JS300 3-axis joystick

For use with confocal microscopes, our 3-axis AS3000B or AS3000i/AS3500 stages are quite suitable. However, many users only require single-axis (focus) control. In that event, we recommend our AS3500 focus-only stages. Our stages offer a significant accuracy advantage over the conventional method of driving the microscope focus mechanism with a motor : the microscope mechanism is not intended for motorised operation, and quickly wears out, making it useless for confocal microscope applications. For these applications, it is essential to be able to repeat accurate focus stepping over a period of time, and to be able to accurately return to previously chosen focus positions. This is not possible once the microscope focus mechanism has been subjected to wear and tear.

Although our stages can be attached to most microscope brands and models, we recommend the use of high-quality brands, such as Zeiss, Leica, Nikon or Olympus. Of course, our stages will work with both transmitted and reflected light. In the case of Zeiss microscopes, our stages fit directly. In the case of the Leica and Nikon brands, we provide an adapter plate free of charge. In the case of Olympus microscopes, it is necessary for the customer to purchase a spare stage carrier, which we need to modify (free of charge). Our AS3000i stage can be fitted to inverted microscopes. Please contact us for details and pricing.

New design 3-axis AS3000B stage; movement : 50 x 75 mm horizontal (2 micron repeatability); 3 mm vertical (sub-micron repeatability).
EL300 electronic controller with all necessary connecting cables
JS300 joystick controller / keypad
SW100 Autoscan Software Development Kit (ASDK) OR SW500 Trakscan application software with user manual
DeLuxe Transit case for above; tool to mount stage to microscope

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AS3500 high-precision 1-axis (focus only) microscope stage system,
suitable for confocal microscopy and other applications which do not require X-Y movement.

Includes the following items and features :

New design 1-axis AS3500 stage; 3 mm vertical movement with sub-micron repeatability.
EL300 electronic controller with all necessary connecting cables
JS300 joystick controller / keypad
SW100 Autoscan Software Development Kit (ASDK)
DeLuxe Transit case for above; tool to mount stage to microscope

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AS3000i high-precision 2-axis microscope stage,
suitable for use with inverted microscopes.

Includes the following items and features :

New design AS3000i 2-axis high-precision stage; scans 2 standard microscope slides; 2 micron repeatability.
Can be augmented through addition of our AS3500 (focus-only) stage (see details above),
which converts our AS3000i stage into a true 3-axis stage for inverted microscopes.
To our knowledge, this is the only true 3-axis stage system available for inverted microscopes.
EL300 electronic controller with all necessary connecting cables
JS300 joystick controller / keypad
SW100 Autoscan Software Development Kit (ASDK) OR SW500 Trakscan application software with user manual
DeLuxe Transit case for above; tool to mount stage to microscope

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Includes the following items and features :

New design 3-axis AS3000B stage; scans 2 standard microscope slides; 2 micron repeatability (see specifications above).
EL300 electronic controller with all necessary connecting cables
JS300 three-axis joystick controller / keypad
IBM-compatible Pentium-based computer, complete with frame grabber board
CCD camera
Digitiser tablet for track length measurement
SW500 Trakscan application software with user manual
DeLuxe Transit case for above; tool to mount stage to microscope
NB.: A drawing tube attachment for the microscope is required for use with digitiser (optional extra)

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Includes the following items and features :

New design 3-axis AS3000B stage; scans 2 standard microscope slides; 2 micron repeatability (see specifications above)
EL300 electronic controller with all necessary connecting cables
JS300 three-axis joystick controller / keypad
IBM-compatible Pentium-based computer, complete with image processor board
CCD camera
SW1000 AutoScope(Alfascan for Windows) application software with user manual
DeLuxe Transit case for stage, joystick and controller; tool to mount stage to microscope

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To develop your own application software, we recommend the following configuration :

New design 3-axis AS3000 stage; scans 1 standard microscope slide; 2 micron repeatability (see specification above)
EL300 electronic controller with all necessary connecting cables
JS300 three-axis joystick controller / keypad
SW100 Autoscan Software Development Kit (ASDK)
Tool to mount stage to microscope

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The AC100 universal power supply is capable of functioning almost anywhere in the world - provided the appropriate power lead (with standard IEC connector) is used, this supply, which outputs the safe low voltage needed to operate our stage systems, will operate on a range of voltages from 85 to 264 Volts and a range of frequencies from 47 to 400 Hz. Where possible, we supply electrical plugs which match those in use in our client countries. We use the information shown in a table on the website of Korjo Pty. Ltd., a major manufacturer of adapter plugs and other travel products. Please check out the table shown under "Adapter Guide" at http://www.korjo.com and let us know if there are any inaccuracies for your area.

Our EL300 electronic controller, which is powered from the AC100 universal power supply, assumes all low-level stage control functions. All of our stages are fitted with electronics which communicate with the EL300 electronic controller. The stages also incorporate limit switches which detect movement of each stage into an inappropriate area at the limits of motion. The JS300 joystick (see below), connected to the electronic controller boxes, allows control of stage movement. The stages can be moved manually by using the manual control knobs for each axis mounted on each stage. When used in the motorised mode, the EL300 electronic controller units carry out the motor control functions at the lowest control level, thus relieving the computer (when used) of much of the detailed control activity.

The controllers are connected to our stages by cables which carry both the low voltage dc power for the motors and the digital signals which constitute the position feedback from the positional encoders on the motors, as well as the limit switch information. The controllers contain microprocessors which look after complicated low-level activities (such as the non-linear closed-loop PID control of the stages) and which also control the joysticks. The controllers, in turn, communicate bi-directionally with a PC via the RS232 serial communications port.

With the controller connected to a PC, and an appropriate program running on the PC, the stage can be moved :
a) manually, in the same way as an ordinary manual stage b) in "dumb" mode, using the joystick, and c) in PC controlled mode, using commands issued to the stage from the PC via the controller, either as raw codes or embedded in application software.

If the stage is moved manually in either the b) or c) modes above, but with the controller switched on, the electronics in the controller keep track of the stage movement, and thus 'know' the location of the stage at all times. Depending on the lengths one wishes to go to in creating appropriate user interface software, the stage commands can be issued in a number of ways, including :

1. as a "move to co-ordinates" command (either relative to the current co-ordinates, or relative to an arbitrary zero reference point),
2. as a pre-defined series of movements (such as moving on a pre-defined raster), or
3. using graphical modes, such as an on-screen representation of the image field (or 3-D image space), with a mouse dictating stage movements.

The resolution of our AS3000B, AS3000i, and AS3500 stages is 0.25 microns, with positioning repeatability of ± 2 microns in X and Y for the AS3000B and AS3000i. Resolution for the Z-axis component of the AS3000B and AS3500 models is 0.025 microns per step, with positioning repeatability of ± 0.2 microns. Full specifications on request.

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The JS300 joystick is a true 3-axis joystick, which also incorporates four pushbutton switches. The joystick is used by moving the control shaft left and right to move the stage in the X-axis, forward and backward to move the stage in the Y-axis, and twisting the joystick knob clockwise and anticlockwise to move the stage in the Z-axis. Increasing the shaft deflection increases the stage speed. The pushbutton switches are used for various purposes in the application software programs, but pushbutton "2" has a special function : it initiates the so-called "Turbo" mode. The Turbo mode allows the user to move the stage more quickly, for large movement steps. To use the Turbo mode, hold down Joystick Key 2 while moving the joystick. The joystick contains an LED indicator bar (situated in front of the joystick shaft) which shows that the joystick is powered up. As well as this, the indicator bar changes colour when either joystick key 2 or 4 (to the left and right of the joystick shaft) is pressed.

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Contact Details
Autoscan Systems Pty. Ltd.

Street Address :	4/293 Bay Street, Brighton 3186 Victoria Australia
Postal Address :	PO Box 112, Ormond 3204 Victoria Australia
Telephone :	+61 3 9596 8065 / +61 3 9596 8092
Facsimile :	+61 3 9596 8369
Email :
Geographic coordinates :	Lat. 37 deg. 52 min. South, 145 deg. East
Melway streetmap reference :	67 F9
Ham Radio World-Wide Locator (WW-LOC) :	QF 22 md
Webmaster (Mike Krochmal VK3KRO) :
NEW URL ! :	http://www.autoscan.com.au/

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