Search found 977 matches

by dtsh
Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:22 am
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: WTB AO 570 or 580
Replies: 4
Views: 434

Re: WTB AO 570 or 580

If you don't need a variable zoom, might I suggest looking at the Cycloptic as well.
by dtsh
Sun Feb 04, 2024 11:40 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Determining the back focal plane of an objective
Replies: 5
Views: 551

Re: Determining the back focal plane of an objective

I am not the most conversant with this stuff but my understanding is that from the back focal plane the condenser iris, filament, and rear focal plane should all be in focus. When looking through the scope of course the field iris, specimen and the objective's iris if it has one should all be in foc...
by dtsh
Sun Feb 04, 2024 5:41 am
Forum: My microscope
Topic: AO 160
Replies: 10
Views: 1271

Re: AO 160

It's the cat. 138, just as you suspected, and it is held in by a set screw under the tube. I haven't had it out yet, but it looks like it shouldn't be a problem. Interestingly, the table you linked lists the 138 at 6x, even though mine is marked 10x (as you can see above.) The site is a great resou...
by dtsh
Sat Feb 03, 2024 5:42 am
Forum: My microscope
Topic: AO 10 Arrived today - trying to ID everything to ask intelligent questions about upgrading
Replies: 14
Views: 1456

Re: AO 10 Arrived today - trying to ID everything to ask intelligent questions about upgrading

Always one last question. Where do you source your slides/coverslips for day to day and then for any permanent mounts? I was spoiled in grad school, we just went to the supply shelf. Now those boxes would be on eBay, I think :). And, your personal approach to pricing? Time spent, how the pictures l...
by dtsh
Fri Feb 02, 2024 9:32 pm
Forum: My microscope
Topic: AO 160
Replies: 10
Views: 1271

Re: AO 160

You might find it easier to find a 15X eyepiece to get 645X, 150X, and 75X from your 'scope. I believe the 147 and 184 eyepieces are 15X The 160 should be an infinity system and use the Cat.176 10x and Cat.184 15x eyepieces. Many of them have a Cat.138 (I don't recall the right Cat.#, but it's a 13...
by dtsh
Fri Feb 02, 2024 9:21 pm
Forum: My microscope
Topic: AO 10 Arrived today - trying to ID everything to ask intelligent questions about upgrading
Replies: 14
Views: 1456

Re: AO 10 Arrived today - trying to ID everything to ask intelligent questions about upgrading

I could use your collective wisdom on strategies for finding and purchasing parts. I feel like I have time, but not much knowledge about prices or judging quality from eBay pictures or descriptions. I have found using part numbers works great among hobbyists, such as us, but for online acquisitions...
by dtsh
Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:14 pm
Forum: My microscope
Topic: AO 10 Arrived today - trying to ID everything to ask intelligent questions about upgrading
Replies: 14
Views: 1456

Re: AO 10 Arrived today - trying to ID everything to ask intelligent questions about upgrading

Thank you both so much for the input. I am sure I will have more questions later once I have done some due diligence. I love the heft of the AO10. FWIW - I purchased off eBay (at $65 plus $35 shipping) since there was a sticker showing it had been serviced in 2022. That eased my trepidation somewha...
by dtsh
Thu Feb 01, 2024 4:57 pm
Forum: My microscope
Topic: AO 10 Arrived today - trying to ID everything to ask intelligent questions about upgrading
Replies: 14
Views: 1456

Re: AO 10 Arrived today - trying to ID everything to ask intelligent questions about upgrading

Looks like apochronaut provided a detailed response as usual and there's not much to add. I am quite fond of the series 10; considering the long run of the series and the use of the same objective specification in most of their compound microscopes up to the introduction of the 45mm line makes findi...
by dtsh
Mon Oct 16, 2023 4:42 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Equipment for the microscopy hobby
Replies: 11
Views: 3614

Re: Equipment for the microscopy hobby

An acceptable microscope....often available in the US for less than $100 for a serviceable instrument from yesteryear. A solid desk/workbench Small bottles with flip-top lid for dispensing drops of alcohol, distilled water, etc. I use 100%, 95%, 91%, 70% and another for distilled water. Coverslips a...
by dtsh
Thu Oct 12, 2023 9:46 pm
Forum: My microscope
Topic: Vintage Microscopes
Replies: 2
Views: 1626

Re: Vintage Microscopes

A large number of forum members use what are likely considered vintage instruments. Most of mine are late 40's - late 70's and I don't feel like the odd man out using an "antique". There are a lot of threads so unless you've got something unusual chances are it's been discussed previously in some ca...
by dtsh
Thu Oct 12, 2023 9:20 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Some help with a dual head AO Microstar One-Ten
Replies: 8
Views: 1730

Re: Some help with a dual head AO Microstar One-Ten

Hi, I just joined the forum, and I am looking for some help restoring and finding parts for a dual head AO One-10. Here is a pic: IMG_2861.jpeg When it came, the XY mechanism was completely Seized in one direction. I disassembled it and cleaned it. It works pretty well now! That was step one. Can a...
by dtsh
Thu Sep 14, 2023 1:11 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Practical applications
Replies: 8
Views: 1879

Re: Practical applications

I suspect removing slivers is a common use for our stereo microscopes; in addition some fairly common tasks are allowing me to see the threads on small machine screws so I can measure thread pitch/module, inspect small parts, etc. For the compound microscope the bulk of my uses are veterinary diagno...
by dtsh
Fri Sep 01, 2023 6:44 pm
Forum: About the website, the magazine and this forum
Topic: internal server error
Replies: 4
Views: 16320

Re: internal server error

I sometimes receive the same error. Refreshing the page has worked in each case. My assumption - others would know better - is that the server is temporarily overloaded with requests. As someone who's run webservers, that is my assumption as well. Could be a failure at various ends, database, disk ...
by dtsh
Mon Aug 21, 2023 8:53 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Where do y’all get your Mounting medium?
Replies: 5
Views: 2513

Re: Where do y’all get your Mounting medium?

I have the same situation, is it possible to find a lab supplier that sells to individuals ? It took me some time to find one but it is pretty useful for many things. Glycerol (or glycerine) should be available in some hobby stores, it is used for other things as well. For PVA or PVOH, Elmers water...
by dtsh
Sat Aug 12, 2023 5:06 pm
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: Not happy with Cree CXA1304, what is an alternative ?
Replies: 13
Views: 2771

Re: Not happy with Cree CXA1304, what is an alternative ?

American Optical used a "Modified Koehler" using a lens that was frosted on one face. I've used a flat plate which I frosted on one side for similar effect with other instruments to provide a more even illumination.
by dtsh
Fri Aug 04, 2023 2:03 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: cat flea
Replies: 11
Views: 1508

Re: flea

Nice mount and nice images, did you mount it yourself?
by dtsh
Tue Aug 01, 2023 1:28 pm
Forum: My microscope
Topic: Comparison of TWX-1 Folded Optics Microscopes from Different Production Years
Replies: 11
Views: 3230

Re: Comparison of TWX-1 Folded Optics Microscopes from Different Production Years

I am interested and enjoying your images and descriptions, just don't feel have anything useful to contribute so have not commented to avoid polluting your thread. With all of those prisms it looks like alignment issues could be quite the nightmare. I wonder how much degradation there is due to them...
by dtsh
Fri Jul 28, 2023 4:42 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Suggestions for travel stereoscope
Replies: 18
Views: 3548

Re: Suggestions for travel stereoscope

I've no idea what the rate of failure is for Cycloptics, my sample size is tiny at 3 complete Cycloptics that I'm certain were looked over beforehand by someone who understood them, of those one lost a prism. No doubt the sheer number of them has some effect, but I've seen several folks post here ab...
by dtsh
Mon Jul 17, 2023 8:47 pm
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: American Optical Series 10 LED replacement for 1036A
Replies: 33
Views: 7388

Re: American Optical Series 10 LED replacement for 1036A

Some quick estimates, I setup the sensor 25cm away from the collector lens on the illuminator.

Code: Select all

 6550 lux for 1036A with 17w bulb
17450 lux for LED retrofit in 1036A
That correlates well with what I see when I use it.
by dtsh
Mon Jul 17, 2023 2:58 pm
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: American Optical Series 10 LED replacement for 1036A
Replies: 33
Views: 7388

Re: American Optical Series 10 LED replacement for 1036A

Much background work, but not much progress. In an attempt to gather some usable metrics I acquired a TSL2591 light sensor to measure lux..a few hours of learning how to use it with a microcontroller and now I've got a working light meter; however, it seems the lamp's intensity is higher than the se...
by dtsh
Fri Jul 14, 2023 8:16 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: CAN I PUT DIFFERENT OBJECTIVE ON A SCOPE?
Replies: 16
Views: 2803

Re: CAN I PUT DIFFERENT OBJECTIVE ON A SCOPE?

So while the industry moved from finite optics to infinity optics, why did finite optics reign supreme in the beginning? Why didn’t designers use infinity optics in the beginning since it had a clear advantage in system design? Thoughts? My speculations, if I'm wrong please inform otherwise.... Sim...
by dtsh
Thu Jul 13, 2023 3:19 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: CAN I PUT DIFFERENT OBJECTIVE ON A SCOPE?
Replies: 16
Views: 2803

Re: CAN I PUT DIFFERENT OBJECTIVE ON A SCOPE?

Can I ask another questions? What is the differences and the advantages of INFINITY object? They are much better than the standard achromat object? As I understand it, the main advantage of infinity is the ability to add extra equipment between the head and objective without having to add extra opt...
by dtsh
Wed Jul 12, 2023 2:49 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Microscope objective markings
Replies: 15
Views: 2532

Re: Microscope objective markings

Thanks for responding. I suspected that PL meant plan…likely for 18mm. PHP…I suspected phase but the second P had me stumped. Those are the only markings other the usual. I did look at length on the Internet without success. Anyone else? FWIW.. this site needs a sticky containing the different mark...
by dtsh
Thu Jul 06, 2023 2:44 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Repairing a stuck spring-loaded 100x objective?
Replies: 21
Views: 2623

Re: Repairing a stuck spring-loaded 100x objective?

Polymerase wrote:
Wed Jul 05, 2023 11:58 pm
This is a very good suggestion!
Now, where would I obtain a feeler-gauge?
Any auto-parts store should have them as well as a number of other tool outlets.
by dtsh
Tue Jun 27, 2023 3:01 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Anyone have experience with this permanent slide prep kit
Replies: 1
Views: 1595

Re: Anyone have experience with this permanent slide prep kit

I use a synthetic balsam similar to that and am happy with it for the most part, but if there is an easy, straight forward process I am unaware of it. You will need to replace all the water in your specimens with xylene (or comparable) which for me looks like a series of alcohol solutions I pass thr...
by dtsh
Thu Jun 22, 2023 12:41 pm
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: American Optical Series 10 LED replacement for 1036A
Replies: 33
Views: 7388

Re: American Optical Series 10 LED replacement for 1036A

Do you think a marking template would be useful? It wouldn't be difficult to model one based off the rest. Yes, at least for me. My guess is that most of the LED heat is transferring to the baseplate, so I think using a 3D printed baseplate will result in substantially higher LED temperature. There...
by dtsh
Tue Jun 20, 2023 8:27 pm
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: American Optical Series 10 LED replacement for 1036A
Replies: 33
Views: 7388

Re: American Optical Series 10 LED replacement for 1036A

Will you be posting the dimensions of the T-shaped aluminum baseplate? Thanks, John Ooooh, where's your listening device in my home?!?!? I was just getting to that. I had a template I had been using for my own purposes, but it wasn't suitable for use by anyone else so I had to redesign it. I added ...
by dtsh
Sun Jun 18, 2023 7:08 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Where do y’all get your Mounting medium?
Replies: 5
Views: 2513

Re: Where do y’all get your Mounting medium?

Ii would advise against Hempstead Halide, their euparal is so thin as to be unusable and it's not worth the effort to make it usable. This paper has a recipe I've followed to make a PVA-G mountant that I found easy to make and use. I don't know how long to expect it to last, but I have slides that a...
by dtsh
Thu Jun 15, 2023 8:13 pm
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: New Member
Replies: 2
Views: 1183

Re: New Member

Hello and welcome!

There's a wealth of information and friendly, knowledgeable people about and then there's the treasure trove of old posts. I look forward to reading your posts.
by dtsh
Thu Jun 15, 2023 7:44 pm
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: American Optical Series 10 LED replacement for 1036A
Replies: 33
Views: 7388

Re: American Optical Series 10 LED replacement for 1036A

Silly as it may sound, the part I'm most proud of is the simple sheetmetal clip that holds the LED and heatsink. I went through a number of iterations of ways to hold the heatsink in place, but the easy ones seemed to not allow for much adjustment to get a decent alignment. After a few attempts and ...