THORLABS MDFM-TE2000 Assembly Manual

MDFM-TE2000

Nikon TE2000 Microscopy

Filter Cube

Assembly Manual

Nikon TE2000 Filter Cube Assembly Manual

Table of Contents

Part 1. Safety ............................................................................................................................................3

Part 2. Assembly Instructions ..................................................................................................................3

Part 3. Regulatory ....................................................................................................................................9

3.1. Waste Treatment is Your Own Responsibility ...................................................................................... 9

3.2. Ecological Background ............................................................................................................................ 9

Part 4. Thorlabs’ Worldwide Contacts ..................................................................................................10

21399-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 2 www.thorlabs.com

Nikon TE2000 Filter Cube Assembly Manual

Part 1. Safety

All statements regarding safety of operation and technical data in this instruction manual will only apply
when the unit is assembled and operated correctly. Handle all optics with care. Gloves are recommended
for optic installations. Take care when tightening optics, as overtightening optics may cause the optic to
break or shatter.

Part 2. Assembly Instructions

Step 1

Emitter Side

Carefully unpack the Nikon MDFM-TE2000
Filter Cube assembly. Take note where
the emitter and exciter sides of the cube
are (see Figure 1).

Exciter Side

Figure 1. MDFM-TE2000 Filter Cube

Step 2.

Unscrew the exciter retaining ring, noting that the mounting sleeve is inside the exciter retaining ring.
The mounting sleeve fits into the indents in the exciter retaining ring and should be oriented with the flat
side against the lip of the retaining ring as shown in Figure 2.

Exciter

Retainer Ring

Figure 2. Exciter Retaining Ring and Mounting Sleeve

21399-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 3 www.thorlabs.com

Exciter Retainer

Sleeve

Nikon TE2000 Filter Cube Assembly Manual

Step 3

Remove the emitter mount by depressing the clip on the filter cube and pulling the mount straight up.
Note that this mount has two parts, the threaded mount clip and the retaining ring.

Emitter

Retainer

Ring

Emitter

Mount

Clip

Figure 3. Emitter Mount and Retainer Ring

Dichroic

Mirror Retainer

Clip

Step 4

Remove the dichroic mirror retainer clip by
pulling up on the clip while holding the filter
cube. Take care not to break any of the
plastic tabs that hold the retainer clip to the
filter cube.

Note the orientation of the dichroic mirror
retainer clip as well as the location and
orientation of the spring clip.

21399-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 4 www.thorlabs.com

Figure 4. Removing the Dichroic Mirror Retainer

Nikon TE2000 Filter Cube Assembly Manual

(

Step 5

The MDFM-TE2000 Filter Cube holds a standard set of Thorlabs MDF Series Dichroic Mirror,
Emission, and Excitation Filter Set, sold separately. The MDF-CY3.5 Filter set is shown in Figure 5.

Dichroic

Mirror

Emission

Filter

Excitation

Filter

Figure 5. Dichroic mirror set

The emission and excitation filters can be easily differentiated by the thickness of the filter mount rings:
emission (3.5 mm) and excitation (5.0 mm). Note that the dichroic mirror has a coated and an uncoated
side (see Figure 6).

Coating

Observed to

the Edge

See Edge

Transmission

Reflective

Coated) Side

Figure 6. Dichroic mirror orientation

Uncoated Side

When held at an angle, the coated side will appear uniform in reflection all the way to the edge. The
uncoated side, when held at the same angle, will not have a uniform reflection near the edge. There will
be a band of transmission that appears through the uncoated substrate. It is important to determine the
coated and uncoated sides of the dichroic mirror as there is only one orientation that will work with the
Filter Cube.

21399-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 5 www.thorlabs.com

Nikon TE2000 Filter Cube Assembly Manual

Step 6

Place the dichroic mirror in the recess provided in the filter cube such that the reflective (coated) surface
faces DOWN.

Dichroic Mirror

Emitter Side

Reflective Side

Must Face Down

Figure 7. Dichroic mirror placed in the filter cube, reflective side down. Note the orientation of the

dichroic mirror transmission and reflection in the center and right figures.

Exciter Side

Step 7

Place the spring clip on the dichroic mirror with the bend facing up, then place the dichroic mirror
retainer clip on the cube and slowly press down until the clip clicks into place. Gently pull up on the
retainer clip to verify that the dichroic mirror is secured in the filter cube.

Dichroic

Mirror Retainer

Clip

Dichroic Mirror
Retainer Spring

Figure 8. Replace dichroic mirror retainer spring and clip

21399-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 6 www.thorlabs.com

Nikon TE2000 Filter Cube Assembly Manual

Step 8

Place the emission filter in the emitter mount with the arrow pointed up as shown in Figure 9. Center the
emission filter on the three indents on the mount. Place the mounted emission filter onto the filter cube
and press down gently on the emitter mount until it clicks into place. Visually inspect the three mounting
tabs to verify proper seating of the emitter mount.

Emission

Filter

Emitter

Mount

Step 9

Mounting

Tabs

Figure 9. Emission filter orientation and mounting

Mounting

Tab

Exciter

Retainer

Sleeve

Orient the filter cube so the excitation side is
facing up. Insert the excitation filter in the
filter cube with the arrow facing into the cube,
towards the dichroic mirror. Place the filter
sleeve inside the exciter retaining ring as

Exciter

Retaining

Ring

Excitation

Filter

described in Step 2 and Figure 2.

Slowly thread the exciter retaining ring,
with filter sleeve oriented in the correct direction
onto the filter cube. The retaining ring should
thread easily onto the filter cube and excitation
filter.

Figure 10. Excitation filter orientation and mounting

21399-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 7 www.thorlabs.com

Nikon TE2000 Filter Cube Assembly Manual

Step 10

The completed Nikon MDFM-TE2000 Filter Cube is shown in Figure 11.

Figure 11. The MDFM-TE2000 Filter Cube with emission filter, excitation filter, and dichroic mirror

installed

21399-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 8 www.thorlabs.com

Nikon TE2000 Filter Cube Assembly Manual

Part 3. Regulatory

As required by the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive) of the European
Community and the corresponding national laws, Thorlabs offers all end users in the EC the possibility
to return “end of life” units without incurring disposal charges.

• This offer is valid for Thorlabs electrical and electronic equipment:

• Sold after August 13, 2005

• Marked correspondingly with the crossed out “wheelie bin” logo (see right)

• Sold to a company or institute within the EC

• Currently owned by a company or institute within the EC

Wheelie Bin Logo

• Still complete, not disassembled and not contaminated

As the WEEE directive applies to self-contained operational electrical and electronic products, this end
of life take back service does not refer to other Thorlabs products, such as:

• Pure OEM products, that means assemblies to be built into a unit by the user (e. g. OEM laser

driver cards)

• Components

• Mechanics and optics

• Left over parts of units disassembled by the user (PCB’s, housings etc.).

If you wish to return a Thorlabs unit for waste recovery, please contact Thorlabs or your nearest dealer
for further information.

3.1. Waste Treatment is Your Own Responsibility

If you do not return an “end of life” unit to Thorlabs, you must hand it to a company specialized in waste
recovery. Do not dispose of the unit in a litter bin or at a public waste disposal site.

3.2. Ecological Background

It is well known that WEEE pollutes the environment by releasing toxic products during decomposition.
The aim of the European RoHS directive is to reduce the content of toxic substances in electronic
products in the future.

The intent of the WEEE directive is to enforce the recycling of WEEE. A controlled recycling of end of
life products will thereby avoid negative impacts on the environment.

21399-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 9 www.thorlabs.com

Nikon TE2000 Filter Cube Assembly Manual

Part 4. Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts

USA, Canada, and South America

Thorlabs, Inc.
435 Route 206
Newton, NJ 07860
USA
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.com
email: [e-mail]

Europe

Thorlabs GmbH
Hans-Böckler-Str. 6
85221 Dachau
Germany
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.de
email: [e-mail]

France

Thorlabs SAS
109, rue des Côtes
78600 Maisons-Laffitte
France
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.de
email: [e-mail]

Japan

Thorlabs Japan Inc.

3-6-3, Kitamachi,
Nerima-ku, Tokyo 179-0081

Japan
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.co.jp
email: [e-mail]

UK and Ireland

Thorlabs LTD.
1 Saint Thomas Place, Ely
Cambridgeshire CB7 4EX
Great Britain
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.de
email: [e-mail]

Scandinavia

Thorlabs Sweden AB
Box 141 94
400 20 Göteborg
Sweden
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.de
email: [e-mail]
China
Thorlabs China
Oasis Middlering Centre
3 Building 712 Room
915 Zhen Bei Road
Shanghai
China
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.com
email: [e-mail]

21399-D02 Rev A, August 27, 2010 Page 10 www.thorlabs.com

Thorlabs, Inc.

435 Route 206N
Newton, NJ 07860 USA

Phone: [phone] ♦ Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.com