MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

SUCCESS! With a lot of help from apochronaut I found the problem and made the repair. The issue was that one of the lower lenses had moved (see photo). I tapped it back into place and the problem disappeared. The old adhesive was sticky enough to hold the lens in position for testing. After getting...

The latter. Those are actually polarizing plates and they can delaminate, messing up the image. Try removing them and see what happens.

I did remove them when testing with light from the bottom (see post Feb 6 @ 3:23pm). It seems that the problem is below them (zoom or bottom lenses).

Not sure what "rear bracket" that you mean.
The one that covers this opening to access the zoom lenses?
https://link.shutterfly.com/KX5UJCL7YGb

If so, there is a bracket holding 2 lenses
https://link.shutterfly.com/kPUnXEO7YGb

Not sure what the model number is. Here are photos that may help. There is a data plate on the bottom that reads "248896". Maybe model number? Maybe S/N? https://link.shutterfly.com/SxYxB3fUYGb https://link.shutterfly.com/rfDU7unUYGb https://link.shutterfly.com/3X05q0oUYGb https://link.shutterfly.co...

I shined the light from a cell phone up from the bottom with the eyepieces removed. I moved the light so I was not looking directly at the bright light. The good side was generally black (or dark gray) with a clear sandy image. The bad side was not as clear and was far less sandy. I removed the ster...

When you say bad, do you mean dark, bright with a discernable but blurry or poor image or bright with no image at all, when the right side is focused properly on an object. When the right side is focused the left side is not blurry but bright and totally undiscernable. I am viewing a green circuit ...

I inspected the lenses at the very bottom and they appear to be in place and not shifted (see photo). When the scope is rotated there is nothing rattling around inside so apparently nothing has come completely loose. Maybe something has shifted. But all looks good to me. I am stumped. https://link.s...

This is a follow-up to my last post with new information. As a reminder, the right side is working perfectly. The problem is with only the left side. I was able to remove the left and right stereo bodies. The grease was dry so it required a bit more twisting and pulling. They are now both off. When ...

The set screws for the zoom knobs are extremely tight. I expect that I would strip them before they break loose. But the zoom lenses and everything below appear to be the same left-to-right. Only the left side is bad so I am making the assumption that the lower lenses are OK and removing the zoom kn...

I never heard the term "cheese head screws". But I deduced that they are commonly called "socket cap screws" (mine are hex socket not flathead). :) https://us.misumi-ec.com/vona2/detail/221000551309/?HissuCode=CSHH-ST3W-MS10-60&gclid=Cj0KCQiAn-2tBhDVARIsAGmStVltXo2kMehBnDoFe4a9AR658pG1FyoFQcW-jUoDNM...

One of the biggest criticism of the StereoStar, especially from B&L dealers was there isn't an easy way to get into the body and do any alignment or adjustments to the optics.

So will I be able to disassemble it or do I need special tools?

Here are some photos before I start disassembling. Correct me if I am wrong, but it looks like all the lenses in the photos are attached and in the correct positions. I don't see how the left/right side bodies or eyepiece holders are removed. There are no screws. Are they just press-fit? Lower Lense...

I have an AO Stereostar microscope. Haven't used it for several years but now using it to solder surface mount (SMD) electronic parts to PCB's. The right side works fine but the left side does not. I have swapped eyepieces, inspected the 3 levels of optics. It doesn't seem than anything is optically...