Leica/Wild M420/M400 on a Nikon toolmaker(?)

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JWW
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Leica/Wild M420/M400 on a Nikon toolmaker(?)

#1 Post by JWW » Fri Aug 06, 2021 2:56 am

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone here has mounted an M400 or M420 on a Nikon Toolmakers microscope stand before, or a similar stand? I have a couple of these Nikon stands and was considering doing it. Was looking for how others did the adaption.

-JW:
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Scarodactyl
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Re: Leica/Wild M420/M400 on a Nikon toolmaker(?)

#2 Post by Scarodactyl » Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:04 am

From a mechanical standpoint it is not hard. You'd want to remove the existing focus mount from the m420 by removing the three bolts that hold it on (which may be loctited in so proceed cautiously), remove the head/nosepiece mount from the measurescope by loosening two bolts and sliding it off the dovetail, then make an adapter to fit those two together. I had one machined to fit an eclipse nosepiece equipment onto my measurescope.
Would I recommend this? No, this is overkill. A standard stereo microscope coarse/fine focus mount is plenty, even with a 2x aux lens.

JWW
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Re: Leica/Wild M420/M400 on a Nikon toolmaker(?)

#3 Post by JWW » Fri Aug 06, 2021 3:48 pm

Thanks for responding. I was thinking more from a photographic perspective. My Wild stage isn't perfect alignment-wise when raising and lowering it. Love my other M-11 setup.
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MichaelG.
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Re: Leica/Wild M420/M400 on a Nikon toolmaker(?)

#4 Post by MichaelG. » Fri Aug 06, 2021 4:23 pm

I have never been so fortunate as to do that adaptation … But I certainly think it should be worth some considerable effort.

Good luck with the project.

MichaelG.
Too many 'projects'

Scarodactyl
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Re: Leica/Wild M420/M400 on a Nikon toolmaker(?)

#5 Post by Scarodactyl » Fri Aug 06, 2021 4:23 pm

That's odd--any idea what component on the Wild stand may be out of wack?
I could share my measurements of the dovetail that I used to design my own adapter, or even make a variation on the model if you can take measurements of the spacing between the bolt holes. I had it made via xometry but it was delivered a little off spec (dovetail was a bit oversozed but it still worked) so I can't 100% guarantee that approach will work.
Still, it feels like it would be a lot easier to get a 25mm stand instead. Racking the big wheel on the um2 stand can be tiring, and for me that's just going between 45mm and 95mm parfocal objectives, not the coarser adjustments I'd want on an m420. It'a hard to beat loosening the knob and just physically lifting it up.
Nice setup by the way! I do like those bd plans and their dic is nice.

JWW
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Re: Leica/Wild M420/M400 on a Nikon toolmaker(?)

#6 Post by JWW » Fri Aug 06, 2021 4:40 pm

Thanks for the offer and suggestions. I have machining abilities. I was hoping to find others that may have done this and view their setup. Who knows, I might just leave everything alone. <g> Just trying to find a use for the extra MM-11 and a couple of other stands I have. BTW, that setup I posted is still being modified but it does work as pictured.
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Scarodactyl
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Re: Leica/Wild M420/M400 on a Nikon toolmaker(?)

#7 Post by Scarodactyl » Fri Aug 06, 2021 6:17 pm

My setup is similar, though I don't have the focusable stage. Seems like a neat idea.
I doubt you'll find someone who did this specific combination. If you can machine aluminum yourself it should be pretty easy to try it out, and aside from getting loctited bolts removed nothing permanent has to be done. If I had a milling machine I'd be cutting dovetails all day, every day.

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