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Hardware Guide
Version 1.4 rev 23 Oct 2017
Apogee Aspen Series
andor.com
©
Andor Technology Ltd. 2017

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Summary of Contents for Oxford Instruments Andor Apogee Aspen Series

  • Page 1 Hardware Guide Version 1.4 rev 23 Oct 2017 Apogee Aspen Series andor.com © Andor Technology Ltd. 2017...
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Aspen TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION ..................6 TECHNICAL SUPPORT ..................6 DISCLAIMER ....................... 7 COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTIVE NOTICES ............7 TRADEMARKS AND PATENT INFORMATION ........... 7 ABOUT ANDOR APOGEE CAMERAS ..............7 REVISION HISTORY .................... 7 SUPPLIED COMPONENTS ................. 8 1.7.1 S ................
  • Page 3 Aspen SECTION 4: SETTING UP MAXIM DL SOFTWARE TO CONTROL YOUR ASPEN CAMERA ......................18 SECTION 5: CONNECTING YOUR CAMERA ............. 23 MOUNTING YOUR CAMERA ................23 CONNECTING THE POWER AND SIGNAL CABLES ........24 SECTION 6: MAINTENANCE ..................25 GENERAL CLEANING INFORMATION .............
  • Page 4 Aspen SECTION 8: SPECIFICATIONS ..................32 ASPEN– GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS ............. 32 MODEL SPECIFIC SPECIFICATIONS ............... 32 CAMERA MODELS AND CAMERA HOUSINGS..........32 ASPEN MECHANICAL DRAWINGS ..............33 8.4.1 g01 ......................33 8.4.2 g07 ......................34 8.4.3 g09 ......................35 SECTION 9: FILTER WHEEL INSTALLATION .............. 36 INTRODUCTION AND SETUP ................
  • Page 5 Aspen PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION FIRST If the equipment is used in a manner not specified by Andor, the protection provided by the equipment may be impaired. Before using the system, please follow and adhere to all warnings, safety, manual handling and operating instructions located either on the product, supplied documentation, or in this guide.
  • Page 6: Section 1: Introduction

    Aspen SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION Thank you and congratulations for purchasing your Andor Apogee Camera. This Owner’s Operating Manual will help you discover, install and use your camera with the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems. USB and Ethernet camera systems are supported by the Windows 7 32 and 64 bit operating systems. Please refer to your software guide for information on camera control and imaging software.
  • Page 7: Disclaimer

    Aspen 1.2 D iSclaimer THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY, CONDITION OR REPRESENTATION OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
  • Page 8: Supplied Components

    Aspen 1.7 S upplieD omponenTS 1.7.1 S TanDarD upplieD TemS Description Quantity Apogee Aspen Camera (Camera housing and CCD sensor model as ordered) Starter Kit CD Ethernet Cable Country USB Cable specific power (15 ft) cable Power Supply 1.7.2 o pTional TemS There is a wide range of optional accessories for the Apogee Aspen.
  • Page 9: Section 2: Product Overview

    Aspen SECTION 2: PRODUCT OVERVIEW The following section provides a brief overview of the external features and connections of the Aspen series of cameras. 2.1 i nTroDucing The nDor pogee Spen The Aspen is the latest in design innovation in the Apogee Camera range that follows the successful Alta camera family. Aspen increases cooling performance in a smaller package, improves stray light baffling and adds a Network interface with a built-in web server and sets a new standard in shutter reliability.
  • Page 10: Description Of External Features

    Aspen 2.2 D eScripTion of xTernal feaTureS Cooling fans with thermoelectric coolers located below Figure 2: View of Aspen showing Cooling fans Shutter Power input Ethernet Status LEDs Camera I/O port Figure 3: View of Aspen Shutter and Connection Panel Version 1.4 rev 23 Oct 2017...
  • Page 11: Ower And S Ignal C Onnections

    Aspen 2.2.1 p ower anD ignal onnecTionS WARNINGS • Do not connect the camera to a PC before installing the drivers. If you do and the “Add New Hardware Wizard” appears, please select the Cancel button. Never connect or disconnect the camera from an operating computer.
  • Page 12 Aspen Each LVTTL signal of the I/O Port has two modes of operation. The signal may be used as a general purpose and user- defined I/O pin, or it may be configured to perform a predefined/fixed-function operation. After initialization, the I/O Port defaults to having the signals set as user-defined.
  • Page 13: Section 3: Installing Your Aspen Camera Software

    Aspen SECTION 3: INSTALLING YOUR ASPEN CAMERA SOFTWARE Before attempting to connect or operate your camera, make sure you have the correct software installed on your computer. Once the software is installed as outlined in this section, proceed with installation of the hardware. 3.1 i nSTall pDaTe...
  • Page 14: Install The Camera Control Software

    Aspen 3.2 i nSTall The amera onTrol ofTware The following sections outline the steps for installation of MaxIm DL software. For other software such as Windows SDK for Apogee, refer to the information supplied for guidelines on installation instructions. 3.2.1 i nSTall •...
  • Page 15: Using Your Aspen Camera On A Network

    Aspen 3.4 u Sing your Spen amera on a eTwork Apogee Aspen cameras can be connected to a PC via a network connection. Camera network settings can be configured through any common web browser. 3.4.1 S eTTing up your Spen camera for uSe on a eTwork If you do not already know the camera IP address, you can use the ApogeeCameraInfo utility to help locate the camera.
  • Page 16 Aspen • The default user name is admin. • The default password is password. • Enter these into their respective fields and press the OK button. The Network page The Network page contains the network settings for the camera. From this page, the camera can be configured with a static IP address.
  • Page 17 Aspen The Advanced page The Advanced page is used for setting a new password on the camera system. This page also contains a network timeout number. The timeout can be used to control how long a session can remain inactive before it is automatically closed.
  • Page 18: Section 4: Setting Up Maxim Dl Software To Control Your

    Aspen SECTION 4: SETTING UP MAXIM DL SOFTWARE TO CONTROL YOUR ASPEN CAMERA MaxIm DL, a product from Diffraction Limited, is a powerful camera control and image processing package. The MaxIm DL software package has an extensive user’s guide, which provides details into setting up the software and getting started.
  • Page 19 Aspen The first step is to specify the location of the camera. For cameras with a network interface, select Ethernet, enter the IP address of the camera, and set Device Number to its TCP port number. If the camera is selected as USB, only the Device Number control is available;...
  • Page 20 Aspen 12. The Exposure and Shutter Options include a camera Mode drop-down whose entries depend on the specific camera in use. In Normal mode the software controls both the start time and duration of the exposure. In Kinetics mode the sensor must be masked so that a specified number of full-width but reduced-height images known as sections can be rapidly acquired on a single CCD frame.
  • Page 21 Aspen 21. The settings on the Apogee Advanced Camera Setup dialog are intended for advanced users. 22. The Gain and Offset for Fast digitization mode can be changed from their factory values: you must unclick the Defaults button to unlock the edit boxes. The Gain for Normal mode is not adjustable, but its value is displayed.
  • Page 22 Aspen 24. Flush Vertical Binning allows you to override the vertical binning factor used during camera flushing. Ordinarily you should use the Default setting. 25. The Apogee Camera Selection Dialog is displayed when the Discover... button is clicked. Select USB 2.0 and/or Ethernet (Aspen only).
  • Page 23: Section 5: Connecting Your Camera

    Aspen CONNECTING YOUR CAMERA SECTION 5: CONNECTING YOUR CAMERA WARNINGS • Refer to the safety and warning information at the start of this manual and Section 8 before installing and using this product. • Do not connect your Camera to a PC before installing the drivers. If you do and the “Add New Hardware” wizard appears, please select the cancel button.
  • Page 24: Connecting The Power And Signal Cables

    Aspen CONNECTING YOUR CAMERA 5.2 c onnecTing The ower anD ignal ableS Refer to Section 2.2.1 for a description of power and signal connections. Note: Ensure that the mains power cable can be accessed in case that emergency disconnection from the mains power supply is required.
  • Page 25: Section 6: Maintenance

    Aspen SECTION 6: MAINTENANCE 6.1 g eneral leaning nformaTion • The aluminium camera body can be cleaned with a soft cloth and glass cleaner. • Never spray liquids directly on the camera; apply cleaning solution to the cloth, then wipe the camera body with the dampened cloth.
  • Page 26: Ools Equired

    Aspen 6.2.1 T oolS equireD • Compressed Air Can • Optics Brush 6.2.2 w inDow leaning roceDure Remove the camera from your telescope and place it on a clean dry surface. Use the camera control software to open the shutter. TIP: If your program does not have this feature, try starting a long exposure.
  • Page 27: G Uidelines For Using C Ompressed A Ir

    Aspen A new window will appear, click Open Shutter. The shutter should open immediately. 6.2.3 g uiDelineS for uSing ompreSSeD • If you are using a compressed air can always test-blast away from window before blowing air on the window. When you test-blast, you’ll notice a spray of condensation shoot out from the can. •...
  • Page 28: Regular Checks

    Aspen Make sure to use compressed air to clean your adapter tubes and focal reducers as well so you don’t get more dust once everything’s assembled. 6.3 r egular heckS The state of the product should be checked regularly, especially the integrity of the camera enclosure and the mains cable.
  • Page 29: Section 7: Using Your Aspen Camera

    Aspen SECTION 7: USING YOUR ASPEN CAMERA Digital imaging and image processing forms the core of modern astronomy. Much of what we know about the structure and behaviour of planets, stars, interstellar clouds, galaxies and the universe that surrounds us has been gleaned from processing pictures exposed through telescopes.
  • Page 30: Flat Field Correction

    Aspen 7.4 f ielD orrecTion This procedure corrects for the variation in pixel sensitivity across the chip. As an added bonus, this procedure can also remove the shadow of debris that may have fallen into the camera’s light path. Therefore, in addition to raw images of celestial objects, dark images, and bias images, the astrophotographer should also collect one or more flat field images while at the telescope.
  • Page 31: Field Of View And Scale

    Aspen 7.7 f ielD of iew anD cale When visually observing, larger telescopes are better than smaller because big apertures collect and focus more light at the eyepiece. For CCD imaging, however, focal ratio has a greater impact because the telescope’s focal ratio determines how much light is accumulated by the CCD chip during the exposure.
  • Page 32: Section 8: Specifications

    Aspen SECTION 8: SPECIFICATIONS Refer to the specification sheet specific to your camera model as technical specifications will vary with sensor type and camera configuration. Depending on the sensor, the housing may be either a G01, G07 or G09 (Section 8.3). 8.1 a –...
  • Page 33: Aspen Mechanical Drawings

    Aspen 8.4 a Spen echanical rawingS 8.4.1 g01 Version 1.4 rev 23 Oct 2017...
  • Page 34: 8.4.2 G07

    Aspen 8.4.2 g07 Version 1.4 rev 23 Oct 2017...
  • Page 35: 8.4.3 G09

    Aspen 8.4.3 g09 Version 1.4 rev 23 Oct 2017...
  • Page 36: Section 9: Filter Wheel Installation

    Aspen SECTION 9: FILTER WHEEL INSTALLATION 9.1 i nTroDucTion anD eTup Apogee USB Filter Wheels are optimized for the USB 2.0 interface, while also supporting backward compatibility with older USB 1.1 connections. We recommend the following steps for getting your new Filter Wheel up and running as quickly as possible: 1) Install the latest Apogee Drivers 2) Install the MaxIm DL application software 3) Connect to the Filter Wheel using MaxIm DL...
  • Page 37: D River I Nstallation

    Aspen 9.2.1 D river nSTallaTion WARNING: Do not connect your camera to a PC before installing the drivers. If you do and the “Add New Hardware Wizard” appears, please select the Cancel button. Make sure your Windows user account has administrator privileges. Double click on the setupApogeeDriver for your operating system type, 32 or 64 bit.
  • Page 38 Aspen A dialog box will appear for setting up the filter positions. Select Apogee USB/Net from the “Filter or Controlling Camera Model” pull down list. This driver works with all Apogee Filter Wheels controlled via USB or Ethernet, as well as wheels controlled through the camera.
  • Page 39: Filter Wheel Installation

    Aspen 9.5 f ilTer heel nSTallaTion This section outlines the filter wheel installation process (the images are shown for an Alta camera with a AFW50-9R) . For dual filter wheel installations please contact your Andor representative for further information. 9.5.1 i nSTalling ilTerS Set the Filter Wheel on clean flat surface and remove the two #10-32 x 7/16 buttonhead screws from the...
  • Page 40 Aspen Carefully install the filters into openings of carousel. Only touch the filters at the outer edges and never touch the center of a filter. When holding filters always use some kind of protection such as gloves or the glass packing material.
  • Page 41 Aspen 3mm Thick Filters: 1X #4-40 x 3/16, Buttonhead Screw 1X #4 Nylon Washer 5mm Thick Filters: 1X #4-40 x 1/4, Buttonhead Screw 1X #4 Nylon Washer 1X #4 Nylon Spacer 7mm Thick Filters: 1X #4-40 x 5/16, Buttonhead Screw 1X #4 Nylon Washer 3X #4 Nylon Spacer Now that all the filters have been installed take a moment to blow out the housing in case of any dust or debris.
  • Page 42: Ounting The Ilter Heel To The Amera

    Aspen 9.5.2 m ounTing The ilTer heel To The amera Mount the adapter flange to the front of your camera using M4 7 x 10mm flathead screws. Make sure counter sunk features are facing up so screws mount flush with adapter surface. There are two hole patterns machined into the flange to accommodate different camera sizes.
  • Page 43: Ttaching The Amera To Other Ptical Quipment

    Aspen 9.5.3 a TTaching The amera To oTher pTical quipmenT Attach your adapter using the center threaded 3-24 TPI center hole or the 4x #10-32 UNF-2B x .250 deep threaded holes. Integrate the Filter Wheel and camera into your system and start imaging! 9.6 S eTup uggeSTionS...
  • Page 44: Section 10: Troubleshooting

    Aspen SECTION 10: TROUBLESHOOTING Problem Solution The motor is turning but the wheel is • Check to make sure the belt is on the motor pulley correctly. If the not. motor is turning but the pulley is not, tighten the motor pulley set screw, being careful not to strip the set screw.
  • Page 45: Appendix A: Other Information

    Aspen APPENDIX A: OTHER INFORMATION erms and ondiTions of ale and arranTy nformaTion The terms and conditions of sale, including warranty conditions, will have been made available during the ordering process. The current version may be viewed at: www.andor.com/pdfs/literature/Andor_Standard_Warranty.pdf 2006 (Weee) asTe leCTroniC and leCTriCal...

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