Have an old Edmund Scientific (Barrington, NJ) microscope 400x. Rarely used. While under warranty, it was sent back because the stage would not go up and down for focus. It probably worked when they returned it to me, but same problem now. I would like to pass it on to my grandchildren, but first need to fix it. Looking for suggestions on how to dismantle it, how to remove old lubricant, what type of lubricant to use to fix it, and where to get it.
thanks!
Edmund Microscope Stage Will Not Move
Edmund Microscope Stage Will Not Move
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Re: Edmund Microscope Stage Will Not Move
The gear rack likely has dried grease.
First thing you might want to do is to try free that up. A bit of heat carefully applied from a hair dryer (kept away from optics and not too hot for plastics) might soften it enough to gradually move the focus knob back and forth. Ronsonol lighter fluid in one of the plastic spout top bottles is easily applied as a solvent and relatively safe to use. Try to get it on the rack and gear. Let it sit for hours. Try moving it. Repeat.
Further disassembly is usually somewhat obvious from the placement of screws - but be sure you have properly fitting screwdrivers including "JIS" for what might look like Phillips drive screws. It may be that the above work and a drop or two of light machine oil once you get it moving will be enough. The oil is needed to keep the grease from hardening again once the lighter fluid evaporates.
A proper lube would require complete disassembly, removal of the old grease (solvent and brush), and (look at old Forum threads for choices) a light gear rack lube either with silicone or traditional thickeners. But again, this scope might not need that to get back in operation.
A somewhat better used microscope off Ebay should be less than $100, so you might consider this as a sort of starter scope to examine stuff with your grandkids. If they take to it, you might consider getting a stereo scope if they're young and a better compound scope if they want to look at cells and the like. Point is, even if you screw something up and don't have the perfect lube it's not the end of the world dollar wise.
First thing you might want to do is to try free that up. A bit of heat carefully applied from a hair dryer (kept away from optics and not too hot for plastics) might soften it enough to gradually move the focus knob back and forth. Ronsonol lighter fluid in one of the plastic spout top bottles is easily applied as a solvent and relatively safe to use. Try to get it on the rack and gear. Let it sit for hours. Try moving it. Repeat.
Further disassembly is usually somewhat obvious from the placement of screws - but be sure you have properly fitting screwdrivers including "JIS" for what might look like Phillips drive screws. It may be that the above work and a drop or two of light machine oil once you get it moving will be enough. The oil is needed to keep the grease from hardening again once the lighter fluid evaporates.
A proper lube would require complete disassembly, removal of the old grease (solvent and brush), and (look at old Forum threads for choices) a light gear rack lube either with silicone or traditional thickeners. But again, this scope might not need that to get back in operation.
A somewhat better used microscope off Ebay should be less than $100, so you might consider this as a sort of starter scope to examine stuff with your grandkids. If they take to it, you might consider getting a stereo scope if they're young and a better compound scope if they want to look at cells and the like. Point is, even if you screw something up and don't have the perfect lube it's not the end of the world dollar wise.