Levelling My Microscope
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- Posts: 3355
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 10:06 am
- Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Levelling My Microscope
When observing liquid subjects, I noticed that after a few minutes all the organisms and flotsam starting streaming out of the cover glass. I bought a small circular spirit level and put it on the stage of the microscope. I was able to add shims under the microscope to make it essentially perfectly level. The tilt was very slight, but it makes a huge difference to level it out.
Re: Levelling My Microscope
Could it be that the amount of water in your wet-mount slides is excessive ? it should just fill the space between the two glass surfaces, at minimum thickness.
When the amount of water between the slide and coverslip is just sufficient, the factors that affect motion of the water are mainly evaporation and surface tension. Gravity has little, if any, influence. In old microscopes, the arm was connected to the base by means of a rotation axis, hence the slide could be tilted by many degrees, to serve several purposes. They did not have any attached level (AFAIK).
To inhibit evaporation, the rims of the coverslip can be temporarily sealed with petroleum jelly.
When the amount of water between the slide and coverslip is just sufficient, the factors that affect motion of the water are mainly evaporation and surface tension. Gravity has little, if any, influence. In old microscopes, the arm was connected to the base by means of a rotation axis, hence the slide could be tilted by many degrees, to serve several purposes. They did not have any attached level (AFAIK).
To inhibit evaporation, the rims of the coverslip can be temporarily sealed with petroleum jelly.
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- Posts: 3355
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 10:06 am
- Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Re: Levelling My Microscope
Those are things I never thought of. Thanks. I'm going to buy some jelly.
Re: Levelling My Microscope
Don,
Please refer to viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9693#p82554 scroll down to the description of the micro aquarium.
Please refer to viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9693#p82554 scroll down to the description of the micro aquarium.
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Re: Levelling My Microscope
Incredible! I might try that as well.
1942 Bausch and Lomb Series T Dynoptic, Custom Illumination