My Leitz Orthoplan

What equipment do you use? Post pictures and descriptions of your microscope(s) here!
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janvangastel
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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#61 Post by janvangastel » Fri Dec 13, 2019 2:37 pm

Yesterday my power supply gave up. The day before I already saw it 'flickering' a couple of times. Today the same, a couple of slight dimmings and brightenings again and then it slowly went dead. Checked the lamp, which was good. Found out that the problem is, that there's no current coming out of the power supply, so the problem must be inside it. The V-meter at the front still works when I turn the knob. I also checked the two fuses, which were OK as well. That's how far my knowledge of electricity goes. I opened the power supply and looked inside, but everything looks good. No loose wires, no corrosion, so I don't know. I have two not working power supply's now.

Hobbyst46
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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#62 Post by Hobbyst46 » Fri Dec 13, 2019 4:38 pm

Too bad.
I would first check continuity (resistance when power is off and wall plug cable is disconnected) between the PS outlet and the lamp socket. A bad connection is very often the problem. Screws in electrical connections often turn loose with time, during to heat effects.
If the contacts are OK, often the defective part in a broken PS is one of the capacitors. It happens in laboratory instruments and home appliances as well. But such replacement should be turned to a professional technician.
There is also the LED retrofit possibility, but I would try and stay with halogen as long as practicable.

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#63 Post by deBult » Fri Dec 13, 2019 5:14 pm

Hallo Jan,

An idea maybe: a Dutch company Triple M Audio In Rhenen specialises in audio repair including tube audio.
They do rebuild (audio) trafo’s and usually like a challenge. You could give them a call an see whether they can be of any help.

Alternative is Joop Microscoop in Koekange info@tdkk.nl

Best
deBult

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#64 Post by MicroBob » Fri Dec 13, 2019 8:06 pm

Hi Jan,
before you spend money on a repair by somebody else you might consider buying a standard power supply like a lab power supply. When the connection between microscope and PSU is just two wires, this will be a simple job to do. If there are more than one voltage supplied or additional control wires it is more difficult. Such a standard power supply can power other things too, like heat plates, LEDs, an electrolyte bath for rust removal...

Bob

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#65 Post by Sabatini » Sat Dec 14, 2019 4:59 pm

Beautiful.
Congratulations on that great acquisition.

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#66 Post by janvangastel » Sun Dec 15, 2019 7:45 am

Thanks for all the advice. Yesterday I found out that someone I know has experience in repairing this kind of electric devices and he is going to repair it for free. And I think I also will by some other device to use in case this one will stop workong again in the future.

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#67 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:47 am

janvangastel wrote:
Sun Dec 15, 2019 7:45 am
...And I think I also will by some other device to use in case this one will stop workong again in the future.
In the case you do not find another original Leitz power supply, following MicroBob's advice above, a general purpose variable supply with display should serve. One of the best, though certainly not the cheapest (and regretfully outside my budget), makes of power supplies is Delta Elektronika, based in the Nederlands. Model ES300 (0-30VDC, 0-10A, 300W max) or ES015-10 (0-15VDC, 0-10A, 150W max). Very lightweight, quiet, stable and reliable bench instruments (long-term user experience, no personal affiliation of any kind).

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#68 Post by Leitzcycler » Sun Dec 15, 2019 1:11 pm

I have no personal experience of the original Leitz power supply. But if it is the one seen in one of the pictureres of the first posting I have the feeling they should run forever. Especially if it contains only a simple transformer and a rheostat. My guess is a bad contact somewhere. Anyway, the defect should be simple to idenfy and fix unless it is burned transformer which I think is unlikely.

I agree a lab power supply should work fine. However, these original ones look so cool...

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#69 Post by janvangastel » Sun Dec 15, 2019 6:21 pm

In the case you do not find another original Leitz power supply, following MicroBob's advice above, a general purpose variable supply with display should serve. One of the best, though certainly not the cheapest (and regretfully outside my budget), makes of power supplies is Delta Elektronika, based in the Nederlands. Model ES300 (0-30VDC, 0-10A, 300W max) or ES015-10 (0-15VDC, 0-10A, 150W max).
That's also above my budget. Maybe more something like this https://www.ebay.nl/itm/ADJUSTABLE-POWE ... SwqzFdhU4-. Review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS1eQFCoV60
Jan

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#70 Post by Leitzcycler » Sun Dec 15, 2019 7:27 pm

I wouldn't buy cheap Chinese electronics. It probably work for some time and then the electronics will cook. If you can get the original Leitz power supply repaired, you will certainly get a much better instrument for this purpose.

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#71 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sun Dec 15, 2019 7:32 pm

janvangastel wrote:
Sun Dec 15, 2019 6:21 pm
In the case you do not find another original Leitz power supply, following MicroBob's advice above, a general purpose variable supply with display should serve. One of the best, though certainly not the cheapest (and regretfully outside my budget), makes of power supplies is Delta Elektronika, based in the Nederlands. Model ES300 (0-30VDC, 0-10A, 300W max) or ES015-10 (0-15VDC, 0-10A, 150W max).
That's also above my budget. Maybe more something like this https://www.ebay.nl/itm/ADJUSTABLE-POWE ... SwqzFdhU4-. Review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS1eQFCoV60
Jan
Before my previous response I surfed the net for cheap PS's and noticed the one shown in the link. Its price more or less defines the floor (on eBay at least).
However:
The YouTube reviewer was not enthusiastic about the quality of the product. Moreover, he only tested it with tiny currents - 20-200mA at the most, for a short period. For our microscopy illumination, we are talking several amps currents; I would test it for several hours at, say 5A to check whether it fries anything outside or inside the PS. The YouTube test is lacking in this respect.

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#72 Post by MicroBob » Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:05 pm

I have no experience with this linked PSU but I have two chinese lab PSUs in use for a couple of years. A small on to power LEDs in my office/lab - 15V 3A I think. And a 30V 5A one in the basement where I don my electronics stuff and 3D printing. The one in the basement is just perfect. The smaller one in the office/lab seems to have occasional troule with one potentiometer, solved by moving it a bit more. Both are regularily run at full power, for many hours. While chinese electonics can be real crap some more expensive equipment (95€ / 35€ here) can be quite ok.
On the other hand side I just bought a used IKA heat/stirr plate from a reputable seller. IKA and Heidolph are the leading brands for these things and have a great reputation. Well my IKA triggered the RCDs in the house and emitted a lot of smoke. :? So old quality stuff can be problematic too.

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#73 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:28 pm

MicroBob wrote:
Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:05 pm
...IKA and Heidolph are the leading brands for these things and have a great reputation.
I can confirm it for Heidolph as well as Haake, but never bought used ones...

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#74 Post by janvangastel » Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:00 am

I wouldn't buy cheap Chinese electronics. It probably work for some time and then the electronics will cook.
Maybe you are right. But I have two original Leitz PSU's now, one that came with the microscope and one I bought from a forum member. The first one gave up after less then a month and the second one within about a year. So I am a bit reluctant to look for an other one.
The YouTube reviewer was not enthusiastic about the quality of the product. Moreover, he only tested it with tiny currents - 20-200mA at the most
Yes, you are right. This was not a good test. I also looked at two other review video's; not better then this one.

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#75 Post by Leitzcycler » Mon Dec 16, 2019 11:26 am

After reading the whole thread with the descriptions of the measurements: it is possible that you have some problem with the transformer secondary, yes. In that case it is "non-repairable". Still I am a bit suspicious. As a child I played with an old German microscope transformer, probably from the 30s. I put huge overloads and often it became very hot and gave a bad smell. And it is still workin today! Your older power supply is probably from 70s. If the time is up with it maybe you should look for something older :)

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#76 Post by MicroBob » Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:37 pm

janvangastel wrote:
Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:00 am
So I am a bit reluctant to look for an other one.
Hi Jan, I wouldn't buy a third one. These power supplies consist of a nice housing and some knobs, a long lasting transformer and some electronics. If you want to use an original Leitz PSU I would recommend to spend the money on a refurbishment. 90% of the thing is bullet proof, it is the 10% that will have let it down.
I had a similar choice when the IKA stirrer heater didn't work: Buy another one (usually even worse condition), buy a new one (expensive), buy a chinese one (obvious design faults). Or recondition the defective one. I chose the latter and spent several hours on it. There was corrosion, connectors that were simply no good design from new, some unprofessional repairs to rectify, unsafe power cord. Now it works fine again and will for a while from now. If you choose the sell the Othoplan one day a refurbished power supply will be attractive for the buyer and you would get part of the money back.

Bob

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#77 Post by janvangastel » Tue Dec 17, 2019 7:36 am

That's exactly my plan. And for the time it takes to let it repair (found someone who wants to do it for free, when he has time) I bought an inexpensive PSU to be able to use the microscope untill the Leitz is repeared.

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#78 Post by PrecisionInstruments » Tue Dec 17, 2019 11:23 am

Hello Janvangastel,
I do not come on here as often as I’d like, so I apologise if you reply to this and I don’t answer for some time.
Internally, your original power supply has a carbon roller that rolls across an open wire wound transformer to adjust its power output. Where the carbon roller rests at its lowest setting is on a steel plate next to the transformer, this steel plate is soldered to one side of the transformer. The solder can crack over time, especially in been in transport, the
Is can break the circuit, easily fixed by re-soldering. Also, the carbon roller itself can seize up on the electrical bushing it spins on, it may also where down if not rolling and crack, it can create a bad connection. On the opposite side of the arm that the carbon roller sits on is a lever that operates a forked switch, this is actuated when initially turning the power supply on. The fork can slowly widen, the lever can no longer switch it on
These tips may have covered already, I am an extremely impatient reader.
With the mirror out.. ouch... this mirror is critically aligned both in finite and infinite plains for the collimating path of optics. It is almost impossible to return to a factory setting without a factory collimating and correct fittings to fit the Orthoplan, which seems to be a beautiful specimen of one which you collected. Looks to be in great shape without wear from usage.
Good luck!!
I have a headache, For which the future’s made

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#79 Post by Leitzcycler » Wed Dec 18, 2019 9:24 am

With the mirror out.. ouch... this mirror is critically aligned both in finite and infinite plains for the collimating path of optics. It is almost impossible to return to a factory setting without a factory collimating and correct fittings to fit the Orthoplan
Is this an issue? I never come to think about that. When my Orthoplan arriverd the mirror was loose. The package must have been dropped during the transport and old glue tend to get loose (also the prisms of the trinocular head were loose, but I fixed it too). So I have taken the mirror base out a couple of times. I glued the mirror back, but unfortunatelu upside down: I am stupid, yes. Now I have to tear it down once more... However, the mirror base was fixed with four screws and it went back quite nicely. I did not touch the round mirror stem which appears to be fixed only with a one screw. Loosening this might have more severe effects on the alignment? However, the mirror had to be fixed and the microsope is not brand new anyway. I did not observe any change to the performance.

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#80 Post by janvangastel » Wed Dec 18, 2019 11:12 am

I also had to take the mirror assembly out, because the iris was stuck and I could not repair it without taking the assembly out of the microscope. I did not notice any difference in lighting after re-assembling.

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#81 Post by mrsonchus » Wed Dec 18, 2019 11:16 am

Hi jan',
I also had accasion to do the same with my Orthoplan.
I cleaned the field-iris blades (having removed the mirror+mount) after which they were as smooth as silk. The mirror and lighting were exactly as before when I put it back together.
John B

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#82 Post by PrecisionInstruments » Mon Dec 23, 2019 12:39 am

Hi Guys,
It may not be visible to the eye, though the mirror would originally have been aligned in both the horizontal plane and angle in the factory or trained service tech.
Having it out of alignment/collimation may not interfere with a obtaining a decent image, though I would prefer my scope to be set up as correct as possible.
The factory collimating has a target which mounts to the transmitted lamp house bayonet, a telescope is then placed on the binocular mount, which can focus on the target.
Checking the collimating of the mirror, stage, condenser dovetail, nosepiece etc was one thing I always checked and adjust if necessary after a service.
I’m not having a go, just a heads up is all.
Cheers
I have a headache, For which the future’s made

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#83 Post by Leitzcycler » Mon Dec 23, 2019 12:46 pm

I agree it is better to get everything aligned. However, what can an ordinary microscope user do for that? I don't have any specific telescope except my normar eyepieces. And what is the "target" mounted to the lamp house bayonet? Could you (or someone) give a detailed instructions how to do the alignment without any spesific optical instruments, if that's possible to do or if those instruments (or something substitutive) could be made at home?

Another thing: I would also like to know how to align the prisms in the binocular head. I did it closing my right eye and left eye in turn and moving the prisms until the field of view was the same for both eyes (as far as it was possible). However, is there some more convenient way to do that at home?

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#84 Post by MichaelG. » Mon Dec 23, 2019 9:40 pm

Another thing: I would also like to know how to align the prisms in the binocular head.
Recommended reading:

https://archive.org/details/APracticalG ... ollimation

MichaelG.
Too many 'projects'

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#85 Post by Leitzcycler » Tue Dec 24, 2019 8:38 am

Thanks a lot! This seems to be of great help.

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Re: My Leitz Orthoplan

#86 Post by PrecisionInstruments » Fri Dec 27, 2019 9:33 am

Yes, I totally understand. I myself no longer have access to the original Leitz collimator kit. I am hoping that one day again I will have it in my hands.
The target was a laser etched cross hair on a centred circular surface mount mirror. It could be placed in mounts to adapt to areas like the transmitted/reflected light ports, screw directly into an objective position.
The telescope also had a target. For finite collimation, you would align the two targets to each other. For infinite collimation, you would align the actual and reflected telescope target to each other.

For the binocular, 1) remove the prim assembly from the shell of the binocular. 2) remove the eyepiece tubes. 3) look through the rear of the beam splitting prism, at a target approx 50meters+ away, a post or antenna works great . 4) align the side 90deg prisms so that the two images seen through the are level vertically, as close as possible to each other. 5] place the eyepieces tubes back on, place the prism unit in bino shell. 5) using a cross hair eyepiece and slide micrometer, align the tubes so that collimation is perfect.
Never remove the beam splitting prism.
Hopefully that a) makes sense, and b) helps out
I have a headache, For which the future’s made

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