B&W-tech Spectrometer & 473 module: Setup+Mods+Info

[paul1598419]

It has been awhile since last I played with one of these, but I found, early on, that the fiber optic cables that came with these laser/spectrometers isn't the greatest for use with these. Fortunately, I had an Ocean Optics 1 meter long cable that seemed to work much better than either the red or orange fiber optic cable. I can't say what results you might get with a totally different cable, but I believe it is worth a try.

 

[Richard A]

It has been awhile since last I played with one of these, but I found, early on, that the fiber optic cables that came with these laser/spectrometers isn't the greatest for use with these. Fortunately, I had an Ocean Optics 1 meter long cable that seemed to work much better than either the red or orange fiber optic cable. I can't say what results you might get with a totally different cable, but I believe it is worth a try.

Hi Paul,

Looks like I'll be poking around on eBay.
I suppose I can measure the response of the cable by putting another of the same type in series after establishing a white light reference.

Thanks.

 

[Richard A]

The spectral response of the CCD doesn't help either.
I probably can calibrate it with my pyroelectric laser probe and a monochromator.

 

[paul1598419]

Hi, Richard. The cable I have is an Ocean Optics QBIF400-UV-VIS # OOS-004408-04 cable with two equal legs that is 1 meter long from end to ends. The response on this spectrometer cleaned up considerably once I switch over to using it. Take that, for what it's worth.

 

[Richard A]

Hi, Richard. The cable I have is an Ocean Optics QBIF400-UV-VIS # OOS-004408-04 cable with two equal legs that is 1 meter long from end to ends. The response on this spectrometer cleaned up considerably once I switch over to using it. Take that, for what it's worth.

Looks like I'll have to wait for that one to pop up or find something similar.
The core on the stock Amphenol cable looks bigger than 400um.
I bet the smaller opening on your cable helps too.

 

[paul1598419]

The ends on the Ocean Optics cable are not equal in size. The opening to the single leg is quite large while the two equal leg's openings are much smaller. These are to be used to collect light from whatever sources you are using. The size of the core and its composition may also be a factor.

 

[Civitus]

Dear all,
I have been playing around with the spectrometers (i have 4, two that i have already burned ...)
I took off the low pass filter and i saw that the spectrometer is no longer alligned and I have to re-alligne it.
Did any one did this operation after remouving the lowpass filter from the slit?
do you have any step by step procedure?
Thank you for the help
C

 

[chloderic]

Dear all,
I have been playing around with the spectrometers (i have 4, two that i have already burned ...)
I took off the low pass filter and i saw that the spectrometer is no longer alligned and I have to re-alligne it.
Did any one did this operation after remouving the lowpass filter from the slit?
do you have any step by step procedure?
Thank you for the help
C

Hi Civitus,
maybe you have moved the slit a little bit while removing the filter ... is it already at the correct place ?

 

[Civitus]

Hi Civitus,
maybe you have moved the slit a little bit while removing the filter ... is it already at the correct place ?

Many thanks Chloderic four your answer,
In fact, i was very very careful when i remouved the filter, and i am "quite sure" thatit is in its place,
I was thinking that may be i had modified the "light path" when i remouved it.

It is why i am asking if other have seen such effect?
Also ... i am goign to put back tonight and i will see if the allignement comes back.
But what would be very helpful, is to know if any one have remouved the filter and still have the allignmenet correct,


thank you again
C

 

[paul1598419]

I had no alignment issues after removing the filter from the slit. Hope this helps.

 

[chloderic]

Many thanks Chloderic four your answer,
In fact, i was very very careful when i remouved the filter, and i am "quite sure" thatit is in its place,
I was thinking that may be i had modified the "light path" when i remouved it.

It is why i am asking if other have seen such effect?
Also ... i am goign to put back tonight and i will see if the allignement comes back.
But what would be very helpful, is to know if any one have remouved the filter and still have the allignmenet correct,


thank you again
C

I removerd the filter from 4 devices with no problems after this , but ... have you removed the whole part by unscrewing the 3 screws ... ?
Or have you only loosen the one which holds the little tube with filter and picked the tube of . That means the slit has not to be touched ... but you can move and rotate the slit inside of its own housing if not all screws are fixed.

 

[Civitus]

I removerd the filter from 4 devices with no problems after this , but ... have you removed the whole part by unscrewing the 3 screws ... ?
Or have you only loosen the one which holds the little tube with filter and picked the tube of . That means the slit has not to be touched ... but you can move and rotate the slit inside of its own housing if not all screws are fixed.

I see ...
I have remouved all the slit with the three screws .. i had no tighny screwdriver ...
So, i think that definitly, you are right, the problem is not in the filter but in the allignement of the slit.
Many thanks for the precious help

To my turn to share a news for those who are interrested, Spectragryph have a version of its software that lets you control the BW Tek spectrometer and it is terrific with all the options of a research software.
https://www.effemm2.de/spectragryph/about.html

Thanks guys for the help
C

 

[Richard A]

I removerd the filter from 4 devices with no problems after this , but ... have you removed the whole part by unscrewing the 3 screws ... ?
Or have you only loosen the one which holds the little tube with filter and picked the tube of . That means the slit has not to be touched ... but you can move and rotate the slit inside of its own housing if not all screws are fixed.

I took the whole thing out and never bothered checking the orientation of the slit.
The issues I'm having could also be due to a partially rotated slit.
I also did everything with the spectrometer upside down to minimize dust contamination.
Thanks. I'll have to check that when I get back to my state.

 

[kecked]

Once you go ocean optics you’ll never look back

 

[Civitus]

Once you go ocean optics you’ll never look back

@ Kecked,
You have in your description :
BW TEK-2000nm/800nm/400nm moved gratings

Do you mean that you have changed the grating of your spectrometer ?

Thanks

C

 

[kecked]

I don't remember anymore. Once I went with the ocean optics stuff I never looked back. Essentially all I did was rotate the grating so I saw a different part of the spectrum and then calibrated on know sources. I made no attempt to filter second orders but I don't think it was ever a factor.