Configuring an X-JOY3 Joystick Controller for use with Zaber Nucleus™ Microscopes

X-JOY3 Joystick Controller

Save time and simplify system operation with intuitive control over the Zaber Nucleus Microscopes

The X-JOY3 joystick is a module within the Nucleus™ automated microscopy platform. The Nucleus platform provides a complete set of interchangeable hardware modules and software tools for building your bespoke inverted or upright standalone microscope or optical subsystem. A joystick can be added to your microscope order using the online microscope configurator tool. While optional, the X-JOY3 is a highly recommended companion module for Nucleus microscopes.

While all functions of Nucleus microscopes can be controlled on Windows, MacOS, and Linux via Zaber Launcher software, the X-JOY3 delivers intuitive control over the positioning and focus of samples without taking your eyes off the of your live-view. It can also be quickly configured to control multiple parameters with a single button press, saving you time by switching illumination wavelength and intensity, and filter cube selection simultaneously. Preset functions help you produce more reliable results with consistent imaging procedures that perform the same actions in the same sequence every time.

For users planning to automate their microscopy workflow, the X-JOY3 is a valuable tool which can speed up the configuring and testing systems. Once your system is set up and optimized, you can remove the controller from the system without impacting any other aspect of the systems performance.

Configuration

The standard functions of the X-JOY3 can be overwritten or modified to customize control of your Nucleus microscope such as the MVR inverted microscope. Adjusting the speed and acceleration of the focus movement can be helpful to provide finer control with high magnification optics, or higher speed for low magnification optics. Actions can be mapped to both pressing and releasing buttons, ensuring sets of actions are always executed sequentially. Different actions can mapped to short and long (>2 second) button presses.

The configuration of the X-JOY3 can also be updated to provide control over additional Zaber devices such as filter wheels or micromanipulators which may be present on your system. The X-JOY3 configuration tool is included in the Zaber Launcher Software.

The controller can also be reset to its default configuration by loading the basic MVR profile file. To reload the configuration file:

1. Download the configuration file from here
2. Extract the configuration file
3. Ensure the X-JOY3 is connected to your PC via an X-USBCD either directly or as a link in a daisy-chain
4. Open Zaber Launcher and select the Joystick App under the "All Applications" tab (Fig. 2)

• Select the COMM Port which your X-JOY3 joystick is plugged into from the upper device panel

• Click on the three dots in the upper right corner to access the configuration file menu. (Fig. 4)

• Click Load from File and select the previously extracted configuration file

To save custom functions to the X-JOY3 in the legacy Zaber Console software, ensure the Auto Refresh feature is unchecked under the Options tab, then click the Write button in the upper right corner of the Joystick window once your desired configuration has been created.

Reference Configurations

For easy and intuitive control of the most used microscope functions, the X-JOY3 controllers shipped with Nucleus microscopes come pre-programmed. The specific mapping your system will ship with will depend on the modules your system includes and the order those devices are connected in. Joystick configuration files for the most common Nucleus systems and printable reference "cheat sheets" are available below: