MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

If you’re wanting to fine tune the particularity of your set of objectives, then something like these partiality shims are what you want, I haven’t found an inexpensive option yet though.

https://microscopecentral.com/products ... ms-spacers

The 1087 and 1970 are both 1.25 N.A. oil immersion abbe aspheric condensers. They both have the same dovetail and can both be used on either the AO 100 series microscopes or the AO/Reichert 400 series microscopes. Why the 1970 was not made with a filter slot the same as the 1087 , I have not figure...

Stunning indeed! Thanks for sharing.

Very nice jig hans! As it turns out I do need to adjust the focus tension once I reassemble my Diastar again and this looks like a great method -- can you provide a link to the shaft collar with the screw holes (and the other parts while you're at it)? Or did you drill/tap that?

Hi Michael,

Check out Ron Green's guide to Bincoluar Collimation: https://archive.org/details/APracticalG ... 8/mode/2up

I'm getting a reasonable refund from the seller due to the focus and the need for replacement eyepieces. Any recommendations if I should look for something other than 181 eyepieces? Also since I'm missing a 20x, I picked up one of those cheap Nikon 20x PlanApos but have yet to order an M25 to RMS ad...

Thabk you .Some JB weld then sanding using a dremel and finally fine grid by hand, all done without disassembly.Had to make sure to mask and cover the parts below. One day I hope to take it apart and replace the cam itself, but theres very little info out there on how to take apart the fine and coa...

What would be really nice is an adjustable way to temporarily compress the friction stack without interfering with focus operation, so that friction could be adjusted while running the focus up and down and checking for feel and slipping. Like maybe if the shaft is a standard size you could drill/t...

Just in case others have the problem tensioning the Belleville washes, a 12" "Quick grip" clamp with it's soft padded jaws and hand grip can reach from knob to knob and apply light pressure on the washers. Handy for their original woodworking purpose as well. Thanks for the tip — I’ll try that when...

Do you remember if your plastic coarse focus friction washers has any grease on them initially? I'm pretty sure mine did, and I regreased them, but I am wondering if maybe they could be some special pre-lubricated plastic that is intended to be used without additional grease, and greasing them is w...

:) :) :) Got it — thanks hans! I was able to tension the Belleville washer by placing several hand weights on the other side of the scope (including one to keep the right side fully engaged), then using a socket to apply firm but even pressure on the collar I then secured the set screws of the colla...

Here is the stack up on the left hand side as it originally came, it seems the Belleville was in the wrong location sandwiched between the set screw collar and it’s tab washer. Overall the stack up between the coarse focus knob and the frame doesn’t provide any spring tension. I will try placing the...

Hans — I re-read your post #27 where you suggest that the coarse tension is set by the Belleville washer between 58 and 138. I presume to “adjust” tension I need to insert additional washers (which will be non-trivial as it was already a tight fit)? Or do I rely on the set screws? Edit: just saw you...

I completed reassembly of the entire focus stack (Belleville washers and all -- nice spring action), both the coarse and fine focus move smoothly without any hiccups (or well it does when assembled with the knob 118's finger 124 positioned where I don't get the full range of motion to lock the nosep...

And since I removed the focus arm I've realized that I'll definitely need to re-set the "auto-focus" range. Is the AO110 service manual the best approximate description of this process? Edit: Restated, do I just use the procedure in the Microstar IV manual to set auto-focus, or do I need a more invo...

Yes, I fully removed the left hand side focus down to removing 58 that supports the coarse focus shaft. Good to know the tension will come back when I install the left/right side -- as I was hoping :). Do I need to grease any of these tension washers as I reassemble both sides? Actually I noticed up...

Recall that this coarse focus mechanism was very rough and jittery -- as it turned out it was just due to hardened grease. I disassembled and cleaned it with naphtha, but during disassembly (removing bearings) I messed up one of the two IJK 6901Z bearings (Z for single metal shield) so I ordered two...

Made a little progress (and a step backwards) tonight but will post photos and details tomorrow... Once I start reassembling, what grease/oils should I use for the coarse focus? fine focus? nose turret? stage? condenser? (and internal focus arm on Tomson Super 8 linear bearings which is quite noisy?...

I also noted that moving the internal arm free of the focus cam that the two ball bearing assemblies guiding the internal arm are also very gritty and jittery. These are deep in the machine and will definitely require removing the power electronics to access them. This is becoming a project! It look...

What is the purpose of the two blue nubs on the focus cam assembly? There is a matching blue nub on the coarse focus knob assembly (see photo below but on the underside) -- and when disassembling I did not take note of how the single nub aligned with the two other nubs, I presume it was in-between t...

Ok, got the kids to bed -- back to work! Once I removed the next layer of hardware on the right side I exposed the final assembly of the focus cam with a single gear that ties it to the rest of the coarse focus knob assembly. I played with moving this (and thus the internal upper arm) and it was qui...

On my 410s there are two set screws in each knob, 180 degrees apart on the right side and 90 degrees apart on the left. I don't think the set screws in the coarse focus knobs should have anything to do with removing the fine focus shaft. If the fine focus shaft really wouldn't come out until you re...

I recently picked up a Diastar at auction (its returnable if necessary) and upon initial inspection have found the coarse focus to have major problems, perhaps because it was shipped with the full nosepiece in place and not secured. when reversing directions it takes about a quarter turn before it e...

@apochronaut Good point about #1 slips for aquatic samples. If anyone is looking for high precision 0.17 +- 0.005mm #1.5 cover slips (18mmx18mm) you can get some Zeiss on eBay for $2.50 per 100 pack plus $5 shipping with $0.50 shipping each additional unit. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zeiss-Microscope-...

Are you referring to the yellow hue of the illumination on the Bristoline? You may not have a blue filter in place to produce a white brightfield.

As my son and I (and soon my daughter too) will be on this adventure together I just realized that we might need to adjust the interpupillary distance whenever we switch users. It appears that the original AO 10 head is the non-Siedentopf kind and I presume that it changes focus as the IPD is adjust...

I am able to PM now.

@PeteM Thanks for the suggestion -- I just recently picked up a 7-45x stereo microscope with ring light (no stage light) to complement the compound microscope.

With all your comments it sounds like going for the AO 10 might be the right choice for my son to use when unattended. Does the dual view adapter which allows for two binocular heads have a switch similar to some of the trinocular heads so that when not in use the light is not wasted? Or is the dual...

I've been having a hard time finding the footprint dimensions of the AO 10, 110, and 410 for comparison. Any rough dimensions available with standard heads?

I don't yet have enough posts to be able to respond to the PMs that I've received, hopefully its only 5 or so posts...

Edit: now I can respond via PM