroma.com, and Thorlabs do not have smaller sizes -- still the want a min of $80 and go up way higher.

Saul
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Re: Half-mirror

#8 Post by Saul » Sun Jun 28, 2020 7:14 pm

microb wrote:
Sat Jun 27, 2020 12:45 am
I'm assuming that's a resin printed dovetailed cube. I don't know where it goes, but could you fit a 20mm 50/50 non-polarizing beam splitter cube in there?

Then you could get one of these to experiment with for $22:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cube-Beam-Spli ... Sw~w9dAwM2

I'm surprised Edmund Optics, Newport Optics, chroma.com, and Thorlabs do not have smaller sizes -- still the want a min of $80 and go up way higher.
Yes, it is 3d printed & will go to the Microphot vertical EPI/UV illuminator.
Cube fill fit (I can make different design), but it is backup plan - some Ali & ebay half-mirror sellers agreed to make exact size.
What is better - cube or half mirror ?

microb
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Re: Half-mirror

#9 Post by microb » Sun Jun 28, 2020 8:12 pm

Saul wrote:
Sun Jun 28, 2020 7:14 pm
What is better - cube or half mirror ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaUJDRaCBiI

Edmund Optics says the cube should only be used with culminated light paths. A mirror has a ghost image but less chromatic aberrations than a cube. The cube tends to have less spectrum range.

Given that everyone uses mirror, maybe that's the answer. If you find a good supplier please let me know. Of course, I'm making filter cubes for various microscopes, so I'm going to try both for the heck of it.

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