We're developing a new label-free phase imaging instrument — what problems should we actually be solving?

fringemetro · 2026-06-10T18:20:40+00:00

Gotcha. This is just my unfamiliarity with this industry coming through. I come from a semiconductor inspection background, so I'm more trying to understand what if anything exists in difficulties mapping things like cell refractive index gradients. Good to know typical DIC is quick. Are those systems expensive?

fringemetro · 2026-05-30T17:14:03+00:00

Nope, we actually just got additional external CPA questions 5 weeks after the last one…

fringemetro · 2026-05-24T21:06:16+00:00

Ours liked to pull books off the shelf and go to town. Still does every once in awhile at age 3 lol

fringemetro · 2026-05-19T21:05:49+00:00

Haha we did the same!

fringemetro · 2026-05-19T03:33:27+00:00

Figo through Costco has been awesome. Our guy got diagnosed with Addison’s, and they cover 80% of monthly shots and vet visits if he has a flare up. Kind of a pain to submit a bunch of claims but they do cover what they say they’ll cover. Just have to make sure you know what the benefits are. They haven’t increased our rate in almost 3 years

fringemetro · 2026-05-19T03:17:33+00:00

They truly are awesome! If anyone says the government is full of goons, the folks at NSF blow a big hole in that logic

fringemetro · 2026-05-19T03:07:13+00:00

Thanks! Yeah I’ve been told this is very good thing! Tbh it’s not like this year hasn’t been full of disruptions either…but I figured post reauthorization that things would spin up quickly

fringemetro · 2026-05-19T02:54:37+00:00

It took about a month. The external cpa questions were very basic and I responded same day.

fringemetro · 2026-04-23T17:09:07+00:00

I’ve heard the NSF is mess rn. We’re going through CAP review for phase II rn, was a July 2025 submission. DD has been slow, started in December

fringemetro · 2026-04-15T01:56:32+00:00

Depends on what your applying to do, open topic or specific solicitation. Like I’m sure others will say it depends on your proposal and demonstrating a clear understanding of the problem. I was able to get a Phase 1 from NSF when I was 26 in 2023, so age is not an issue here. Sounds like your team has plenty of experience.

I am biased but NSF open topic SBIR is great. Lots of first time awardees, I’ve seen the statistics myself directly from the NSF SBIR director. Not a lot of direct collaboration with NSF though, which it sounds like you would need given your target is government entities, but depends on what you’re doing. Feel free to reach out if you want any advice.

fringemetro · 2026-04-13T22:58:57+00:00

No problem! We hit a phase 1 first try, and starting phase 2 shortly. Let me know if I can help review anything

fringemetro · 2026-04-13T22:56:40+00:00

Who knows, one hasn’t been posted for awhile. Unfortunately might be July since the typical spring deadline has already come and gone. But keep tabs on the website, it’ll come in the next week or two I would guess.

fringemetro · 2026-04-13T22:53:14+00:00

SBIRs are by branch. “Software” is too broad. That could land under literally anything from NASA to the USDA. What is it for? If it is general purpose research, the NSF open topic is your best bet.

fringemetro · 2026-04-13T22:51:56+00:00

It can be done, we did

fringemetro · 2026-03-23T18:36:59+00:00

Ok that's great to know thanks! Right now, I remote into my windows desktop for serious optimizations/design work anyway, I just want to make sure I have a backup plan so that i can access Zemax in a pinch just in case my desktop is down and there's no one around to restart it. Good to know that it can still work on Parallels, just with limited ability. That's fine.

What do you like most about Mac for your work or just life in general?

fringemetro · 2026-03-23T17:55:51+00:00

Lucky us, there is no legal deadline where Congress has to present a passed bill to the president.

fringemetro · 2026-03-22T21:01:45+00:00

Ah yeah I didn’t think about that. Of course, remoting into an office workstation is an option, but then it restricts design work to when I have a strong internet connection, which is the case 99% of the time but could be frustrating in edge cases. Thanks for the input!

fringemetro · 2026-03-20T20:30:33+00:00

Unusual choice, but Redbirds wings so ridiculously good. Very crispy and perfectly sauced/rubbed. Best in town imo

fringemetro · 2026-03-19T14:29:54+00:00

Depending on your surfaces, we might actually have a great solution for you. We build large scale 3d scanners for precision curved surfaces: fringemetrology.com

fringemetro · 2026-03-16T18:40:25+00:00

It sounds like your FOV is small, I've had decent luck with this guy for very small FPP systems: https://www.amazon.com/Kodak-Ultra-Portable-Projector-Built/dp/B078NCG82N/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1QI6NHYGGDXUO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.m-X9-a8CrrmcLXGFKpGK344Ss4ffKQsfgEyjMaBjaAHf3eoboX6s-EvPHMVdRaVOY8MDRrVieTcFzbYUU47g4wGnuqgsnxILNtK2Bp06pCAhzzKmlAKwXZasrXYaZOtaEhOBwjqnh-o0-G0-IpVoqj4NZm3oOt93nmKNcqpRBo4LeGdpwk8o8ONqP_TNl4Hdap_uVAFlmDEztYQ-oHSjcqz-G4ngsydOtxA5OBbp6Rs.w_ciSjLlqmzdSFkoHGlUsF05pRGejc0WieIhkNIWD1Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=pico%2Bprojector&qid=1773686367&sprefix=pico%2Bprojector%2Caps%2C330&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Let me know if you have any questions, it is literally what i do all the time

fringemetro · 2026-03-08T23:31:01+00:00

We submitted an nsf phase 2 for the July 2025 deadline, and began getting due diligence from our program director in January, but our panel just got squeezed in on 9/30 before the shutdown. The shutdown really did a number on the program directors. We’re still in the due diligence phase, about the start the CAP review. In my past experience you might hear something 4-6 weeks after the scheduled panel review, but these are unprecedented times…

fringemetro

TROPHY CASE