Scientifica MMTP User manual

Motorised Moveable
Top Plate
(MMTP) Product Manual
Revision 2.0
Manual Part No.: S-MMTP-MANUAL

© Scientifica Ltd
1A Kingfisher Court, Brambleside, Bellbrook Industrial Estate,
Uckfield, TN22 1QQ, United Kingdom
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
[email protected]m

Contents
Note: This manual describes the features, functions and operation of
the MMTP. Before use, please carefully read this manual, directions for
all accessories, all precautionary information and specifications.
Contents...............................................................................................1
1.0 Product Introduction .....................................................................1
1.1 Handling Scientifica equipment – precautions..............................1
1.2 The Scientifica MMTP..................................................................1
1.2.1 Product overview ..................................................................1
1.2.2 Product walkthrough .............................................................2
2.0 Packing List ...................................................................................3
3.0 Setup .............................................................................................4
3.1 Building the MMTP ......................................................................4
3.1.1 Removing shipping brackets.................................................4
3.1.2. Setting the correct length of your platform leg......................5
3.1.3. Attaching the legs and feet...................................................5
3.1.4 Positioning the Platform........................................................5
3.1.5 Bolting the platform to your table top.....................................6
3.1.6 Using the Sliding Carriages...................................................6
3.2 Electrical setup of the MMTP.......................................................8
3.2.1 Control Racks .......................................................................8
3.2.2 Basic MMTP electrical setup diagram...................................9
3.2.3 Example system diagram....................................................10
4.0 Operation Guide ..........................................................................11
4.1 Powering up the system.............................................................11
4.2 Operating the MMTP..................................................................11
4.2.1 Using a Control Cube..........................................................11
4.2.2 Using a PatchPad...............................................................13
4.2.3 Using a Joystick..................................................................15
5.0 Maintenance................................................................................. 16
5.1 Cleaning ....................................................................................16
6.0 Frequently Asked Questions ......................................................17
6.1 No Movement............................................................................17
6.2 Drift............................................................................................17
7.0 Specifications..............................................................................19
7.1 Top plate schematics.................................................................19
8.0 LinLab ..........................................................................................20
8.1 Installing the software................................................................20
8.1.1 Connecting the system........................................................20
8.1.2 Installing the USB Drivers ...................................................21
8.1.3 USB port assignment..........................................................23
8.2 Running the software.................................................................24
8.2.1 Zero Current Position..........................................................25
8.2.2 Step Control........................................................................25
8.2.3 Virtual Joystick....................................................................25
8.2.4 Home Out, Home In and Step In.........................................26
8.3 LinLab Menus............................................................................26
8.3.1 Configure / Communications Port........................................26
8.3.2 Configure / System Configuration........................................27
8.3.3 Manipulator / Set Home Out Position..................................28
8.3.4 Manipulator / Set Home In Offset........................................28
8.3.5 Manipulator / Step Size After Home In ................................29

2| 1.0 Product Introduction
8.3.6 Manipulator / Reverse X (Y or Z) Direction Units.................29
8.3.7 Manipulator / Reverse X (Y or Z) Rotary Motion..................30
8.3.8 Manipulators/ Follow Control...............................................30
8.3.9 Manipulators/ Creeper.........................................................31
8.3.10 Manipulators/ PPL Wheel ReMap......................................31
8.3.11 View ..................................................................................31
8.3.12 View / Show Stored Points ................................................32
8.3.13 Approach...........................................................................34
8.3.14 Speed................................................................................34
8.3.15 The Joystick / Rotary Speed scaling..................................34
8.3.16 Acceleration / Deceleration................................................34
8.3.17 Z Speed Scaling................................................................35
8.4 Programming linear motion and Heater Cards............................35
9.0 Warranty, Technical Queries and Returns .................................39
10.0 About Scientifica........................................................................40

1.0 Product Introduction |1
1.0 Product Introduction |1
1.0 Product Introduction
1.1 Handling Scientifica equipment – precautions
This section contains important safety information related to general use
of the MMTP. The Scientifica MMTP is a piece of scientific equipment
and as such requires care when handling.
• Before use, carefully read the instructions, including all warnings and
cautions.
• Inspect the product, any cables, and connectors before each use. Do
not use any equipment that appears damaged.
• Do not apply excessive tension to any cable.
• There are no user serviceable parts inside the unit.
• Always disconnect the instrument from the power supply prior to
cleaning the system or performing maintenance work.
Other important safety information appears throughout the manual.
Adjustment or removal of any screws or components
other than those noted in this manual can adversely
affect the performance and operation of your
micromanipulator and may invalidate your warranty.
1.2 The Scientifica MMTP
1.2.1 Product overview
Compatible with all major upright microscopes the MMTP (Motorised
Movable Top Plate) is ideal for use with a confocal or multiphoton
system. The MMTP offers 25 mm of super smooth X & Y travel with a
resolution of 20 nm. The manipulators and sample can be positioned as
one, allowing movement to different fields of view of the objective, whilst
the microscope remains fixed. This means that you can image different
areas of interest whilst maintaining delicate patch clamp experiments.
Up to 50 memory positions can be stored and recalled in X,Y & Z (focus)
axes. The ultra-low noise electronics means you can continue to record
sensitive signals even during sample adjustment. Platform positioning
can be carried out by either a PatchPad, Joystick, Control Cube or with
a PC.

2|
1.2.2 Product walkthrough
1 - Top plate
2 - Sliding carriage mounting plate
3 - Sample chamber
4 - X Y Motors (attached to the translation stage)
5 - Adjustable legs
6 - Feet
1
2
5
6
4
4
3

2.0 Packing List |3
2.0 Packing List |3
2.0 Packing List
If the outside of the shipping packaging is damaged, notify your shipping
department immediately. The shipping department may wish to notify
the carrier at this point.
If the shipping carton is not damaged, carefully remove and identify all of
the components as listed below. If any of items are missing, contact
Scientifica Ltd. Please retain the packaging for storage or future
transportation of the system.
• Sample plate
• Locking ring
• Break out box
• 25 Way to 25 Way lead
• USB Cable
• Digital Vernier Caliper
• 1 x Screw Kit
• Hex Key set
• 10 mm Allen Key
• (Optional) Z-focus module
• LinLab CD (section 8.0)
Top Plate
3 x Manipulator mounting
plates
Motorised XY Translation
stage
8x Leg bolts
(usually shipped
screwed into legs)
4 x Adjustable legs
2 x Feet
4 x Foot Mounting
Locks
1U Control Rack

4|
3.0 Setup
3.1 Building the MMTP
To get the best performance out of your platform it must be set up
precisely.
Please follow the steps in this manual to ensure the platform is set up in
accordance with manufacturers’ guidelines.
Please remember: adjustment or removal of any screws
or components other than those noted in this manual
can adversely affect the performance and operation of
your equipment and may invalidate your warranty.
3.1.1 Removing shipping brackets
Special shipping brackets are added to your MMTP to prevent damage
during shipment. These are bright red and found on the inside arms of
the XY translation stage.
Remove the shipping brackets using the Hex Key provided.
Note: retain the brackets for future use.
Figure A: Removing shipping brackets

3.0 Setup |5
3.0 Setup |5
3.1.2. Setting the correct length of your platform leg
It is essential that you ensure the legs are all the
same height. Any differences in leg length will reduce
the smoothness of the stage motion and damage the
bearings.
It is important to ensure that the platform height is set to correct focal
point of your microscope. For a Scientifica SliceScope the height is 219
mm. (This information should be supplied by your microscope
manufacturer – Olympus, Zeiss, Leica, Nikon).
Figure B: Setting the platform height
Minimum platform height is 190 mm. Once you have decided on the
correct height, unscrew the legs to the desired length. Use the digital
callipers to ensure that all of the MMTP legs are the same length.
Tighten the locking ring to ensure that the height does not change.
3.1.3. Attaching the legs and feet
Bolt the feet to the legs using the supplied leg bolts with the 10 mm allen
key. Align the legs with the XY stage and bolt firmly together with the 10
mm allen key.
Measure this
height
Locking Ring

6| 3.0 Setup
3.1.4 Positioning the platform
Ensure the microscope optics are out of the way before positioning to
avoid damage. Put the platform in position near your microscope and
carefully slide the top plate into position. Lock the top plate in place by
gently tightening the bolts with the Hex key supplied.
Figure C: Locking the top plate in position
Ensure that the central hole of the sample plate is aligned with your
microscope objective.
3.1.5 Bolting the platform to your table top
Once the platform is in the correct position, place the four foot mounting
locks into the feet.
By rotating the mounting locks, you will expose a tapped hole in the
table. Using the bolts supplied, bolt the feet firmly to your table surface.
This will be either M6 for metric tables or ¼ 20 for inch spaced tables.
3.1.6 Using the sliding carriages
As an alternative to mounting devices directly on the tapped surface of
the top plate, three carriages are supplied for when finer positioning
control is required.
These are usually used for mounting and repeatable positioning of
micromanipulators, which can be attached directly to the carriage using
the bolts supplied.
Ensure that the bolts used to mount devices do not
extend beyond the lower surface of the carriage to
prevent damage to the top plate surface.
The T-bar can be mounted to the lower surface of the carriage in any of
the five hole positions for additional lateral positioning versatility.