MesoSPIM - Part 1: Start-up

Switch on computer located below the table.

Log-in to instrument computer with your ZMB credentials.

At the back of the mesoSPIM. Turn-on the two power supplies for the galvo systems.

Turn the laser keys to "ON" position.

Open the light insulation box back door for accessing the camera and turn it on.

Turn-on the two galvo mirrors.

Double click on the "MesoSPIM Control" icon. A window will appear to select the ETL parameters.

Select your personal ETL configuration file which has been created during your microscope introduction.

The microscope control, viewfinder, Tiles control, camera and acquisition manager windows will appear.

Take the immersion cuvette according to your sample from the chemical hood.

Insert the sample holder with the two two balls to the back.

Follow the video to mount the ViewFinder. This will help you to load the sample.

Mount the ViewFinder

Close the doors of the light insulation box.

Perform this ETL adjustment before inserting the sample. Here the main steps:

In the menu, select ETL. Select Freeze galvos to visualize the stationary laser beam.

In Controls, change the filter to Empty-Alignment to see laser scattering (not fluorescence).

Set ETL amplitude to 0 and adjust the offset values until beam waist becomes centered.

Adjust ETL amplitude to achieve uniformly thin beam.

click Save current ETL parametter to csv.

Repeat the process for the other side laser.

At the end click unfreeze galvos and select a filter like "405-488-561-640-Quadrupleblock".

In the movement menu, sample translation XY field, press LOAD and watch carefully (!) as sample moves into the immersion chamber. If you see a potential collision, press the red STOP button immediately.

If the LOAD move is complete and the sample needs to be lowered further, use the "south" blue arrow button to bring the sample further down into the immersion chamber until you see it in the center of your detection objective.

Switch off the light of the light insulation box.