Frankenstar IV

[Plasmid]

Here's a Microstar IV with Phase contrast from a "Olympus"copy condenser and matching objectives (Infinity). The phase kit came from the Seiler Microlux IV you see on the background, also goes by BK5000 sold by Jenco or straight from China.
Installation requires removal of the stage on the Microstar, since the condenser is bit taller than the 1970 condenser, also the small stop screws on the dovetail as well as the one on the condenser were removed in order to get perfect alignment.
Early testing reveals a much cleaner image on PH, as well as DF using the 100&40 anular rings in the condenser.
Im not sure why the image resolution and overall quality looks better on the Microstar, as I can remember the Microstar is 6v 20w compared to the Microlux 12v 20w.
The difference is significant, the images on the Microlux are dim and darker and not as sharp when compared to the Microstar again not sure why!!??!?
The Cat#181 were changed for the 20mm 10X Eyepieces that came with the Microlux as there was a lot of chromatic aberration.

Now if I can only find a way to adapt the vertical eliminator from the Laborlux onto the Microstar ....
I've been thinking about maybe 3D printing a adapter, anyone with knowledge on what this would require?

[Plasmid]

Heres a quick video at 600X ( 15X eyepiece) using a cellphone.
https://youtube.com/shorts/ttC6q-tLogQ?feature=share

[dtsh]

I presume that's using the telan from the Microstar?

As for the illuminator, I've done some 3D modelling and have a Microstar IV if that might be of assistance.

[microcosmos]

Now if I can only find a way to adapt the vertical eliminator

Love the frankenterminology

I've been thinking about maybe 3D printing a adapter, anyone with knowledge on what this would require?

Here are some considerations:

- how precise the dimensions need to be and does the manufacturing method meet the tolerance requirements. Some components may have to be very precise because of optical alignment or fitting with another precision component. 3D printing is generally not as precise as CNC machining but the former is much cheaper. A connecting adapter probably doesn't have to be super precise and 3D printing will probably suffice.

- how much force is the adapter going to be subjected to, and what kind of force in relation to the shape (twisting, asymmetric dead weight, shear etc.). There are a variety of 3D printing materials and they have different rigidity and strength. Durability over time is also a factor.

- if the material is subject to friction (such as a dovetail that is regularly removed/attached using set screws), it should not flake off powder or splinters that could get into the microscope.

- how non-reflective is the material, if part of it will be in the light path.

[microb]

I'd be curious what dovetail designs you need to match. If you look at my posts, I've been doing some adapters.

[microb]

Ideally you want the light focus on the backplane of the objectives. What dove tail dimensions are there?

[Plasmid]

I'd be curious what dovetail designs you need to match. If you look at my posts, I've been doing some adapters.

Ok so I took ot apart to check the measurements, only off by a few decimal points when you compare the two, I measured a AO1087 condenser as well as the 1970 and there is a 2-3 mm difference but only on the actual groove/ thinnest par of the dovetail., however the (Chinese) condenser sits a bit higher on the bite point of the carrier and that makes it fit perfectly. See pics below.

I also experimented with a 1087 upper lens on the Chinese condenser and the threads are identical, however at full insertion it comes in contact with the rotating wheel of the lower part if the condenser and prevents it from a smooth rotation of the annulus selector. I wanted to try and see if the overall height would not hinder me from removing the condenser, without having to remove the stage. Not worth at at the end since I plan on using it as my PH /Pol unit, so I left the original lens the Chinese condenser came with.

[Plasmid]

Notice where the pins grab onto the condenser, it comes up to exactly 45mm on the Chinese condenser.

[Plasmid]

My mistake , there is a way of installing the condenser without removing the stage,... The stage adjustment can be moved all the way up, with nosepiece completely raised and that gives you enough clearance to remove the condenser without having to remove the stage.

... You will have to be mindful of the condenser height limit stop, as it won't work. There is a gap left over where the rod that normally springs up does not reach the lower part of the stage,... The Gap appears to be about 1 mm so I'm trying to come up with some sort of stop insert, to prevent me from crashing the slide while lowering and raising the condenser.

[Plasmid]

I'd be curious what dovetail designs you need to match. If you look at my posts, I've been doing some adapters.

Here's a picture of the Microlux dovetail where the phase kit came from, with an abbe condenser from the manufacturer.

[Plasmid]

Here's a video testing DF and phase
https://youtu.be/EkekYVEtNC8

[dtsh]

If it helps, on my 1205 turret with 1201 condenser I get the following measurements:
Top of lens to bottom of dovetail: 51.5mm
Bottom of dovetail to top of dovetail (base of turret): 8mm
Dovetail inner diameter: 45mm

... You will have to be mindful of the condenser height limit stop, as it won't work. There is a gap left over where the rod that normally springs up does not reach the lower part of the stage,... The Gap appears to be about 1 mm so I'm trying to come up with some sort of stop insert, to prevent me from crashing the slide while lowering and raising the condenser.

I can't see it in your images, but is there not enough travel for the spring loaded condenser stop to the Microstar stage? If it matters, I suspect one could modify that part relatively easily.

Edit: I took apart the stop from a spare stage. The stop is 4.75mm in diameter, 20mm long, with a flat milled down to 4mm to all but the very end (the nub acts as a retainer so the stop and spring don't fly off). If yours is too short now, it should be relatively trivial to manufacture a replacement that is however much longer you need. To disassemble, I just loosened the retaining bolt farther than is needed to adjust.

[Plasmid]

I can't see it in your images, but is there not enough travel for the spring loaded condenser stop to the Microstar stage? If it matters, I suspect one could modify that part relatively easily.

.

Yep comes off short by 1 mm when the condenser is raised all the way up in case I want to use Immersion. I was thinking of filling the gap with a metal insert of some sort, or maybe some type of hat solution that would sit on top of the rod, for the added distance, but your solution sounds a lot cleaner. Any ideas on what could be added to the end of the rod to extend it by 2mm?

[Plasmid]

I presume that's using the telan from the Microstar?

Not sure what telan is?!!

As for the illuminator, I've done some 3D modelling and have a Microstar IV if that might be of assistance.

The vertical illuminator that I plan on adapting is from the Laborlux (160/170mm) the clamp mechanism as well as the diameter of the insertion for the head is a lot wider on the Reichert, and so it would need an insert to fill the gap as well as to hold it in place,. Light path Alignment will play a huge role of course. Im not even sure if it'll even work since the Microstar has a different focal length.

[dtsh]

Yep comes off short by 1 mm when the condenser is raised all the way up in case I want to use Immersion. I was thinking of filling the gap with a metal insert of some sort, or maybe some type of hat solution that would sit on top of the rod, for the added distance, but your solution sounds a lot cleaner. Any ideas on what could be added to the end of the rod to extend it by 2mm?

If you have a 3D printer, you could print a small riser to slip over the rod to get that extra couple mm for a few minutes of effort. I don't have any 3/16 steel rod in my scrap bin, but I do have a short bit of 3/16 brass I could mill a flat onto. That should make it the same as stock, but instead of 20mm long I would make it 25mm so you'd have a few mm of adjustment. The rod is effectively free as it's just scrap and the time to mill a flat on it shouldn't take longer than some of the nice posts I've read on here for free so seems like a fair trade to me effort-wise. Would be mailed from the US if that affects things.

I presume that's using the telan from the Microstar?

Not sure what telan is?!!

I might be using the wrong term, the tube lens in the head to bring it from inifinity to focus.

The vertical illuminator that I plan on adapting is from the Laborlux (160/170mm) the clamp mechanism as well as the diameter of the insertion for the head is a lot wider on the Reichert, and so it would need an insert to fill the gap as well as to hold it in place,. Light path Alignment will play a huge role of course. Im not even sure if it'll even work since the Microstar has a different focal length.

I'm fully ignorant here, but I try not to let things like that get in the way of cobbling things together!
Assuming the optics work as intended, that it's a smaller diameter seems helpful. A dovetail to match the microstar and a collar for the smaller illuminator with 3 screws would allow centering it?

[microb]

The vertical illuminator that I plan on adapting is from the Laborlux (160/170mm) the clamp mechanism as well as the diameter of the insertion for the head is a lot wider on the Reichert, and so it would need an insert to fill the gap as well as to hold it in place,. Light path Alignment will play a huge role of course. Im not even sure if it'll even work since the Microstar has a different focal length.

So the LaborLux, does it use 210mm objectives with reflectance?
What objectives did you use on the MicroStar? Are they infinity, or did you just test phase contrast with infinity and use a trinocular with a tube lens?
Basically, us the LaborLux epi like an Olympus UMA with a tube lens? Without the epi, the BH2 is used with 160mm objectives.

I don't know if I have a MicroStar IV in storage or not. I have a LaborLux frame, but no epi or head.

[Plasmid]

]

So the LaborLux, does it use 210mm objectives with reflectance?
Im not sure, I know that the Laborlux 12 can use 160/170mm objectives

What objectives did you use on the MicroStar? Are they infinity, or did you just test phase contrast with infinity and use a trinocular with a tube lens?

The Microstar is currently set up with the Infinity objectives that are a match to the condenser, the Olympus copy Chinese kit that is condenser and objectives.

Basically, us the LaborLux epi like an Olympus UMA with a tube lens? Without the epi, the BH2 is used with 160mm objectives.

Not sure on Regards to the Olympus...the vertical Illuminator that im trying to adapt cones from the Laborlux, not related at all to the phase objectives. Its a 160/170mm platform
I'll attach some pics

I don't know if I have a MicroStar IV in storage or not. I have a LaborLux frame, but no epi or head.

The Laborlux I purchased came with the epi set up, Im using a xenon lamp and filter cube with excitation 450-490

The head of the Laborlux would have to be used along with the Illuminator since the diameter of the dovetail is smaller that the head from the Microstar.

[Plasmid]

More pics

[microb]

Is that a tube lens?

[microb]

It looks like you could do an adapter that is basically a tube. I didn't model the top inset anchor-points/bearing-pads. And in this image showing a cross section, it would be way shorter. Also the angle of the dovetail is just arbitrarily 45 degrees, but Olympus is 60. So that is probably wrong. But it should be a possible good anchoring tube to widen out the LaborLux epi. A cross section drawing of these dovetails would be needed. LaborLux has the unusual mid-cinched dovetail, making the female two load point more complicated to make.

[dtsh]

Is that a tube lens?

I am speculating here, but it looks like it could be. My understanding of finite systems suggests one would need some sort of tube lens to compensate for the increased length when adding the epi, but my ignorance prevents me from having any valuable input on the likelihood of it functioning.

I had overlooked some images early on and assumed the tests were done with the Microstar IV(MS4) head and swapped eyepieces, which prompted my question about the telan/tube lens. If, however, the tests were done with the Laborlux head (is that a Laborlux head?), Microlux head, or some other head then my wondering about the MS4 lens is moot as it wasn't in use. Most of this is me wondering about what options *I* have.


Looping back to the condenser stop, I was looking again at this image which appears to be of the Microstar, but it doesn't look like any of the stops on the 3 MS4 stages I have.

IMG_20211102_142423251.jpg (46.18 KiB) Viewed 9442 times

It's entirely possible the design was changed, but mine have a forward-facing allen set screw for the stop and not what appears to be a lever mounted on the side (which looks far handier, but likely prone to "fiddling"). So it is entirely possible that this one isn't a simple 3/16 rod with a flat.

[microb]

I am speculating here, but it looks like it could be. My understanding of finite systems suggests one would need some sort of tube lens to compensate for the increased length when adding the epi, but my ignorance prevents me from having any valuable input on the likelihood of it functioning.

If that epi works with 210mm or 160/170mm then that lens might be the first of two in there to act like a magnifier. So it's not a telan lens or tube lens, but a magnifier.

[Plasmid]

It looks like you could do an adapter that is basically a tube. I didn't model the top inset anchor-points/bearing-pads. And in this image showing a cross section, it would be way shorter. Also the angle of the dovetail is just arbitrarily 45 degrees, but Olympus is 60. So that is probably wrong. But it should be a possible good anchoring tube to widen out the LaborLux epi. A cross section drawing of these dovetails would be needed. LaborLux has the unusual mid-cinched dovetail, making the female two load point more complicated to make.

Simply genius, so this would take the place of the collar on the Illuminator or simply expand on the one thats there.?

[Plasmid]

Is that a tube lens?

I believe so, not 100 percent sure, there is a marking in front of the Illuminator " 1X"

[Plasmid]

Is that a tube lens?

I had overlooked some images early on and assumed the tests were done with the Microstar IV(MS4) head and swapped eyepieces, which prompted my question about the telan/tube lens. If, however, the tests were done with the Laborlux head (is that a Laborlux head?), Microlux head, or some other head then my wondering about the MS4 lens is moot as it wasn't in use. Most of this is me wondering about what options *I* have.

So with transmitted light , resting the Laborlux Illuminator flush, along with the matching head on top of the Microstar and with infinity objectives.....there is a gap in the field of view that is not being filled.. I'd say 5-10 percent where there is just a dark spot all around the edges, not sure if removing the lens on the Illuminator will have an effect, the is definitely outside my understanding of tube lens distances!

[Plasmid]

Are all the parts interchangeable in between the Reichert 400 and 420 Microstar/Diastar? Particularly the nose turret being that the Diastar has a slot for a filter. Also the Diastar having the 100w lamp housing Im guessing was used primarily for high mag DF and some form of DIC, but whats inside the black tower like attachment in between the lamp and the body.?

[microb]

For this to work, a ring with a set screw would wrap the epi’s male connector. Then that assembly would drop down into the microscope frame. But if the set screw is placed above the male MicroStar dovetail, that would raise the epi up leaving a gap. So a plate could be done as shown to fill that gap.

Now you could get rid of that gap by putting the set screw at the same height as the MicroStar IV’s male dovetail. But you would mill the dovetail not lathe. So the dovetail does not go all the way around, leaving a place for the internal ring-to-epi set screw, but all this would need to be in an empty space not used my the MicroStar’s two bearing pads and its own set screw. So when placing the adapter on the epi, you would rotate the adapter ring so the non-dovetail part does not collide with the MicroStar set screw and bearing pads.

The last image shows a possible adapter ring. Note it doesn’t have the epi’s two opposing midpoint bearing pads. That wasn’t modeled. Also a 60 degree 7mm dovetail was assumed, since that’s a typical dovetail angle and height. But the diameters are based on the numbers you gave. Of course, the height to line up the optics hasn’t been discussed here, so maybe the epi needs to be raised, creating a possible hybrid plate with odd milled dovetail ring for a set screw.

[microb]

The bearing pads would be the Laborlux frame tabs in its female connector.

[Plasmid]

The bearing pads would be the Laborlux frame tabs in its female connector.

, this could actually work, thank you for designing this. Although to be honest the complexity of printing scares me a bit since I've never done anything like this before. I've been scratching my head about how to go about it, I ended up purchasing a Diastar with that Cas200 system to see if the Cas box had some components that can be used for this, .... Then I ran into a few Microstars that are for sale with the OEM vertical Illuminator, but they are rare and expensive.To add to it , I haven't been able to see what type of filter cubes (If any ) those Reichert Illuminators use or if it was meant to be just for incident lighting or Epi, so the Franken version using the Laborlux is still a go.

[microb]

The bearing pads would be the Laborlux frame tabs in its female connector.

, this could actually work, thank you for designing this. Although to be honest the complexity of printing scares me a bit since I've never done anything like this before. I've been scratching my head about how to go about it, I ended up purchasing a Diastar with that Cas200 system to see if the Cas box had some components that can be used for this, .... Then I ran into a few Microstars that are for sale with the OEM vertical Illuminator, but they are rare and expensive.To add to it , I haven't been able to see what type of filter cubes (If any ) those Reichert Illuminators use or if it was meant to be just for incident lighting or Epi, so the Franken version using the Laborlux is still a go.

I just sold off my PLA printer. But someone in these forums was offering to print microscope parts. I can send you some files if you want. Maybe that other poster would print something to test with.