Zeiss AxioImager Quickstart Guide

  1. Fill out the log sheet (Date, Name, Lab and location)
  2. Turn “ON” the microscope Power Supply 232 (on the shelf)
  3. Turn “ON” the microscope (power button on the back, left panel of the microscope)
  4. Turn “ON” the Xcite exacte illuminator (fluorescent light source)
  5. Takes about 5 min to warm up (display stops flashing when ready)
  6. Turn “ON” the camera (the power console is on the shelf facing right with the power button on the front [facing right])
  7. Hold the button “on” for 2 sec – button light will turn green
  8. Let the camera cool down for 5 min
  9. Turn “ON” the computer
  10. Choose your lab username
  11. Password – see your lab for this information
  12. Once the fluorescent light source is ready (the display stops flashing), increase the % light, by pressing the “up” arrow, to the light intensity value for your experiment
  13. Open the shutter for the fluorescent light source by pressing the shutter button (on the light source)
  14. Open Volocity software
  15. Create a new library (or open an existing library)
  16. Save this file locally on the computer to your lab’s folder
  17. Each lab has a max of 100gb on the local hard drive
  18. Select Video preview in the left pane of the software to access the microscope controls

Shut down procedure:

  1. Close the software
  2. Transfer your library (libraries) to your lab portable hard drive, lab server (if you have one), or the microscope center’s server.
  3. The files on the microscope center’s server may be deleted without warning, so store images on your lab’s hard drive or server for permanent storage. There is also no backup of this data.
  4. Refresh (!) the microscope schedule webpage and Check the schedule to see if there is another user
  5. If there is another user within 1 h then leave the system on for them. (You may want to contact the next user to make sure they will use their time slot). Otherwise, continue the shut down procedure.
  6. Log off the computer
  7. Record the lamp time from the Xcite exacte illuminator by writing it on the log sheet
  8. Power off the camera, microscope, microscope power supply, and Xcite exacte illuminator (fluorescent bulb).
  9. Complete log sheet – Time used, and questions/comments about microscope and work space.
  10. Pick up your personal items and samples, clear the desk, clean the oil immersion objectives, close the cap of the immersion oil bottle and wipe up any oil spills.