Fine focus gone ...

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75RR
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Fine focus gone ...

#1 Post by 75RR » Tue Jun 18, 2019 1:52 pm

Well seems my fine focus has gone ... not sure if it fixable by me - probably not.

I remember a discussion some time ago about shipping microscopes, in which someone mentioned how to pack the Zeiss WL focus block to avoid damage to the fine focus - can't find it now. If anyone remembers do let me know.

Anyone have a Zeiss WL, Universal or Photomicroscope Focus Block or know of someone that can repair one?

This is the wounded Focus Block:
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WL - Focus Block.jpg
WL - Focus Block.jpg (93.31 KiB) Viewed 11170 times
Last edited by 75RR on Tue Jun 18, 2019 4:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#2 Post by Wes » Tue Jun 18, 2019 2:27 pm

The fine focus stopped working on my Zeiss Junior in the past. Apparently it had become loose and all I had to do was to tighten the dial on the right side of the block on the left image (the one with the two holes).
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#3 Post by Hobbyst46 » Tue Jun 18, 2019 2:44 pm

Foretunately it is different than the focus block of the GFL, so hopefully repairable. I believe Charles could help.

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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#4 Post by 75RR » Tue Jun 18, 2019 2:58 pm

Saw one a while ago on ebay that I thought about buying as a spare - regret not getting it!
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#5 Post by 75RR » Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:06 pm

The fine focus stopped working on my Zeiss Junior in the past. Apparently it had become loose and all I had to do was to tighten the dial on the right side of the block on the left image (the one with the two holes).
Thanks for the tip. Have fiddled with the dials but no luck.
Fortunately it is different than the focus block of the GFL, so hopefully repairable.
Was looking at the GFL repair notes and there are similarities but not enough to tempt me to open it up.
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#6 Post by MicroBob » Tue Jun 18, 2019 5:46 pm

Hi 75RR,
here you can find a repair guide in german language: https://www.mikroskopie-forum.de/index.php?topic=9401.0

Aparently these focus blocks are not completely bullet proof, and suscepible to bumps in transport: https://www.mikroskopie-forum.de/index. ... ic=33625.0

The old small gear could be turned off and a new one could be glued on, but the gear module is uncommon 3,5 and separate gears are difficult to locate. It might be possible to find one in a Zeiss West gear train of a differnt model.

The gear train of the Zeiss Standard 14 to 18 is extremely robust in comparison.

Bob

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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#7 Post by 75RR » Tue Jun 18, 2019 5:57 pm

Perfect! Many many thanks :)
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#8 Post by Hobbyst46 » Tue Jun 18, 2019 6:33 pm

MicroBob wrote:Hi 75RR,
here you can find a repair guide in german language: https://www.mikroskopie-forum.de/index.php?topic=9401.0

Aparently these focus blocks are not completely bullet proof, and suscepible to bumps in transport: https://www.mikroskopie-forum.de/index. ... ic=33625.0

The old small gear could be turned off and a new one could be glued on, but the gear module is uncommon 3,5 and separate gears are difficult to locate. It might be possible to find one in a Zeiss West gear train of a differnt model.

The gear train of the Zeiss Standard 14 to 18 is extremely robust in comparison.

Bob
Bob, that is a real treasure of information. Is there anything like that for the GFL ?
Those gears (WL, GFL) are made of metal. I think I read that the Standards (14 etc) are made of plastic. Is that so ?

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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#9 Post by Roldorf » Tue Jun 18, 2019 6:47 pm

This may seem a bit oversimplified but, have you checked the grub screw for tightness? Or maybe the grub screw is broken and allowing the fine focus wheel to turn on the shaft.
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#10 Post by 75RR » Tue Jun 18, 2019 7:02 pm

I think I read that the Standards (14 etc) are made of plastic. Is that so ?
My understanding is that only part of the condenser height adjustment gearing is nylon, and only on the Stencil logo Zeiss Standards. In the Medallion Standards these gears are brass.
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#11 Post by 75RR » Tue Jun 18, 2019 7:03 pm

Thanks Roldorf
This may seem a bit oversimplified but, have you checked the grub screw for tightness? Or maybe the grub screw is broken and allowing the fine focus wheel to turn on the shaft.
I like simple solutions. Will have a look!
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#12 Post by MicroBob » Tue Jun 18, 2019 7:11 pm

Hi Doron,

I have repaired an old Zeiss Standard, it might have been an RA or early 14. There was no plastic in important places. The great idea about this gear box is the spring loaded planetary gear that is based on steel balls, not gears. It prevents the high ratio of the fine focus to destroy something, it just slips.
Here you can see the repair of a Standard:http://www.lenaturaliste.net/forum/view ... c7111a7bef
The GFL has a classic clockwork where the demise of 1-2 mm³ of brass means the end. I have sent you a pdf about a repair of the GFL. Do you have a certain repair project in mind?
I think a while ago I posted pictures of the gears of a Zeiss Winkel GF or GFL.

With this search string you can find a couple of thread about repair of the GFL in the german microscopy forum: https://www.google.com/search?sitesearc ... iso-8859-1

you might also find something here: https://mikroskopie-forum.at/index.php/ ... /?pageNo=1

When I find an interesting thread or website I often save it for later use.

Bob

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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#13 Post by Hobbyst46 » Tue Jun 18, 2019 7:56 pm

MicroBob wrote:I have repaired an old Zeiss Standard, it might have been an RA or early 14. There was no plastic in important places. The great idea about this gear box is the spring loaded planetary gear that is based on steel balls, not gears. It prevents the high ratio of the fine focus to destroy something, it just slips. Here you can see the repair of a Standard:http://www.lenaturaliste.net/forum/view ... c7111a7bef
The GFL has a classic clockwork where the demise of 1-2 mm³ of brass means the end. I have sent you a pdf about a repair of the GFL. Do you have a certain repair project in mind?
Yes, I have a second GFL scope which I build and equip with some "foreign" components, but my attempt to repair the fine focus failed, so now it is a coarse focus machine only.
I think a while ago I posted pictures of the gears of a Zeiss Winkel GF or GFL.
That's right, thanks.
With this search string you can find a couple of thread about repair of the GFL in the german microscopy forum: https://www.google.com/search?sitesearc ... iso-8859-1

you might also find something here: https://mikroskopie-forum.at/index.php/ ... /?pageNo=1
Thanks a lot, will look and translate.
When I find an interesting thread or website I often save it for later use.
I have learnt to do that as well.

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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#14 Post by 75RR » Wed Jun 19, 2019 12:10 pm

Partial Update:

Have transferred everything over to my Standard '18' frame while I figure out what to do about the WL's Focus Block

First impressions:

I have been spoiled by the WL!

Missed the ease with which one can remove the stage and condenser holders and how easy that makes it to work on them.

It was quite fiddly installing the rotating stage and assorted sub condenser bits: filter holder, auxiliary lens and polarizer with the stage and condenser holder still fixed to the frame.

Also miss the fine tuned fine focus. Divisions were 2µm and 1/2 division rotation was smoothly achieved.

Then again so I should, the WL is the little brother of the Universal and the Photomicroscope and as such it is top of the line of the Standards.


However I am really pleased to have a backup - and a very good one at that, am sure that we will be re-bonding soon, as we did have some great times together.
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#15 Post by Crater Eddie » Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:56 pm

Glad you still have the backup. Hoping that the repair doesn't take too much time and funding.
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#16 Post by 75RR » Wed Jun 19, 2019 8:20 pm

Thanks Eddie, I have my fingers and toes crossed.

Nice to see you hanging around again by the way!
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#17 Post by 75RR » Sat Aug 31, 2019 11:40 am

Bumping this to update events:

Those of you who are aware that socks come in different colours and are able to tell them apart might notice the new to me focus block is black!

Will have to hide from the fashion police of course, still, I'm happy to get the WL up and running again.
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#18 Post by Crater Eddie » Sat Aug 31, 2019 12:15 pm

It looks great from here!
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#19 Post by 75RR » Sat Aug 31, 2019 12:37 pm

Crater Eddie wrote:It looks great from here!
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Thanks - one never knows, it may start a new fashion
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#20 Post by MicroBob » Sat Aug 31, 2019 12:39 pm

On the Phomi 1 a black focus block and stage holder is combined with hammerite base and arm - looks good to me.

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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#21 Post by 75RR » Sat Aug 31, 2019 12:52 pm

MicroBob wrote:On the Phomi 1 a black focus block and stage holder is combined with hammerite base and arm - looks good to me.

Bob
Thanks

You are right of course, I have seen photos of them and they do look good.
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#22 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sat Aug 31, 2019 4:27 pm

Greetings, to me it looks much more fashionable
and vivid than the plain grey version.

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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#23 Post by 75RR » Sat Aug 31, 2019 4:41 pm

Thanks Hobbyst46,

to be honest I never know what to call the non black microscopes - I tend to call them white but many call them beige or grey. I suppose it mostly depends on the light.
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#24 Post by MicroBob » Sat Aug 31, 2019 6:06 pm

The earlier ones from the late 60s were light gray, later they became hospital-beige.
The change in colour might fall in the same time as the switch to plastic field aperture rings and away from the metal logo, but I'm not sure here.
I have a grey RA and have just prepared a grey Standard 18 for an other member of our group.
When I see hospital-beige microscopes I always think about paint guns.

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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#25 Post by 75RR » Sat Aug 31, 2019 6:17 pm

Hi Microbob,

I believe I saw a photo once of a dark grey Standard - I heard that they did not make them that colour for long.

This was done for a brief period in the transition from Black to White

Is that what you have? Could you post a photo?

What colour would you call my WL?
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#26 Post by MicroBob » Sat Aug 31, 2019 7:02 pm

For me your WL is just the light grey I mentioned if interpret the photos right.
I have never heard of Standards of darker grey.
But here also was a creme beige GFL, so who knows?

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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#27 Post by 75RR » Sat Aug 31, 2019 7:22 pm

Perhaps I got the idea from the Zeiss, Winkel und Standard booklet page 7
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Zeiss, Winkel und Standard.png
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4306_Beige_1.jpg
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4306_Black_1.jpg
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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#28 Post by MicroBob » Sat Aug 31, 2019 7:45 pm

The white trino is probably light grey too.

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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#29 Post by 75RR » Sun Sep 01, 2019 9:13 am

Playing around with my 'new' fine focus

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Re: Fine focus gone ...

#30 Post by ImperatorRex » Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:08 am

Hi 75RR,
indeed the fine focus of the Zeiss WL is absolutely stunning. Not just the mechanical accuracy, but also kosmetically and ergonomically the metall knobs are so nice.

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