Zeiss LSM 880 Operating Manual page 149

LSM 880
The Position (µm) input box indicates the current position of the focus, no matter if the focus drive or a
Z-Piezo stage insert was used for positioning. The focus is changed in small steps when clicking the
arrow keys.
If the Use Piezo check box is ticked (only available, if a Z-Piezo stage insert is attached to the system),
the Z-Piezo stage insert will be used to perform all Z movements triggered from the software. If the
focus drive was used for Set First / Set Last, the system will transform this numbers for a matched Z-
Piezo movement.
The Fast Z Line checkbox is only available in Line Scan Mode to be selected in the Acquisition Mode
tool). It is not available with the Z-Piezo. If the check box is ticked and Continuous action button
pressed a fast XZ scan for overviews is performed using a continuous movement of the microscope focus.
The stack size is retained and the interval is adapted depending on the scan speed.
The Z-Stack Navigation field displays a graphical representation of the Z-Stack. The white frames
represent the number and localization of the slices. The blue frame indicates the current focus position,
also during image acquisition. By dragging the blue frame with the cursor, the current focus position
changes accordingly. The ruler immediate on the right indicates the dimensions (range) of the Z-Stack.
One can also change the focus position by using the slider tool right to the ruler. Click on the circle
symbol with the double arrow and move it up- or downwards to change the focus. This tool might also
be used for defining the first and last position for the Z-Stack.
The F, C and L buttons indicate the positions of the first slice, center slice and last slice of the stack,
respectively. If you press a button, a scan will be triggered at the respective focus position
It is not relevant that the first and last position in the software match the absolute first and last
position. The microscope will always move against gravity when acquiring the stack ignoring the
assignment first and last.
The precision of the Z-Stack position can be optimized for very critical applications by taking care
that the approach to the first and the last slice when marking the positions will be made from
the same direction as the Z-Stack is finally acquired. As the Z-Stack acquisition is always
performed against gravity it is recommended to move the objective (for inverted stand Axio
Observer and upright stand Axio Examiner) from a lower position to the first slice and then
further up to the last slice. During this process be sure to move the nosepiece in this one
direction only and that you do not refocus.
To obtain best image quality with Z-Stacks using the nosepiece and which are critical regarding
the focus impulse, a Waitstate can be activated. To this end go to the Maintain tab. In the
Option field expand the System Options tab and select the Hardware tab. Tick the
Waitstate check box. Such a wait state is only beneficial at certain acquisition speeds and not
needed by default.
10/2014 V_01
CHAPTER 1 - SYSTEM OPERATION
Left Tool Area and Hardware Control Tools
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ZEISS
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