HELP!!! Cleaning cmos sensor ASI120mm

domenico

Hi guys and ASI120mm users,

I own two webcams (the first one has been replaced 'cause was damaged due to an accident occurred).

I was getting crazy in trying to clean all the time the sensor of the first webcam, then the accident forced me to buy a new one. I thought: thanks God! the new one will come absolutely cleaned!!!!

Unfortunately the new one came to me more dirty than the first one and I had to reject tons of frames captured at its first light.

Now I strongly ask the manufacturers how to keep cleaned the sensor or, better, HOW TO CLEAN IT!!!!!

What kind of suitable product should I buy and the procedure to keep it cleaned.

ASi120mm it's a fantastic webcam but it has the strong disadvantage of the sensor that being uncovered atrracts all type of dirty particles on the sensor that are very very difficult to remove unless you destroy the sensor itself.

Please try to help me 'cause I can't buy a new asi again.

cheers from south Italy

Sam@ZWO

Hi Domenico

yes, its very hard to clean the sensor and the dusts are very easy to attach to it again.

that's why we add a protect window in the new ASI120MM.

Is your second one new ASI120MM or the old one without the protect window?

About clean the sensor

I think a Q-tip can help.

you can see discuss here:

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/5593477/Main/5591162

domenico

Hi thank you for your reply

My second webcam came without the glass protector, as far as I see from vendors in Italy, they still have the first model.

By the way I'm trying to order eclipse liquid to be used properly with a suitable swab; then i would like to "seal" the sensor with a glass. Is there any chance to get from the market the cover glass separately? Can the cover glass be installed even on the first model of ASI?

If yes it would be great to keep the sensor cleaned for long long time.

Thank you for providing more details.

Cheers from South Italy

Sam@ZWO

yes, we provide them here:

http://zwoptical.com/Eng/Cameras/ASI120/index.asp

And we provide free shipping but its very slow, maybe need 1-2 months to reach you

keith johnson

Hi Sam,

If this protective window was removed would it eliminate Newton's rings?

Thanks,

Keith.

riklaunim

Keith Johnson wrote:
Hi Sam,

If this protective window was removed would it eliminate Newton's rings?

Thanks,

Keith.

No, the sensor itself (it glass part) is the source of the problem. For some reason Micron/Aptina sensors very often give strong Newton rings. Some testing, experiments (made by QHY and others) showed that it's the sensor cover glass itself that isn't of proper quality/design to handle very narrow light band.

keith johnson

Can you explain how it that my recently sold ASI120MC had no Newton's rings?

Thanks,

Keith.

Sam@ZWO

Keith Johnson wrote:
Can you explain how it that my recently sold ASI120MC had no Newton's rings?

Thanks,

Keith.

I think luck

sgazer

Domenico wrote:
Hi guys and ASI120mm users,

I own two webcams (the first one has been replaced 'cause was damaged due to an accident occurred).

I was getting crazy in trying to clean all the time the sensor of the first webcam, then the accident forced me to buy a new one. I thought: thanks God! the new one will come absolutely cleaned!!!!

Unfortunately the new one came to me more dirty than the first one and I had to reject tons of frames captured at its first light.

Now I strongly ask the manufacturers how to keep cleaned the sensor or, better, HOW TO CLEAN IT!!!!!

What kind of suitable product should I buy and the procedure to keep it cleaned.

ASi120mm it's a fantastic webcam but it has the strong disadvantage of the sensor that being uncovered atrracts all type of dirty particles on the sensor that are very very difficult to remove unless you destroy the sensor itself.

Please try to help me 'cause I can't buy a new asi again.

cheers from south Italy

I found Baader wonder fluid to be awesome

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-optics-cleaning-protection/baader-optical-wonder-fluid.html

My camera has the optical window, but still have some stubborn dust/spots that wouldn't shift with a brush. One wipe with the cloth and fluid cleaned them all.

skywatcher

I was also confronted with the problem of dust on the sensor because of the configuration changes, the best solution is to vacuum the dust and not blow it, I fixed a pipe of smaller diameter on my vacuum cleaner, I reduce power and I gently sucks on the hose slowly approaching the sensor, I control with an eye, it is very efficient, as soon as it's clean, I screwed back the filter on the camera

kokatha man

If blowing/sucking doesn't work for you then the best approach is to clean the glass screen that is overlaid on the actual sensor itself...this assumes that the dust ISN'T on the glass cover window which is a different glass cover (this can be cleaned the same way however if it is the culprit, & doesn't respond to blowing/sucking.)

Dust spots on the glass screen covering the sensor will appear more distinct & sharper/visible than anywhere else as they are more in focus...

"Pec Pads" are cheap to buy in a pack & you can cut them (with clean scissors!) into thin strips just a bit wider than the sensor width..

Fold one of these over the end of a soft plastic "stick" (cut from an ice-cream lid or somesuch a bit narrower than the Pec Pad strips you have cut) over one end of this plastic stick & drop a couple of drops of any good proprietary cleaning fluid onto the end where the Pec Pad strip doubles over the end of the plastic strip & use this part to wipe the glass screen firmly...only once in one direction & then flip the stick around & wipe the same way but with the other edge of that end of the PP...

Keep your grubby fingers off any part of the Pec Pad strip you are going to impregnate with the cleaning fluid & wipe over the sensor with..!!! This is important for the following step also!!!

Slide the PP strip/cover on your plastic stick along a bit to get a new surface & repeat... best to do this whole thing for half a dozen or more wipes & your sensor should be spotless - screw any covers, filters or imaging train gear together & you should have no troubles whatsoever after that unless you expose that glass screen to the open air again... :)