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Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller

The Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller is designed primarily for changing filters in the excitation light path of fluorescence microscopes. It can be used also in the emission light path. On some microscopes it could be mounted in the transillumination light path. The filter wheel provides fast computer controlled or manual switching of filters. It can accommodate either 12 filters, 25mm in diameter, or 10 filters, 32mm in diameter. The filters could be up to 6 mm in thickness (modification for thicker filters can be ordered). Filters are held in filter wells with a single screw as shown here.  Infra-red blocking filter can be installed on the side facing the light source. 

The wheel can be used as part of automated microscope systems. It has a simple, cost-effective and highly reliable construction. The wheel is compact in size. It is 17mm thick, maximum outside dimension of the housing is 180 mm. The case is made of 1/8” aluminum and is very rigid. A knob with filter numbers is mounted on the front of the motor. Current active filter corresponds to the number closest to the controller box. If the wheel is not powered, the knob can be used for manual filter positioning. The Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller does not need any additional control units; it connects directly to the computer serial or USB port via a cable with built-in converter. This innovative design provides cost saving, requires less desk space, and reduces cable clutter. See possible system configurations.

The key feature of the design is direct drive. Filter wheel is mounted directly on the motor shaft. A stepping motor with 200 steps per revolution is driven by a microstepping controller. A built-in optical switch is used to home the wheel after power up or as needed. Time required to switch between the adjacent filters is around 230 milliseconds. Switching time depends on parameters of the wheel controller. If faster switching time is needed, the wheel can be ordered with an extra long motor

Mounting adapters are provided for the major microscope brands. For some microscopes an extender may be needed with the front adapter to prevent interference of the motor with the microscope body. The length of extenders if they are required is reflected in the third column of the ordering table. In some cases if an extender is required but undesirable, it may be possible to mount the filter wheel facing back without the need for extender.

A filter wheel or several filter wheels can be used also for non-microscope applications; they can be mounted on optical benches for custom configurations.  A filter wheel may be ordered with custom adapters per user specification, see an example here.

Specifications

Filter diameter and number

25mm - 12 filters or 32mm - 10 filters

Switching time

< 250ms between adjacent filters for fully loaded wheel

Extension of optical path

Model-dependent, see table below.

Mounting

Adapters available for all major microscope brands

Motor

2 phase, 1.8 degrees per step, 1.1A/phase

Controller

Microstepping motion controller and driver EZHR17EN from AllMotion (12-40V)

Computer Interface

Serial RS232 or USB with USB-to-serial converter

Control Software

ScopeTool v4.3, WheelTool v1.0, direct control through serial port, EZStepper in MATLAB, Micro-Manager Device Adapter, EZStepper in Python

Filter Wheel Dimensions 

Ordering information for filter wheels (DD is filter diameter: 25mm or 32mm)

Part number

Description

Increase in optical path

Price (US$)

107-00-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller without mounting adapters 17 mm 1600.
107-01-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Olympus BX40, BX50 and BX60 (a booster lens must be installed) 33 mm 1700.
107-02-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Zeiss AxioSkop/Plan-1 33 mm 1700.
107-03-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Nikon Microphot 20 mm or 40 mm (*) 1700. (1)
107-04-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Leica DML 65 mm 1700.
107-05-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Olympus BH-2 30 mm 1700.
107-06-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Zeiss AxioPlan-2 46 mm 1700.
107-07-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Nikon Optiphot-1 34 mm 1700. (2)
107-08-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Leica DMR, DM4000-DM6000 30 mm or 65 mm (***) 1700.
107-09-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Nikon Optiphot-2 34 mm 1700. (2)
107-10-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Nikon Eclipse E-600 and E-800  (quick release) 34 mm 1700. (2)
107-11-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Olympus AX70 46 mm 1700.
107-12-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Leica Diaplan/Aristoplan 55 mm 1700. (3)
107-13-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Zeiss AxioPhot-2 46 mm 1700.
107-14-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Zeiss AxioSkop-2 33 mm 1700.
107-15-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Olympus BX51, BX61, BX53, BX63 (mounting instructions) 33 mm 1700. (4)
107-16-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Olympus IX70, IX71, IX81 33 mm 1700.
107-17-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Nikon TE300 and TE200 34 mm 1700. (2)
107-18-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Nikon TE2000 and Ti 34 mm 1700. (2)
107-19-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Nikon 80i 50 mm 1700. (2)
107-20-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Motic inverted microscopes (mounting instructions) 50 mm 1700.
107-21-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Zeiss AxioImager 53 mm 1700.
107-22-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for KOZO Inverted 17 mm 1850.
107-23-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Nikon 50i 50 mm 1700. (2)
107-24-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Zeiss AxioScope A1 59 mm 1700.
107-25-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Emission Lightpath on Olympus Microscopes N/A 1850.
107-26-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Emission Lightpath on Nikon Microscopes N/A 1850.
107-27-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Leica IRB 37 1700.
107-28-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Leica DM2000-DM3000 30 mm 1700.
107-29-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Olympus IX73 37 mm 1700.
107-30-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Emission Lightpath on Leica Microscopes N/A 1850.
107-70-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Fiber Optic Illumination 12 pos. N/A 1700.
107-71-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Fiber Optic Illumination 7 pos. N/A 1700.
107-72-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for mounting on Optical Bench N/A 1650.
107-73-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for mounting on Optical Bench with Adapters for Thorlabs 30 mm Cage System 29 1750.
107-74-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for mounting on Optical Bench with Adapters for Edmund Optics Cage System 29 1750.
107-75-DD Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller for Stacked Filters N/A TBD
104-99 Cable for Filter Wheel   100.
104-94 Converter (RS232-RS485) Box with USB Converter and Cable (order one of: 104-94, 104-95, 104-96, or 104-97)   200.
104-95 Converter (RS232-RS485) Bracket with USB Converter and Cable   200.
104-96 Converter (RS232-RS485) Box with Serial Cable   150.
104-97 Converter (RS232-RS485) Bracket with Serial Cable   150.
104-81 Power Supply, 12V   60.

Note: To show microscope-dependent mounting we use the same images as for the filter wheels without integrated controller.

(*) - depends on mounting orientation

(***) - depends on illumination port used

The following additional charges are for the parts that must be ordered from microscope manufacturers.

(1) - for quick disconnect add $300.

(2) - for quick disconnect add $200.

(3) - add $250.

(4) - for replacement collar add $150.

Specifications and prices are subject to change without notice. Delivery 4-6 weeks ARO.

    In the news:

Laboratory Equipment, August 2007, p.14 "Small Controller Enables Distributed Microscope Automation" and online.

Photonics Spectra, February 2007, Vol. 41, Issue 2, p. 134.

Biophotonics International, February 2007, Vol. 14, No. 2, p. 73.

Photonics.com: A compact filter wheel with an integrated controller has been unveiled by Tofra Inc. ... 

Laboratorytalk: Microscope filter wheel has integrated controller

Labhoo: TOFRA, Inc. Introduces Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller

www.microscopy.info: Filter Wheel with Integrated Controller

Medical Design Technology, May 2007, Vol. 11, No. 5, p. 32 and online.

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