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Cleaning up

It is important that you clean up after yourself after using the microscope, as well as transferring and backing up your data.

  1. Transfer your images from the PC.
    1. Copy the files to a harddrive, upload it to the BioFrontiers servers, or to a cloud service (e.g. Google Drive). 
    2. Verify that the images transferred correctly by opening the image file(s).
    3. After verifying that the images are good, delete your images from the PC.

      Note: The imaging PCs are not for long-term storage. If space is needed, your files will be deleted with no prior warning.

  2. If on, turn off the perfect focus by pressing the button.

  3. Close Nikon Elements, selecting yes when the dialog box below appears
    closeNIS.png

  4. Remove your sample and the sample holder from the microscope.

  5. If you used the oil objective, clean the objective:



    1. First, wipe up excess oil by placing a clean lens paper over the objective. Wait a few seconds, then gently drag the paper in one direction to soak up the oil. NEVER place pressure on the paper to avoid scratching the objective.
    2. Wet both sides of a microdenier swab with Ethanol or Lens Cleaner/Sparkle

      swabPacket.jpgswab.jpg
    3. Gently set the flat side of the swab onto the objective lens. Without pushing down, rotate the swab a few times in one direction.
    4. Repeat the above step with the other side of the swab, and rotate in the opposite direction
    5. Place a fresh lens paper over the objective and place a drop or two of lens cleaning solution. Wait for a few seconds, then gently drag the paper in one direction.
      lensTissues.jpg
    6. Repeat e using ethanol.
      ethanol.jpg

  6. Lower the objective below 500 μm for safe storage.
  7. Turn off the environment chamber if using.
  8. Check the reservation calendar to see if anyone is booked within 1 hour. If not, follow the rest of the shut down procedure posted on the wall to turn off the microscope.
  9. An overview of the cleaning procedure can be found on under the microscope tutorials on our website: https://advancedimaging.colorado.edu/resources/microscopy-tutorials/
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