MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Dragging up an old thread. Did you figure out something useful for making permanent sand slides? I'd love to have permanent slides for my sand collection. I kinda hate to say it, but I'm so of a mind that neither of those would work I won't even bother to try. I have extensive experience with both (...

Another picture, this one with a white background (white paper right under the stage).

I received my sand today! Quite a bit more interesting than my local sand, with quite a bit larger grains. Taken with a point-and-shoot camera and my biological microscope at 40x magnification. Side lighting (Ikea lamp).

Kurt, I'm thinking that I might undertake this repair. How did you remove the original mirror? There appears to be quite the bed of adhesive holding it in place. What adhesive did you use to attach the new mirror? Thanks, Michael The 45 degree mirror in the base, that bounces the illuminator's light...

That is almost certainly the issue and makes perfect sense. I had actually salvaged the 1084 from an AO 10 that I bought for the accessories it came with. I put the condenser back on the 10 and had no issues focusing it. In my naivety I pictured myself switching parts back and forth between the 10 a...

The subject pretty much sums it up. I'm still learning my way around my AO 20 microscope. I recently picked up a 1084 condenser and switched out my 1248 single-annulus phase condenser (with 1242 top lens). With the 1248 I had no problem getting the edge of the field diaphragm into focus by raising/l...

I am just starting out but collecting sand is definitely on my short list! The sand here in Florida seems rather generic compared to the sands in Hawaii! I'll get a SASE on it's way to you if you don't mind.


Thanks,

Michael

Never Mind: User error.... It's becoming clear that my microscope is quite 'dirty'. Lots of artifacts in the image. Despite my having cleaned the eyepieces to the limit of my ability, there are quite a few "dark line segments" visible in the image which rotate with the eyepieces. I don't see any scr...

apochronaut wrote:Which condenser are you using on the 20?

I have the 1248 single annulus phase condenser with a 1248 top lens.

Things are settling down now that Irma has passed. I have been using the scope, getting used to it. And of course that leads to more questions: 1) the manual indicates that once the upper limit of the condenser is found, the limit screw should be adjusted to stop further vertical motion. The manual ...

That little short tube could be built on, to get to an adapter for a digital camera. You need a # 1054 eyepiece in the tube, with any reticle installed removed. A lot of other lenses I have tried, have peripheral aberrations; mostly some coma or lateral c a. Enough to be annoying. I have not been a...

I ended up just carefully rinsing that mirror. It does have quite a few spots of what appears to be oxidation but it seems sufficiently reflective for now. I finished breaking down, cleaning, and re-lubricating the "under carriage" and finally got "first light" last night! Now I need to figure out h...

The 45 degree mirror in the base, that bounces the illuminator's light path 90 degrees, may be a first-surface mirror that may be losing its coating; at least this is often the case in Series 10 illuminators such as 1031 and 1036/1036A. I found it a simple matter to obtain new 1st surface mirror on...

A few weeks ago I found a dustcap for the trinocular head on Ebay. That same seller, providencecoins, has a listing for a 1245 Aperture Viewing Unit. In a moment of weakness I decided to buy both...only to discover that he has blocked me from buying from him! I had previously asked a question about ...

The 45 degree mirror in the base, that bounces the illuminator's light path 90 degrees, may be a first-surface mirror that may be losing its coating; at least this is often the case in Series 10 illuminators such as 1031 and 1036/1036A. I found it a simple matter to obtain new 1st surface mirror on...

I didn't set out to narrate every step of the process and I apologize for rambling on. I used a fine scroll saw blade and swirled it around in the sockets and that did the trick. So we have illuminatin! and I discovered how dirty the mirror is under the filter wheels. Tomorrow I'm going to pick up s...

There is definitely voltage to the lamp holder. There is voltage to the individual "blocks" as well. I get a voltage across the legs of the "scissors". However, if I install the lamp deeply enough to clamp it in but leaving room for the voltmeter leads, no voltage. I am fairly certain at this point ...

In the end a little heat from a heat gun loosened things up well enough to get it apart. I cleaned up the wire connectors and screws and rebuilt the scissor socket but still not getting power flowing to the bulb. I need to figure out something small enough to get down inside of the socket to clean o...

It does have the tweezer type of socket. It all looks to be in great shape and I think the issue is almost certainly just oxidation preventing a good contact. I have the screws & washers soaking in a mild acid and plan on cleaning the contacts in the socket next. The bulb seems fine but I didn't tes...

As always a thoroughly useful and informative reply apochronaut. You should write a book, seriously. I don't know how many AO enthusiasts there are, but I would buy it! I will keep the opaque disk handy in case I should need some "oblique illumination" down the road. And I'll put those knurled screw...

The AO 20 has arrived! And of course with it come the questions. The microscope came with all 8 filters and I cleaned those up and put them in place. However, in the bag that held the filters there was one mystery disk. It is the same diameter as the filters but appears opaque (a very bright LED fla...

Mike, . . . On edit: oops missed Charles' post above as I had this page open for the morning. Cancel the offer. Looks like you're already good. didn't see your original post, Pete but if you have one, you might offer it to MichaelBrock. I think he may be looking. I am indeed also looking for one! H...

Ebay US does have a few 40x phase objectives listed but no current listings for the 1240 condenser. And I found only one listing for the past year (and that one was missing parts). I have read here that they are relatively easy to come by but I guess that's changed.

Thanks for the reply Charles, that helped. So the adapter on the scope I bought is specific to the AO camera shutter Not of much use to me! I just happen to have one of those phototubes, that I don't want. I would have to dig through many boxes of unpacked lab equipment, so I'll wait for your assess...

I ended up winning that AO 20 mentioned above I'm psyched! I have read through the manuals a few times already but there is only so much you can glean without seeing the actual microscope. The microscope is a trinocular and appears to have some sort of adapter in it. I see that there are official AO...

Nice! Finding a tardigrade is one of my microscopy goals as well!

apochronaut, thank you for a very informative post! I think I'm starting to get a better feel for the various AO models & options. I'm going to keep my eye on that model 20.

Thank you very much for all of the replies! I have I participate in quite a few "hobby" related forums and this is near the top in quality and quantity. It sounds like each of the 10/20, 110/120, and 410/420 scopes have their issues and advantages. Every response I read I seemed to have switched all...

I will have another look at the classifieds. When I last did I had no idea what I was looking at :D The problem with ebay is that it seems most sellers have no idea what they have and list any old model number they can find on the microscope (like for an objective). I need to learn to recognize the ...

Thanks for the reply and the welcome! I'll keep an eye out for 110/120s.

I just realized that I really botched the thread title. I can't even imagine what I might have intended it to be!


Michael