Olympus BX61 Motorized Research Microscope

Olympus Updated: 2007-09-10
Olympus BX61 Motorized Research Microscope

The BX61 is a fully motorized research microscope built on the platform of the traditional upright frame. All major microscope functions can be completely automated, including focus, illumination, objective lens selection and filter wheels. A complete software command set allows for full computer control. The BX61 is an ideal platform for automated imaging systems demanding:

* Automation of repetitive tasks
* Automation of complex and time-sensitive operations
* Remote operation via networks or internet
* Timed sequences covering hours or days

At the heart of the BX61 is a research frame with a motorized internal focus drive. The motorized drive allows movement in 0.01 micron increments and is accurate enough for the most demanding z-axis movements and measurements. Driven by an external controller, the microscope frame is kept free of unnecessary wiring and power supplies, allowing the BX61 to occupy the footprint of a traditional microscope and minimizing excessive heat and electrical noise that can be detrimental to some experiments.

Beyond the focus drive the BX61 is a completely modular system, whereby motorized accessories can be added to meet the discrete needs of the individual user. All motorized accessories are driven by a master external system controller, the BX-UCB, a fact that allows these accessories to be attached even to the manual-focus BX51 microscope. Key functions that can be motorized include:

* Motorized 6-position nosepieces for standard or darkfield objectives.
* Motorized fluorescence filter turret and light shutter in illuminators that accept either 6 fluorescence filter cubes or 8 fluorescence filter sets. Excitation balancers attenuate excitation light for intensity balance in multi-color images.
* Motorized transmitted light condenser with 8-position turret and polarizer for DIC, phase contrast, darkfield and polarized light observation.
* 6-position filter wheels for lamphouse side, observation side and transmitted light mounting. Up to three wheels can be controlled simultaneously.
* Autofocus sensors for both reflected surfaces (laser based) and transmissive specimens (contrast based).