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Piezo Objective Scanner![]()
PFM450E Piezo Objective Scanner and Paired Controller PFMA01 M32 x 0.75 Microscope Adapter PFMA02 M32 x 0.75 Objective Adapter Related Items ![]() Please Wait ![]() Click for Details Deep Brain Image Captured with a Bergamo Microscope Equipped with a PFM450E Piezo Objective Scanner (Courtesy of RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Japan.) Applications
![]() Click to Enlarge Exploded View ![]() Click to Enlarge Assembled View The scanner is installed by threading a brass adapter into the microscope's objective holder with the included spanner wrench and tightening a flexure clamp around the adapter with the included 5/64" (2 mm) hex key. The objective is attached to the scanner using a separate brass adapter and flexure clamp. Features
The PFM450E Piezo Objective Positioner is designed for fine focus adjustment and high-speed Z-stack acquisition. Engineered for compatibility with Thorlabs' Bergamo® II Multiphoton Microscopes, our Confocal Imaging System, our Cerna® Microscopy Platform, and third-party microscopes, it bypasses the relatively slow stepper motors built into microscopes in order to quickly obtain scans of 3D volumes. Built-in capacitive feedback sensors allow the module to provide 1 nm resolution in open-loop operation and 3 nm resolution in closed-loop operation, enabling active compensation for short- and long-term drifts. With a clear aperture of up to Ø29.0 mm and a maximum load of 500 g (1.1 lbs), the piezo objective holder easily accommodates the large-field-of-view objectives commonly used in multiphoton and confocal microscopy. In order to permit easy switching between objectives, the piezo stage is attached to the microscope and objective by independent adapters. This design choice allows the objective to be removed without disconnecting the rest of the assembly. Adapters are available for M32 x 0.75, M27 x 0.75, SM1 (1.035"-40), M26 x 0.706, M25 x 0.75, and RMS (0.800"-36) threads. Each scanner is shipped with a piezo controller that has been factory calibrated to the specific scanner. Objective positioning is supported through the included standalone Kinesis and APT GUIs, our ThorImageLS image acquisition software, an externally supplied control voltage, or the MZF001 Joystick Console (sold separately). See the Software & External Control tab for more details. The controller offers USB and RS-232 interfaces for computer control; a BNC input for sine, sawtooth, and square wave drive signals; a BNC output that gives either positioning feedback from the scanner's built-in capacitive sensors or a signal proportional to the piezo drive voltage; and a connector for the MZF001 joystick. In addition, a DB15 connector provides signals that can be used for synchronization with external equipment.
![]() Click to Enlarge Mechanical Drawing of Scanner ![]() Click to Enlarge Front Panel of PPC001 Piezo Controller In the software, the front panel LEDs can be set to three intensities: full, dim, or off. The dim mode, shown above, is the default setting. ![]() Click to Enlarge Back Panel of PPC001 Piezo Controller Information on the connectors is available in the Pin Diagrams tab. Software and External ControlSoftwareAPT Version 3.21.4 The APT Software Package includes a GUI for control of the Piezo Objective Scanner. Also Available:
SoftwareKinesis Version 1.14.25 The Kinesis Software Package includes a GUI for control of the Piezo Objective Scanner. Also Available:
![]() Click to Enlarge Z Control Panel from ThorImage®LS Capture Setup Tab ![]() Click to Enlarge Fast Z Panel from ThorImageLS Capture Tab The scanner can be driven using the included standalone Kinesis® GUI, the legacy APT™ GUI, our ThorImage®LS software for Bergamo® II and confocal microscopes, an externally supplied control voltage, or the MZF001 Joystick Console. In addition, a DB15 connector provides signals that can be used for synchronization with external equipment. Complete details on control are available in the PFM450E manual for Kinesis and APT (PDF links). Open-Loop Operation vs. Closed-Loop Operation In closed-loop operation, which supports a travel range of 450 µm, the user directly controls the objective displacement (in µm). The built-in capacitive feedback sensors measure the objective displacement with 3 nm resolution in closed-loop operation. Click to Enlarge Kinesis® GUI Panel ![]() Click to Enlarge APT™ GUI Panel ![]() Click to Enlarge APT Loop Tuning tab. The default settings are for a 150 g objective. As a rule of thumb, for a 2X increase in objective weight, divide all PID parameters by 2 and divide all notch filter settings by the square root of 2. The default settings can be restored in the General tab. Standalone Kinesis and APT GUIs In addition, the GUIs enable software-based PID loop tuning. The default settings are designed to provide stable operation for most small- and medium-sized objectives, but fine tuning the PID loop helps account for the specific microscope and objective in use in the experiment, reducing positional overshoots and ringing about the commanded objective position. Screenshots are shown to the left. ThorImageLS Image Acquisition Software Externally Supplied Control Voltage The external input BNC connector is typically used with sine, sawtooth, or square drive signals. The maximum frequency of the signal that should be applied depends upon the waveform. For large periodic waveforms (i.e., sine waves that provide >200 µm of total displacement), the recommended drive frequencies are:
For staircase waveforms with step sizes up to 50 µm, the minimum time between steps can be as small as the 25 ms typical settling time. MZF001 Joystick Console DB15 Connector External Control Voltage Examples![]() Click to Enlarge We applied a square wave drive signal to our piezo controller to move a 16X physiology objective (Item # N16XLWD-PF) in 10 µm increments. The scanner's built-in capacitive sensors demonstrate that the targeted position is achieved within the 25 ms typical settling time without ringing. ![]() Click to Enlarge We used a sawtooth drive signal to acquire a Z-stack with a 16X physiology objective (Item # N16XLWD-PF). As shown by the built-in capacitive sensors, we obtained excellent linearity over the 300 µm scan range, creating evenly spaced image slices. Piezo Controller Pin DiagramsStage Connector
User ConnectoraFemale DB15
Computer Control via RS-232Male DB9
Computer Control via USBFemale Type B USBExternal InputBNC FemaleInput Voltage: -10 V to +10 V External OutputBNC FemaleOutput Voltage: 0 V to +10 V Joystick ConnectorFemale Mini DIN![]()
![]() Click to Enlarge Items Included with PFM450E (North American Power Cord Shown) Item # PFM450E consists of the following:
The brass adapters required to connect the piezo objective scanner to the microscope and the objective are sold separately, as is the optional MZF001 Joystick Console.
![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Since the flexure clamps are independent, the objective can be exchanged without detaching the scanner. ![]() Click to Enlarge The microscope and objective adapters are installed in the scanner using two independent flexure clamps. The clamps are tightened using the 5/64" (2 mm) hex key included with the unit.
The PFM450 Piezo Objective Scanner and PPC001 Piezo Controller are sold as Item # PFM450E in a matched, factory-calibrated pair. Each is labeled with an identical serial number. It is not recommended to operate the piezo objective scanner with a different controller. For large periodic waveforms (i.e., sine waves that provide >200 µm of total displacement), the recommended drive frequencies are:
![]() These externally threaded brass adapters connect the scanner to the microscope's objective holder. The bottom contains two spanner wrench slots for installing the adapter. A compatible spanner wrench is included with the PFM450E. The PFMA01E Extended Microscope Adapter with M32 x 0.75 objective threads offers a thicker flange than the PFMA01 Microscope Adapter, which is useful for microscopes with recessed objective threads, such as our Bergamo II multiphoton microscopes. The PFMA01E's inner surface is also roughened to improve signal collection for multiphoton microscopy. ![]() Click to Enlarge PFMA01E Extended M32 x 0.75 Microscope Adapter ![]() These internally threaded brass adapters connect the scanner to the objective. The top contains two spanner wrench slots for installing the adapter. A compatible spanner wrench is included with the PFM450E. ![]() The MZF001 Joystick Console provides intuitive, tactile, hand-operated control of the objective position. The rate of change of the position is set by the rate potentiometer knob on the left, enabling either quick or high-precision movement. It is encased in an anodized aluminum housing and measures 22.8 cm x 13.3 cm x 66.3 cm (9.0" x 5.2" x 2.6"). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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