Alignment of laser

This will need to be done twice:


 * A rough alignment before the refractive optics are installed &
 * A painstakingly detailed alignment after the refractive optics are installed

Objects needed

 * 1x Installed Coherent CUBE laser with heat-sink
 * 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

How to do a laser alignment of the OpenSPIM's illumination axis
Take off all jewelry (wedding bands, watches and anything shiny)!

In the first go around:

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. Then using the laser alignment disk, finely center the laser through the middle of the hole in the disk along the long axis between the two Ø1/2" mirror mounts and the Ø1" mirror post so that it is centered along the entire axis. Do the same on the short perpendicular axis between the Ø1" mirror post and the center of the back of the illumination objective lens.

In the second go around:

Make sure that the laser is coming through the middle of all of the installed refractive optic lenses. use the alignment disk to verify that the laser is still in line with the correct axis.



Next steps

Go back to Step by step assembly