Rotating Pol objective

[Wes]

Dear fellow microscopists,

I have a strain-free objective for polarization microscopy and it has the interesting property that I can rotate the objective by twisting the two rings (blue and red dot on the image). The rotation causes lateral displacement of the field of view. Could someone fill me in on whats the purpose of this rotation?

Best regards
Wes

[MichaelG.]

Wes,

I would assume that it's a 'self-contained' centring device, comprising two eccentrics.
... An alternative to the centring nosepiece arrangements.

MichaelG.
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http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/ind ... t_pol.html

[75RR]

Here is a link (curiously by the same author) that mentions the issue, with the added bonus of a How to repair a Pol Objective instructions.

http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/ind ... polar.html

[Wes]

Thanks MichaelG and 75RR. If I understand correctly the idea is that you use these rings to align the center of the rotary stages used in polarization microscopes with the center of FOV so that one can carefully analyze a sample without having it shifted out of view upon rotating the stage.

[MichaelG.]

Correct, Wes

MichaelG.

[MichaelG.]

Correct, Wes

Noting that, when full adjustments are available; any or all of them might be used, to align the various components [eyepiece, Bertrand lens, objective, stage, condenser, diaphragm] on a common axis.

MichaelG.

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Oops ... that was meant to be an edit, not a quote