The Clean Microscope (Zeiss pdf on cleaning microscopes)

[75RR]

Zeiss pdf on cleaning microscopes. I imagine it is applicable to all makes.

https://www.zeiss.com/content/dam/Micro ... -zeiss.pdf
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[JimT]

Thanks for passing this on, good article. What element is meant by the phrase "The cover of the opening through which light exits"?

[75RR]

What element is meant by the phrase "The cover of the opening through which light exits"?

Sounds like a translation from German :) I believe it refers to the glass cover of the light source for example.

[lorez]

"The cover of the opening through which light exits"?

75RR is correct. It is the glass, which may be a simple flat disc, a curved lens shape, or a diffuser, on top of the illuminator. I'm not sure about the German translation, but this component is identified by many terms.

lorez

[JimT]

Thanks both. Mine is a diffused lens. Never thought to clean it. Now I will.

[Rodney]

They say never clean the internal components of a microscope, but I wonder what they would say to do if you had a 120 year old binocular microscope that had contamination on the beam splitter and prisms, and the contamination was bad enough that the microscope was really not usable unless it was cleaned. I have also read that never use windex because the residue is extremely difficult to remove which I agree, it leaves a film that water will not remove.

Thanks for the article, I enjoyed reading it.

Rodney

[Dale]

Perfect timing, thanks. I have two filthy oculars that look like only the center 2/3rds was
ever cleaned. I have downloaded and printed the article. Thanks again,
Dale

[75RR]

They say never clean the internal components of a microscope ...

This was written for laboratory personnel in institutions that have a service/maintenance contract with Zeiss.
It is a bit like the void clause when you open up an electronic appliance that is still under a guarantee.

It is true however that messing with the insides of a microscope if you do not have the training nor the equipment to accurately align the optics is likely to render the microscope inoperative.