Step by step assembly

Before you start to assemble please make sure you have all needed parts or you know how to improvise them. The light path of our original design is 50 mm off the top surface of the ThorLabs metric optical breadboard (part #: MB3045/M) where everything is installed.

Objects needed

 * 2x ThorLabs part #: BB05-E02 Ø1/2" mirrors go into
 * 2x ThorLabs part #: Polaris-K05 Ø1/2" mirror mounts

Tools needed

 * 1.5 mm hex key/driver

How to install the mirrors into their respective mirror mounts
Take both components out of their respective boxes and put the mirror inside the mount with its reflective side out (on the opposite side of the steering screws), and lock it snugly in place with a 1.5 mm hex key/driver.

Objects needed

 * 1x ThorLabs part #: BB1-E02 Ø1" mirror goes into
 * 1x ThorLabs part #: Polaris-K1 Ø1" mirror mount

Tools needed

 * 2 mm hex key/driver

Directions
Take both components out of their respective boxes and put the mirror inside the mount with its reflective side out (on the opposite side of the steering screws), and lock it snugly in place with a 2 mm hex key/driver.

Objects needed

 * 2x ThorLabs part #: AC127-025-A-ML Ø1/2" SM05-Mounted f = 25 mm achromatic spherical lens doublet and
 * 2x ThorLabs part #: AC127-050-A-ML Ø1/2" SM05-Mounted f = 50 mm achromatic spherical lens doublet thread into
 * 4x ThorLabs part #: LMR05/M Ø1/2" lens mounts

Tools needed

 * none

Directions
Take both components out of their respective boxes and screw the lens' external threading into the lens mount's internal threading.

Objects needed

 * 1x ThorLabs part #: DG05-1500-H1-MD Ø1/2" SM05-Mounted Frosted Glass Alignment Disk with Ø1 mm Hole threads into
 * 2x ThorLabs part #: LMR05/M Ø1/2" lens mount

Tools needed

 * none

Directions
Take both components out of their respective boxes and screw the lens' external threading into the lens mount's internal threading. Same as last step, watch the last Youtube video to get a good idea how to do it.

Objects needed

 * 1x ThorLabs part #: ACY254-50-A Ø1" f = 50 mm achromatic cylindrical lens doublet


 * 1x ThorLabs part #: RSP1X15/M Ø1" indexed rotating mount

Tools needed

 * 1x ThorLabs part #: SPW602 Ø1" threaded optics holder remover
 * 1x 1.3 mm hex key/driver

Directions
Take both components out of their respective boxes, and after taking the Ø1" external threaded ring out, put the lens inside the mount with its arrow on the banding pointing in the direction of the light path. Use the SPW602 to put the ring back into the threading and tighten until the lens does not move.

Align the rotation using a 1.3 mm hex key/driver by loosening the two screws on the front face of the rotational mount and rotate the face plate (not the mount) until it is in the correct position relative to the orientation of the cylindrical lens. Tighten the two front face screws down one the desired position is reached.

Objects needed

 * 1x ThorLabs part #: SM1D12D Ø1" Ring-Activated SM1 Iris Diaphragm threads into
 * 1x ThorLabs part #: LMR1/M Ø1" holding mount

Tools needed
none

Directions
Take both components out of their respective boxes, and after screwing the Ø1" external threaded ring in, screw the iris diaphragm inside the mount all the way back until it is flush with the mount.

Objects needed

 * 1x Coherent CUBE solid state laser diode
 * 1x Machined metal (i.e. Aluminum) laser heatsink (that will raise the laser beam output to 50 mm off the surface of the optical breadboard)
 * 4x M4 capscrews that came with the CUBE laser with their included washers.
 * 1x Heat transfer paste

Tools needed

 * 1x 3 mm hex key/driver

Directions
Wear latex or nitril gloves that comfortably fit your hands! Apply heat transfer paste to the surface of the metal heat sink block where the CUBE laser will sit (everywhere between the four M4 threaded holes). Put the M4 capscrews that came with the CUBE laser through their included washers and the top of the holes in the base plate of the CUBE laser into the heatsink. using a 3 mm hex key/driver, screw the CUBE laser down onto the surface of the heatsink where the heat transfer paste is applied. Remove excess heat transfer paste with gloves on your hands!

Objects needed

 * 2x Ø1/2" mirror mounts with installed mirrors
 * 2x 19 mm stilts with a M4 thru hole through the middle of it's body
 * 2x M4x40 mm capscrews
 * 2x M4 nuts
 * 2x ThorLabs part #: SD1 M4 to M6 adapter
 * 2x ThorLabs part #: RC1 rail carrier

Tools needed

 * 1x needle nosed pliers
 * 1x 3 mm hex key/driver

Directions
Put the M4x40 mm capscrew through a SD1 M4 to M6 adapter, then the capscrew/adapter assembly through the bottom side of the RC1 rail carrier. The 19 mm stilt then goes over and through the M4 thru hole, so that there is about 15-20 mm of threading of the M4 capscrew poking out. Set the base of the mirror on the stilt through one of its holes, and screw a M4 nut over the remaining threading of the M4 capscrew. Grab and hold the M4 nut with the needle nosed pliers and from the bottom of the RC1 rail carrier use the 3 mm hex key/driver to screw the capscrew tight. Further angular adjustments will need to be made to the position of these assemblies when aligning the laser.

Objects needed

 * 5x Ø1/2" optical mounts with installed optical components (2x f = 25 mm achromat, 2x f = 50 mm achromat & 1x 1 mm alignment tool)
 * 5x 15 mm stilts with a M4 thru hole through the middle of it's body (either self made or ThorLabs part #: SC1 - spacer)
 * 5x M4x25 mm capscrews
 * 5x ThorLabs part #: SD1 - M4 to M6 adapter
 * 5x ThorLabs part #: RC1 - rail carrier

Tools needed

 * 1x 3 mm hex key/driver

Directions
Put the M4x25 mm capscrew through a SD1 M4 to M6 adapter, then the capscrew/adapter assembly through the bottom side of the RC1 rail carrier. The 15 mm stilt then goes over and through the M4 thru hole, so that there is about 5 mm of threading of the M4 capscrew poking out. On the bottom/base of the lens mount is a threaded hole for M4 capscrew, rotate the mount around until it is snug then give it a 1/4 turn to tighten it with the 3 mm hex key/driver. Further angular adjustments will need to be made to the position of these assemblies when aligning the laser.

Objects needed

 * 1x Vertical slit mechanism
 * 1x 13 mm stilt with a M4 thru hole through the middle of it's body
 * 1x M4x20 mm capscrew
 * 1x ThorLabs part #: SD1 - M4 to M6 adapter
 * 1x ThorLabs part #: RC1 - rail carrier

Tools needed

 * 1x 3 mm hex key/driver

Directions
Put the M4x22 mm capscrew through a SD1 M4 to M6 adapter, then the capscrew/adapter assembly through the bottom side of the RC1 rail carrier. The 13 mm stilt then goes over and through the M4 thru hole, so that there is about 2 mm of threading of the M4 capscrew poking out. On the bottom/base of the vertical slit mechanism is a threaded hole for M4 capscrew, rotate the mount around until it is snug then give it a 1/4 turn to tighten it with the 3 mm hex key/driver. Further angular adjustments will need to be made to the position of this assembly when aligning the laser.

Objects needed

 * 1x Iris mechanism
 * 1x 10 mm stilt with a M4 thru hole through the middle of it's body
 * 1x M4x20 mm capscrew
 * 1x ThorLabs part #: SD1 - M4 to M6 adapter
 * 1x ThorLabs part #: RC1 - rail carrier

Tools needed

 * 1x 3 mm hex key/driver

Directions
Put the M4x22 mm capscrew through a SD1 M4 to M6 adapter, then the capscrew/adapter assembly through the bottom side of the RC1 rail carrier. The 2-3 mm stilt then goes over and through the M4 thru hole, so that there is about 2-3 mm of threading of the M4 capscrew poking out. On the bottom/base of the Ø1" optical mount, where the iris mechanism resides, is a threaded hole for M4 capscrew, rotate the mount around until it is snug then give it a 1/4 turn to tighten it with the 3 mm hex key/driver. Further angular adjustments will need to be made to the position of this assembly when aligning the laser.

Install illumination axis on the optical breadboard
 The optical breadboard  (ThorLabs Part #: MB3045/M) ''' has a depth of 300 mm and a width of 450 mm, with a grid of 12 x 18 M6 threaded holes spaced 25 mm apart from one another. We will use a coordinate system similar to a spreadsheet to make it easier to know where each component and capscrew is positioned. Starting with A1 in the upper left corner, and ending with R12 in the lower right '''

Please also forgive the confusion about the Youtube videos and their corresponding images below, the documentation was done in two different locations months apart from each other and small design changes happened in between.

Objects needed

 * 1x POLARIS-K1 1" mirror mount with mirror installed
 * 1x M4x50 mm capscrew
 * 1x ThorLabs part #: SD1 - M4 to M6 adapter
 * 1x 25 mm tall optical post/spacer with M4 thru tap through the center
 * 1x M4 nut

Tools needed

 * 1x 3 mm hex key/driver
 * 1x Needle nosed pliers

Directions
Put the M4x50 mm capscrew through a SD1 M4 to M6 adapter, then the capscrew/adapter assembly through the bottom side of the optical breadboard in a corner M6 thru tap. It is easy to differentiate between the thru tap and threaded hole, because the thru tap is off the usual grid between 4 threaded holes. The bottom side is the side where you can see 2 different diameters of thru tap, the larger one that stops half way through the optical breadboard is where the SD1 washer can rest.

 From here on out till the completion of the installation of the OpenSPIM the furthest threaded hole juxtaposed in the opposite corner to the 1" mirror post will be called A1. See above. 

Objects needed

 * 1x Coherent CUBE solid state laser diode attached to a machined metal (i.e. Aluminum) laser heatsink
 * 4x M6x25 mm capscrews

Tools needed

 * 1x 5 mm hex key/driver

Directions
Place the CUBE laser heatsink assembly so that the mounting capscrew holes/notches are at D8, D10, H8 & H10 on the optical breadboard respectively. Using a 5 mm hex key/driver, screw the heatsink down to the optical breadboard using M6x25 mm capscrews.

Objects needed

 * 1x ThorLabs part #: RLA075/M 75 mm dovetail rail
 * 2x ThorLabs part #: RLA150/M 150 mm dovetail rails
 * 1x ThorLabs part #: RLA300/M 300 mm dovetail rail
 * 6x (or more) M6x16 mm capscrews

Tools needed

 * 1x 5 mm hex key/driver

Directions
Place one of the 150 mm dovetail rails lengthwise with its ends on B6 to B12. Using the 5 mm hex key/driver, screw in 2 to 5 M6 capscrews along the length of the dovetail rail in holes B7 through B11. I personally put 2 M6 capscrews in B8 and B10.

Place the 300 mm dovetail rail lengthwise along row 11 between columns D and O. Using the 5 mm hex key/driver, screw in 2 M6 capscrews in the middle of the 2 long slit holes of the dovetail rail in holes F11 and M11. You can slide the position of the dovetail rail 25 mm along its long axis.

Place the other 150 mm dovetail rail lengthwise with its ends on Q5 to Q11. Using the 5 mm hex key/driver, screw in 2 to 5 M6 capscrews along the length of the dovetail rail in holes B6 through B10. I personally put 2 M6 capscrews in B7 and B9.

Place the 75 mm dovetail rail lengthwise with its ends on O3 to R3. Using the 5 mm hex key/driver, screw in 2 M6 capscrews along the length of the dovetail rail in holes P3 through Q3. I personally put 2 M6 capscrews in B8 and B10.

Objects needed

 * 2x 1/2" mirror assemblies on rail carriers
 * 1x Optical breadboard with dovetail rail system installed

Tools needed

 * None

Directions
Position the 1/2 mirror assemblies on their respective rail carriers on the first 150 mm dovetail rail so that the laser beam will be reflected along the whole rail system. The first 1/2" mirror assembly should face 45 degrees to the right of the front of the laser while the second should face 45 degrees to the left. See the images or Youtube video for further clarification.

Also, the rail carriers tightening knobs should always face out along the edge of the OpenSPIM system.

Objects needed

 * 1x OpenSPIM chamber assembly
 * 1x Optical breadboard with dovetail rail system installed

Tools needed

 * None

Directions
Slide the OpenSPIM chamber assembly onto the 75 mm dovetail rail along the 20x detection objective axis so that the back of the 10x illumination objective is facing the 1" mirror mount along the dovetail rail axis.

Objects needed

 * 1x Installed Coherent CUBE laser with heatsink
 * 2x Installed 1\2" mirror mount assemblies on the dovetail rail
 * 1x Installed 1" mirror mount on corner post
 * 1x ThorLabs part #: DG05-1500-H1-MD - Ø1/2" SM05-Mounted Frosted Glass Alignment Disk w/Ø1 mm Hole 

Tools needed

 * 1x 1.5 mm hex key/driver
 * Nx Just a little patience

Directions
Take off all jewelry (wedding bands, watches and anything shiny)! Power on laser. Roughly rotate, and adjust the distances to, all of the installed mirror mounts so that the laser will reflect off of the middle of the mirror surface of each assembly into the back of the illumination objective.