Manfrotto Magic Arm microscope stand

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lukego
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Nov 26, 2020 2:50 pm

Manfrotto Magic Arm microscope stand

#1 Post by lukego » Wed Feb 23, 2022 5:39 am

I don't know if this counts as DIY but I'm trying out a "Manfrotto magic arm" camera mount to hold up a microscope head. The contact is made simply with a strong vice grip onto the focus slider that previously sat in an articulating arm stand.
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IMG_20220223_062122.jpg (120.79 KiB) Viewed 1109 times
This satisfies 2/3 of my criteria from a microscope stand:
  • Good: doesn't take much bench space.
  • Good: isolated from bench vibrations (attached to nearby shelf.)
  • Bad: Sensitive to vibrations from contact with the head.
This seems to be breathing new life into my old microscope. I didn't think that I had space for it and planned to give it away. Now I can use it as the objective lens for my autofocus camera for inspection from oblique angles (via a monitor without using the eyepieces or touching the head.) I can also make it available to my kids when they are co-habitating the lab 8-)

MichaelG.
Posts: 3980
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:24 am
Location: North Wales

Re: Manfrotto Magic Arm microscope stand

#2 Post by MichaelG. » Wed Feb 23, 2022 8:09 am

As a ‘proof of concept’ that looks good … but the shelf is clearly an issue : I would suggest drilling the wall and hard-mounting a substantial bar/tube for the clamp.

MichaelG.
Too many 'projects'

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