Nucleus® MSR Upright Fluorescence Microscopes Configurator

Total: $30,931
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AM109

Core Microscope Components

$19,245
Olympus Adaptors
5 x AM173M$490
Microscope Core
1 x MKR025C$14,229
Upright Tower
1 x MTR300A$2,457
Camera Tube
1 x MTC00L$2,069

Motorized Scanning Stage

$11,368
Motorized Stage
XY Stage Mounting Adaptors
1 x AP232$118
Insert - Microplates
1 x AM109$487

Cables and power

$318
Data Cable and Power Supply Kit
1 x $270
Cables
2 x X-DC06$48
Total Price$30,931
The Nucleus® MSR provides a reliable, scalable, and cost-effective foundation for automated high throughput imaging for life science, semiconductor inspection, and materials science. It supports industry-standard objectives, filters, and cameras, it includes a free, easy-to-use API that makes advanced automation and system integration straightforward.
Your selection will determine your system’s compatibility with either Olympus, Zeiss, or Nikon objectives. The optical performance of all systems is equivalent. Objective lenses are not included.

The Zeiss ICS optical system has an optional eyepiece module. This module cannot be used if a junction block is selected.

The optional eyepiece module includes both a C-mount camera port as well as binocular eyepieces. A manual switch allows the user to divert the image-forming either to the camera or the eyepieces. The light is diverted either 100% to the camera or 100% to the eyepieces - both can not be used simultaneously.

For more information on optical system selection, please refer to our article.
Stage Travel Range
(mm x mm)
Repeatability
(µm)
Capacity
X-ADR130B100B 130 x 100 0.5 (precision) 1 microplate
4 slides
1 petri dish
X-ADR250B100B 250 x 100 0.5 (precision) 2 microplates
8 slides
X-ASR100B120B 100 x 120 2 (standard) 1 microplate
4 slides
1 petri dish
X-ASR205B205B 205 x 205 2 (standard) 2 microplates
1 200 x 200 wafer
X-ASR305B305B 305 x 305 2 (standard) 6 microplates
1 300 x 300 wafer
Typically, our X-ADR130B100B or X-ASR100B120B stages are suitable for most customers and applications. The X-ADR is a direct drive motorized stage that features near-zero backlash and provides the best repeatability we can offer. The X-ASR is a more cost effective screw drive option that still allows for precise imaging of a single slide.

Stage travel is typically determined by the size of the sample being imaged. For a single microplate, slide or petri dish, 120 mm x 100 mm travel will be sufficient. For maximum walk-away time, the 305 mm x 305 mm ASR stage can hold up to six standard microplates.

For a complete explanation of specifications impacted by XY stage selection, see our article on XY stage selection.

Stage Microplates (qty) Slides (qty) Universal
X-ADR130B100B AM109 (1) AM242 (4) AM108
X-ADR250B100B AM230 (2) AM231 (8)
X-ASR100B120B AM109 (1) AM242 (4) AM108
X-ASR205B205B AM223 (2)
X-ASR305B305B AM224 (6)
The configurator will automatically add in the correct stage insert based on your desired scanning targets.

Some motorized scanning stages will support a larger variety of stage inserts than others. For a complete explanation of specifications impacted by XY stage selection, see our article on XY stage selection
The epi-illuminator provides high intensity light matching the excitation wavelengths of many common fluorophores. Epi-fluorescence imaging requires the appropriate filter sets mounted in Zeiss "Push & Click" filter cubes. These must be purchased separately.

To use a third party light source for epi-illumination, select the MLG3A.
Epi-illuminator Features
MLR3A-T13A 3-channel (385, 473, 568 nm)
MLR3B-T13A 3-channel (385, white, 625 nm)
MLG3A 3rd party adaptor - 3 mm core liquid light guide - supports field number of 20 mm
For additional information on epi-illumination, please refer to our article.
The MLL low profile transmitted illuminator provides basic transmitted illumination for Nucleus upright microscopes. A simple collector and diffuser design provides high intensity and uniformity for basic bright-field imaging tasks where a condenser is not required. SM1 threading in front of the lens elements supports installation of a 25mm filter.
By default, the MSR system uses a software autofocus. Adding on an HL04 hardware autofocus improves the scanning speed in certain scenarios.

For a full explanation of the difference between laser (hardware) autofocus and camera (software) autofocus, see our autofocus methods compared article.
The optional junction block provides an additional injection port in infinity space between the filter cube turret and the objective. This option is not available with the laser autofocus option, as that already takes up the additional injection port.

Please note: While most other Nucleus microscope modules can be user-installed, junction block installation must be carried out by Zaber. For more information on the junction block, please refer to our article.
Maximize your walk-away time by selecting an X-MOR-E motorized objective changer. The objective turret allows for automated switching between up to 4 objectives.

For additional information on the objective changer, please refer to our article.
While optional, the X-JOY3 controller is a highly recommended companion module for the MSR microscope. It provides precise and intuitive control over sample positioning, saving you time during setup and simplifying system use.
The MSR supports any standard C-mount camera and any adaptors that mount onto the standard C-mount interface.

Our standard camera option is the CC01, a FLIR Blackfly camera featuring Sony’s IMX249 2.3 MP monochrome sensor (colour sensor available). It is an extremely cost effective introductory camera which can provide a starting point for identifying your performance requirements. It offers outstanding value for low light imaging applications such as multi-channel fluorescence, with a quantum efficiency of 70% at 525 nm and a 13 mm diagonal sensor area. A high speed USB 3.1 connection (included) provides frame rates up to 41 FPS.

For more information on camera selection and compatibility, please refer to our article. For non-standard camera mounting, scroll down to contact our engineering team for customizations.
The MSR assembly is designed to be mounted onto a standard M6/25mm optical table. Zaber offers an optional mounting baseplate for the smaller XY stage configurations designed to keep your system compact.

To maximize stiffness, we recommend mounting the MTR upright microscope tower and XY stage to a honeycomb core optical breadboard or table that is at least 50 mm thick. For larger XY stages (ASR205 and ASR305), the MSR must be mounted onto an optical table. The minimum size required depends on the XY stage chosen as shown in the table below:

Stage Minimum Breadboard/Optical Table Size (mm)
X-ADR130B100B 475 x 175
X-ADR250B100B 450 x 275
X-ASR100B120B 450 x 275
X-ASR205B205B 725 x 225
X-ASR305B305B 750 x 225
Upright Nucleus microscope with silicon wafer

Microscope & Wafer

Upright Zaber Nucleus microscope with crossed X-LDM stages imaging a silicon wafer.

Application Engineer
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Customization Examples

Whether you need modifications to standard products or have unique stage or system needs, our Product Customization Team is dedicated to building tailored solutions.

Response Time Promise: 1 Business Day

Dual-View Microscopy SYstem

Dual-View Microscopy System

A microscope system to simultaneously image a sample from the top and bottom. Each objective has independent focus control and the upper and lower optical axes are precisely aligned to ensure concentricity. While the solution is a customer configuration, all parts are off-the-shelf products from our wide rage of Nucleus microscope modules. The remarkably low cost of $44,000 speaks to the efficiency and affordability of Zaber’s modular approach. Read the case study to learn more.

Upright microscope with platform to move sample in 6 DOF

6-Axis Microscope Positioning for Complex Sample Geometries

The Challenge:In applications like materials science and semiconductor inspection, larger or irregularly shaped samples can be difficult to position under a standard microscope. Fixed microscope frames don't have enough vertical clearance for larger parts and flat XY stages do not tilt or rotate the sample to expose all observable surfaces. While engineers might consider adding a hexapod stage, they are often cost-prohibitive.The Outcome:The configuration shown above delivers flexible, 6-axis sample manipulation at a fraction of the cost of a hexapod. The entire setup is fully programmable via Zaber’s open-source API or Zaber Launcher apps; in this case, a Python routine orchestrates multi-angle scan sequences to collect thousands of data points while triggering third-party cameras or lasers using built-in TTL inputs/outputs.The Engineering Approach:To provide high-travel multi-axis motion, Zaber combined the modular Nucleus® microscope platform with an integrated stack of off-the-shelf precision stages:Imaging with Adjustable Clearance: A modified MSR microscope using an extended version of the support column. The core can be repositioned to accommodate samples of varying sizesPositioning: An LDA vertical stage integrated into the microscope core provides high precision focusing. The sample platform achieves angular and rotary motion by stacking two X-GSM goniometers (for tip/tilt control) onto an X-RSM rotary stage . This set up is then stacked onto high precision XY microscope stage.Simplified Integration & Wiring: Every stage features an integrated driver and controller. The entire multi-axis system daisy-chains together, sharing power and data over a single cable to minimize clutter.