Modding a Nikon MM-11

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Smokedaddy
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Modding a Nikon MM-11

Post by Smokedaddy »

This is my second MM-11. I snagged this particular one, as shown, via eBay for practically nothing months ago and have done absolutely nothing to it. I simply couldn't pass it up for the price. I figured it is about time to start modding it and putting it to use. I have machining and fabrication tools, the ability to use them, a 3D printer and CAD skills but no ideas. Looking for some creative useful *ideas* from those of you wishing to comment on this project.

I haven't given it a *lot* of thought on how to accomplished this but I am more than willing to modify the column, if possible, to make this rig into a combination horizontal/vertical rig by tilting the column, scrap the tilt stage etc., whatever.

Image

-JW:

apt403
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Post by apt403 »

Does the tilt stage also rotate? Totally out of left field, but it's been on my mind a lot lately: A macro-photogrammetry rig.

Turn down the lead screws on the tilt stage knobs to couple some NEMA 11 or 14 motors, drill and tap the stage + 3D print some brackets for mounting the steppers.

Might need a spacer on the vertical focus block to position the camera lens in-line with the stage's center of rotation.

Be a pretty nifty little setup. I'm just entering into the world of photogrammetry myself, but it seems like the next logical step up from deep, high res focus stacks is 3D imaging that can use the stacks as textures.

Need to tweak my 3-axis rotary stage build (X-tilt/Y-tilt/rotational) before I can really dive into that world myself.

Smokedaddy
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Post by Smokedaddy »

apt403 wrote:Does the tilt stage also rotate? Totally out of left field, but it's been on my mind a lot lately: A macro-photogrammetry rig ....
Yea, that's the concept. No, the tilt stage doesn't rotate but I have one that does. Just looking for something different to do.

-JW:

apt403
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Post by apt403 »

Smokedaddy wrote:
apt403 wrote:Does the tilt stage also rotate? Totally out of left field, but it's been on my mind a lot lately: A macro-photogrammetry rig ....
Yea, that's the concept. No, the tilt stage doesn't rotate but I have one that does. Just looking for something different to do.

-JW:
My previous post was vague - By photogrammetry, I'm referring to creating 3D models (.obj/.stl/.stp files) using a program such as Meshroom. Mechanically very similar to a stack and stitch rig, but requires perspective changes to compute surface topology. A tilting stage would probably work pretty well for that sort of thing. If you understood what I meant, 1000x apologies.

Ignoring that, what about a dedicated setup for an imaging variant you don't have covered yet - Autofluorescence maybe?

Smokedaddy
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Post by Smokedaddy »

apt403 wrote:
Smokedaddy wrote:
apt403 wrote:Does the tilt stage also rotate? Totally out of left field, but it's been on my mind a lot lately: A macro-photogrammetry rig ....
Yea, that's the concept. No, the tilt stage doesn't rotate but I have one that does. Just looking for something different to do.

-JW:
My previous post was vague - By photogrammetry, I'm referring to creating 3D models (.obj/.stl/.stp files) using a program such as Meshroom. Mechanically very similar to a stack and stitch rig, but requires perspective changes to compute surface topology. A tilting stage would probably work pretty well for that sort of thing. If you understood what I meant, 1000x apologies.

Ignoring that, what about a dedicated setup for an imaging variant you don't have covered yet - Autofluorescence maybe?
Absolutely no apologies needed whatsoever. Cool, being creative. Sounds very interesting to me if doable, by me. Actually I have wanted to do that for a few years now. About 3 years ago I experimented with VisualSFM to generate 3D models but not with microscope setup. I've also generated 3D models of Lunar and Mars craters using DTM from the University of Arizona and Blender. Even printed quite a few. Someone here on the forums was doing that but the software, Agisoft Photoscan Pro, was to expensive "for me" so I didn't pursue it because of the cost. His name is Jörgen Hellberg (AKA - JH) Pretty impressive from my perspective. I don't recall what his setup is to actually take the images set.

Here's one of the threads;

https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/ ... hp?t=35297

... and the video (which is in the thread);

https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/oyster- ... 1f4cddc11f

On another note is Meshroom opensource, if so, that would be interesting. VisualSFM was quite complex to use and is opensource but it's a super old program.

You might find this link interesting (start at the bottom). It's not microscopy but still interesting. Lots of information here.

https://dinosaurpalaeo.wordpress.com/?s=tutorial

I haven't a clue what Autofluorescence is. I'm not one of the smarter one of the group here in this field but always interesting in learning.

I'm also not sure how well this would work on the majority of subjects I like to photograph, at least with a microscope. <g>

-JW:

apt403
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Post by apt403 »

Thanks for the links! Those are some impressive results; shells certainly aren't the easiest thing to capture, with all the nooks and crannies.

I know what you mean re Agisoft - They seem to be the major player in this world, but I'd need to figure out how to monetize this hobby before I could justify buying their software!

Yes, Meshroom is open source under the Mozilla license - It's based around the AliceVision framework that was developed by a few universities and a vid. fx company. Seems to be actively developed, based on the Github commits.

Autofluorescence uses UV light to cause fluorescence in imaging subjects. As far as I understand, it's a pain for normal fluorescence microscopy, where it muddles up the light from fluorescent dyes. Charles Krebs experimented with doing it on a budget with some Thor Labs barrier filters and cheap UV flashlights:

https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/ ... hp?t=33123
https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/ ... p?p=211897
https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/ ... p?p=204608

I'm really excited about playing around with the technique myself, once I take the time to sit down and figure out a clever way to mount a 25mm filter in the infinity space on my ~52mm tube setup.

More spitballing here; this stand could make a decent starting point for a scanning laser microscope:

http://www.gaudi.ch/GaudiLabs/?page_id=652
https://hackaday.com/2017/02/15/speaker ... icroscope/
https://www.instructables.com/id/Laser- ... icroscope/

Seems like the DIY builds are achieving some pretty impressive resolutions, compared to traditional optical microscopy.

And another: A holographic microscope. No optics to speak of, superior depth of field, you get an image similar to a phase contrast setup, etc. Haven't looked too far into this technique, but seems interesting (links are direct PDFs):

https://arxiv.org/pdf/1211.0336.pdf
https://me.jhu.edu/lefd/shc/LPholo/Digi ... Camera.pdf
EDIT, Fixed link: https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/abstra ... 5-14-16652
Last edited by apt403 on Wed Jun 26, 2019 2:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

pbraub
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Post by pbraub »

your last link is broken (for me)
is this the publication you were referring to?
https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/abstra ... 5-14-16652

apt403
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Post by apt403 »

pbraub wrote:your last link is broken (for me)
is this the publication you were referring to?
https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/abstra ... 5-14-16652
Yes! Thanks for pointing that out.


Here are a few more links on the technique, in the interest of keeping these posts informationally dense:

https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/hand ... h_2010.pdf
http://faculty.cas.usf.edu/mkkim/papers ... 018005.pdf

RobertOToole
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Post by RobertOToole »

Congrats on the new project JW.

For the record that is not a Nikon MM-11. Those scopes are made for a company called Zygo.

https://www.zygo.com/

I have a few of those sitting around if anyone is interested in buying one, with or without tilt stage.

BTW that Z column brake alone is worth the $. The Nikon MMs don't have these, at least my MM models don't have them, and after some close calls I had mark the column to prevent me from trying to focus the stage off the track and crashing onto the subject stage below.

Best,

Robert

Smokedaddy
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Post by Smokedaddy »

RobertOToole wrote:Congrats on the new project JW.

For the record that is not a Nikon MM-11. Those scopes are made for a company called Zygo.

https://www.zygo.com/

I have a few of those sitting around if anyone is interested in buying one, with or without tilt stage.

BTW that Z column brake alone is worth the $. The Nikon MMs don't have these, at least my MM models don't have them, and after some close calls I had mark the column to prevent me from trying to focus the stage off the track and crashing onto the subject stage below.

Best,

Robert
Interesting. The add said MM-11. <g> BTW, the 'casting' is identical on the column, the base and even the lamphouse boss as my MM-11 so I didn't question it. So if true, would you happen to have an 'extra' nosepiece that mounts to the column that you would sell> You know, that holds the turret etc.

-JW:

Image

RobertOToole
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Post by RobertOToole »

Smokedaddy wrote: Interesting. The add said MM-11. <g> BTW, the 'casting' is identical on the column, the base and even the lamphouse boss as my MM-11 so I didn't question it. So if true, would you happen to have an 'extra' nosepiece that mounts to the column that you would sell> You know, that holds the turret etc.
I only know since I have a couple. Notice how it doesnt say Nikon anywhere also :D

I will dig up the catalog and post a link to share. I have it someplace on my HDD.

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Post by RobertOToole »

Found it JW.



Image

Smokedaddy
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Post by Smokedaddy »

Yes, that's because they've taken off the cover plates on the front and rear that say Nikon. I still say my casting, all the cover plates, all the drilled holes in the base and elsewhere, even the cover plate on the back of the column are identical. So they're both using the same casting.

Sure would like to have a nosepiece turret adapter thing if you have one laying round. I'd like to know what it's called too if you know.

-JW:

RobertOToole
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Post by RobertOToole »

Smokedaddy wrote:Yes, that's because they've taken off the cover plates on the front and rear that say Nikon. I still say my casting, all the cover plates, all the drilled holes in the base and elsewhere, even the cover plate on the back of the column are identical. So they're both using the same casting.

Sure would like to have a nosepiece turret adapter thing if you have one laying round. I'd like to know what it's called too if you know.

-JW:
You never know it could be some small little company in Japan private labeling and supplying Nikon at the same time. :D

Just thought you might want to see what the full scope looks like anyway. :)

Smokedaddy
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Post by Smokedaddy »

Yea, I'm sure that was the case. Sure would like to have that puppy in working condition of course. <g> I have a few Wyko, Dektak Mirau interferometer objectives. BTW, I recall when you snagged a similar unit. If you recall I sent you the .PDF manual for the Maxim 3D 5700 and 5800 (not they did you any good).

Image

-JW:

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