Tips to Optimize Your Microscope
Planning to receive a new microscope within the next twelve months? Follow these three tips created by Herzan’s technical team to ensure optimal utilization, maximum magnification, and complete uptime for your microscope.
Following these tips saves time and money retrofitting solutions when noise issues are found after the microscope has been installed.
TIP 1: Understand the Environment Through A Site Survey
Site surveys identify environmental noise locally within a lab, highlighting the amplitudes of noise over a desired frequency range. Tools like the WaveCatcher are often used to capture measurement data for a site survey as they are data acquisition systems that interface with a variety of analog sensors, designed to perform quick and easy measurements.
Once the data is collected, site survey reports are generated, comparing measured data with the maximum allowable noise for an instrument. The analysis and recommendations listed in a site survey help dictate the type of mitigation solutions most effective to bring the noise within acceptable levels.
Capture the Full Picture
When performing a survey, ensure the full measurement context is catalogued so the site survey report reflects real-time conditions.
Configure the Right Measurement Settings
Utilizing the right sensor and related measurement settings is key to having relevant data to compare against a microscopes specification
TIP 2: Mitigate Local Noise Sources to Minimize Ambient Noise
If the results of a site survey show environmental noise in your lab exceed allowable noise for an instrument, there are a few solutions to consider.
1) Remove all noise generating equipment from the room
While not always possible, removing noise generating equipment form the room is the most cost effective solution and can often mitigate a need for purchasing isolation equipment. During a site survey, request measurements with selected equipment on and off to identify the equipment contributing most to the noise in the room.
2) Isolate the noise generating equipment
When relocating noise generating equipment is not possible, isolating noise generating equipment directly can be an effective alternative. Whether it is an enclosure for scroll pumps, passive isolators for vibrating equipment, or a faraday cage to shield a UPC; isolating noise generating equipment can help reduce the overall ambient noise of the room
TIP 3: Support Microscope with Environmental Control Solutions
Some environmental noise cannot be decoupled from the room, requiring solutions to cancel the noise from measurements.
Herzan specializes in mitigating all forms of environmental noise for precision microscopes, ranging from affordable table-top enclosures and vibration control tables, to large-scale advanced active vibration control platforms.
