[OpenSPIM] openSPIM for core facility and is optical table necessary?

[Maria]

Dear all,

I'm working in a microscopy core facility and we are thinking about 
building a SPIM. Do you think it is possible to run SPIM in this 
environment -  I mean to train users to use the microscope on their own 
with occasional support? Or is too complicated a machine and needs to be 
run by a dedicated person, with the user only providing the sample? Does 
anyone have experience from a similar situation?

Second question: openSPIM is assembled on an optical breadboard, but all 
other self-built microscopes I have seen were on optical tables. Is an 
optical table necessary for openSPIM?

Thank you very much and best regards,
Maria

-- 
Maria Hanulova
------------------------------------
Core Facility Microscopy
Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH (IMB)
Ackermannweg 4
55128 Mainz
Germany
Phone: +49-6131-39-21507
Email: m.hanulova at imb-mainz.de
www.imb-mainz.de/core-facilities/microscopy/