So how do you clean it? If it gets dirty the surface can easily be destroyed by the heat the dirt generates.
Can we wipe down the internals with an actual baby? just thinking everyone always says âsmooth as a babyâs buttâ so that means they are a non-scratch surface, so we use one?
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Well just went to the Trotec site and their process involved a cleaning solution and a wipe while the mirror was wet. That surprises me because casual wiping an optical mirror would destroy it. But if thatâs what they say Iâll defer.
For an optical mirror such as those in a telescope the process is all about keeping the surface wet and gently swooshing a wipe such as light cotton without chemicals in the bath. The cotton doesnât really rub across the mirror. Rinsing with 91%+ alchohol afterward and standing the mirror on edge to drain is good too.
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Thinking might leave particulate matter âbehindâ.
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I do. I clean the whole damn thing with them. Theyâre pre-moistened and sitting right next to my 'forge. So when I get the urge to clean it, all I have to do is reach out.
I havenât read the cleaning instructions for a while, but Iâm pretty sure it includes cleaning that mirror.
Edit: It does.
The lens and the mirror are different critters.
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This
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Oh, right. I remember looking at that once when I realized the top of the head was actually a lid.
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I deal with optics like this mirror at work unless the company comes out differently, I agree, avoid touching it with anything for as long as you can. If any of the coating flakes it will need replacement.
Polaroid makes a little bulb that shoots a little puff of air for cleaning lensesâŚthat might work to blow off dust without touching the lens.
(I use one to blow eggs, but I have another one for lenses.)
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I would expect the mirrors to be sealed off from the outside during normal operations and not require any cleaning. The lens and windows are meant to be cleaned as per instructions.
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Thanks for the insight, I had no idea the optical coatings were so fragile.
Canât speak from experience on laser mirror coatings. They are first surface like telescope mirrors, and those are very easily scratched so I might just be assuming.
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Iâm getting these. Half the cost of the Zeiss.
HmmmmmâŚUnless I should be wary of these being ethanol base instead of isopropyl.
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Not sure if ethanol leaves a film (and what percentage is in the wipes), but I know that 99% isopropyl does not. Would have to look at what the Zeissâ contain.
Zeiss wipes appear to contain mostly water and a bit of isopropyl. From the MSDS: https://www.zeiss.com/content/dam/Microscopy/Downloads/Pdf/MSDS/msds-zeiss-lens-cleaner.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwj30p-m2_XWAhWnhlQKHRGrACsQFgg3MAA&usg=AOvVaw3R-0asvdAHy92UvicL718A
Ethanol is extremely volatile, just like isopropyl alcohol, so no it wonât leave anything behind.
The problem with ethenol would be if you tried to make the wipes yourself using denatured alcohol. The denaturing compounds apparently vary from one manufacturer to another and some can leave residue behind.
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I would strongly advise against homemade lens wipes of any kind.
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