Please enter any points for discussion, questions, whinges, etc. as comments here.
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Our first Zoom meeting:
Topic: MicroXCT support group
Time: May 6, 2022 04:00 PM Vienna
Email me ( brian.metscher [at] univie.ac.at ) or Lidija Korat ( lidija.korat [at] zag.si ) for the meeting invitation.
Dear all,
ReplyDeleteit seems that we are a small group of users of XRadia MicroXCTs in Europe: two at the Univ. of Vienna, one at the VetMed Vienna, and on at a University in Slovenia. More in the USA.
Ours (Dep. of Botany of the University of Vienna) is a MicroXCT-200. (Beside that we have a SkyScan 1275 for quick scans for large datasets of low resolution surface models.) Regarding our work field, we frequently need a machine with a high spatial resolution, so we really need the MicroCT. It is unlikely, that the University of Vienna agrees to by a new machine when MicroXCT support ends, so we are very much interested that it stays in good condition and works another couple of years. Also we ordered a new xray source recently, which we hope to use another 7 years like the ones before.
Short summary of a talk with Hr. Schwinger, the sales manager of Zeiss:
Zeiss Germany/Austria is willing to provide support for the old MicroCT machines as far as possible. Costs for the Zeiss technician work hours will not increase significantly. Availability of machine parts will be a problem. Zeiss USA is definitly not throwing away parts of old machines from their storage, so this might still partly be a source.
I heard, that the Slovenian Institute intends to get a new machine and might give back its old one to Zeiss, who will store parts of this machine to use it as replacement parts that are otherwise not available any more.
It would be interesting who of you will keep and who intends to replace his machine. And, if there are machine parts that can be kept: Who will get it? Zeiss to lower the price for a new machine? Selling them to other depts/universities that need them?
It would be helpful to know, which machine-specific parts are mostly needed. In our case these are the axis motors, that we always bought from Zeiss and were installed by the Zeiss technician Hr. Haussperger. Our indoor camera works still well, but this may not last. Detectors are old (never replaced sine 2009), but were ok(ish) before the xray source broke. Other parts (except the source) don´t seem to be so susceptible in our case. What experiences did you make?
Would be great, if we find a way to support each other, to avoid dependence from Zeiss as far as possible, to reuse machine parts and to exchange knowledge about reparation and maintenance of our MicroCT machines and supply with replacement parts.
Thank you all for contributing!
Best, Susanne
End of Support – Xradia MicroXCT-200 and MicroXCT-400
ReplyDeleteDear Sir or Madam,
We herewith would like to inform you that effective October 1st 2023,
• Xradia MicroXCT-200 (all serial numbers) and
• Xradia MicroXCT-400 (all serial numbers)
X-ray microscopes will reach End of Support.
End of Support means the end of the period where ZEISS can provide the technical expertise, parts availa- bility, and viable service delivery process to restore the product to original functionality. We kindly ask you to understand that we cannot service the above-mentioned system beyond the End of Support date.
Thank you for your continued support and confidence in our products. We value you as a customer and appreciate the continued opportunity to support you in your microscopy equipment and service needs.