THORLABS Thorlabs MDFM-MF2 User manual

MDFM-MF2
Olympus AX, BX, and IX
Microscopy Filter Cube
Assembly Manual

Olympus MF2 Filter Cube Assembly Manual
21396-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 2 www.thorlabs.com
Table of Contents
Part 1.Safety ............................................................................................................................................3
Part 2.Assembly Instructions..................................................................................................................3
Part 3.Regulatory ....................................................................................................................................9
3.1.Waste Treatment is Your Own Responsibility ......................................................................................9
3.2.Ecological Background ............................................................................................................................9
Part 4.Thorlabs’ Worldwide Contacts ..................................................................................................10

Olympus MF2 Filter Cube Assembly Manual
21396-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 3 www.thorlabs.com
Part 1. Safety
All statements regarding safety of operation and technical data in this instruction manual will only apply
when the unit is operated correctly. Handle all optics with care. Gloves are recommended for optic
installations. Take care when tightening optics, as overtightening optics may cause the optic to break or
shatter.
Part 2. Assembly Instructions
Step 1
Carefully unpack the Olympus MDFM-MF2
Filter Cube assembly. Take note where the
emitter and exciter sides of the cube are
(see Figure 1).
Figure 1. MDFM-MF2 Filter Cube Assembly
Note the orientation of the retainer rings. The flat side of both retaining rings should always face away
from the cube. The side of the retaining ring with the mounting lip should face inwards towards the
filter and dichroic mirror.
Step 2
Remove the two screws holding the filter cube
together. Carefully separate the two filter cube
halves.
Figure 2. Disassembling the filter cube
Exciter Side
Emitter Side
Note the
orientation of
retainer rings
Screw
Locations

Olympus MF2 Filter Cube Assembly Manual
21396-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 4 www.thorlabs.com
Step 3
Remove the emitter side of the filter cube and orient so the emitter port is facing down as shown in
Figure 3. Loosen the two screws holding the dichroic mirror retainer clip. Do not remove the screws.
Figure 3. Loosening the dichroic mirror retainer clip
Step 4
The MDFM-MF2 Filter Cube holds a standard set of Thorlabs MDF Series Dichroic Mirror, Emission,
and Excitation Filter Set, sold separately. The MDF-CY3.5 Filter set is shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Dichroic mirror set
The emission and excitation filters can be easily differentiated by the thickness of the filter mount rings:
emission (3.5 mm) and excitation (5.0 mm). Note that the dichroic mirror has a coated and an uncoated
side (see Figure 5).
Loosen
Screws
Emitter Side
Dichroic Mirror
Retainer Clip
Excitation
Filter
Emission
Filter
Dichroic
Mirror

Olympus MF2 Filter Cube Assembly Manual
21396-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 5 www.thorlabs.com
Figure 5. Dichroic mirror orientation
When held at an angle, the coated side will appear uniform in reflection all the way to the edge. The
uncoated side, when held at the same angle, will not have a uniform reflection near the edge. There will
be a band of transmission that appears through the uncoated substrate. It is important to determine the
coated and uncoated sides of the dichroic mirror as there is only one orientation that will work with the
Filter Cube.
Step 5
Place the dichroic mirror under the retaining clip, making sure the mirror seats properly in the recess.
The reflective surface of the dichroic mirror should face UP.
Figure 6. The dichroic mirror mounted in the emitter half cube
Slowly tighten the retaining clip screws until snug. Caution: Do not over tighten the retaining clip
screws as this may damage the dichroic mirror.
Reflective
(Coated) Side
Reflective
(
Coated
)
Side
Uncoated Side
Coating
Observed to
the Edge
See Edge
Transmission

Olympus MF2 Filter Cube Assembly Manual
21396-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 6 www.thorlabs.com
Step 8
Reassemble the filter cube by placing the half of the assembly with the mounted dichroic mirror into the
empty half. Align the two halves using the two assembly screw holes. Slowly tighten the assembly
screws, alternating between them, until snug. Caution: Do not over tighten the assembly screws, as
doing so may strip the threads or screw heads. At this point the dichroic mirror should be facing the
exciter side of the filter cube (see Figure 7).
Figure 7. Looking into the exciter side of the filter cube
Step 9
Orient the filter cube so the emitter side
is facing up. Place the emission filter
into the mount with the filter arrow facing
up, away from the mount. Carefully
thread the retainer ring (lip side down)
onto the cube.
Figure 8. Installing the emission filter
Reflective
(Coated) Side
Retainer
Ring
Emission
Filter

Olympus MF2 Filter Cube Assembly Manual
21396-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 7 www.thorlabs.com
Note: The threads are not parallel with the face of the cube. Take extra care to make sure the retainer
ring is threaded properly onto the cube. The ring should rotate smoothly and easily when threaded
properly. Tighten the retainer ring using the supplied spanner wrench, or Thorlabs Spanner, until snug.
Figure 9. Note the orientation of the emission filter and retainer ring
Step 10
Place the excitation filter into the filter
cube with the arrow facing down into
the mount. Carefully thread the retainer
ring (lip side facing inwards) onto the cube.
Take extra care to make sure the retainer
ring is threaded properly onto the cube. The
ring should rotate smoothly and easily
when threaded properly.
Tighten the retainer ring using the supplied
spanner wrench.
Figure 10. Installing the excitation filter
The emission filter
and retainer ring are
tilted when properly
installed
Retainer
Ring
Excitation
Filter

Olympus MF2 Filter Cube Assembly Manual
21396-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 8 www.thorlabs.com
Step 11
The completed MDFM-MF2 Olympus Filter Cube is shown in Figure 11.
Figure 11. The MDFM-MF2 Filter Cube with emission filter, excitation filter, and dichroic mirror
installed

Olympus MF2 Filter Cube Assembly Manual
21396-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 9 www.thorlabs.com
Part 3. Regulatory
As required by the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive) of the European
Community and the corresponding national laws, Thorlabs offers all end users in the EC the possibility
to return “end of life” units without incurring disposal charges.
•This offer is valid for Thorlabs electrical and electronic equipment:
•Sold after August 13, 2005
•Marked correspondingly with the crossed out “wheelie bin” logo (see right)
•Sold to a company or institute within the EC
•Currently owned by a company or institute within the EC
•Still complete, not disassembled and not contaminated
As the WEEE directive applies to self-contained operational electrical and electronic products, this end
of life take back service does not refer to other Thorlabs products, such as:
•Pure OEM products, that means assemblies to be built into a unit by the user (e. g. OEM laser
driver cards)
•Components
•Mechanics and optics
•Left over parts of units disassembled by the user (PCB’s, housings etc.).
If you wish to return a Thorlabs unit for waste recovery, please contact Thorlabs or your nearest dealer
for further information.
3.1. Waste Treatment is Your Own Responsibility
If you do not return an “end of life” unit to Thorlabs, you must hand it to a company specialized in waste
recovery. Do not dispose of the unit in a litter bin or at a public waste disposal site.
3.2. Ecological Background
It is well known that WEEE pollutes the environment by releasing toxic products during decomposition.
The aim of the European RoHS directive is to reduce the content of toxic substances in electronic
products in the future.
The intent of the WEEE directive is to enforce the recycling of WEEE. A controlled recycling of end of
life products will thereby avoid negative impacts on the environment.
Wheelie Bin Lo
g
o

Olympus MF2 Filter Cube Assembly Manual
21396-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 10 www.thorlabs.com
Part 4. Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts
For technical support or sales inquiries, please visit us at www.thorlabs.com/contact for our most up-to-
date contact information.
USA, Canada, and South America
Thorlabs, Inc.
s[email protected]
[e-mail]
Europe
Thorlabs GmbH
[email protected]
France
Thorlabs SAS
[email protected]
Japan
Thorlabs Japan, Inc.
[email protected]
UK and Ireland
Thorlabs Ltd.
[email protected]
[e-mail]
Scandinavia
Thorlabs Sweden AB
[email protected]
Brazil
Thorlabs Vendas de Fotônicos Ltda.
[email protected]
China
Thorlabs China
[email protected]

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