MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

I'm thinking about picking up an old/used scope to butcher for the stage/stand/focus block (to place under my scope/camera setup for focus stacking and such), but ebay is a bit daunting... Any recommendations for brands/models I should look for? Olympus and Nikon seem to be popular, but all the hardware I can find seems to be either overpriced or dodgy.

Thanks!

Leitz Ortholux is superb

Zeiss Ultraphot is magnificent

… and the Watson System 70, as recently featured here by Phill Brown is a hidden gem !

http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art ... son70.html
Edit: __ see publication M82, linked from this page: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/Little-Imp/

MichaelG.

.
Plenty more to choose from

I have the same plan, I'm thinking about buying something old, cheap and in bad condition. As it is a bit of a shame to butcher a perfectly nice microscope. I found an old broken Reichert dirt cheap, but it turned out it doesn't have fine focus.
I'm thinking about this one too, it is a PZO sells for 50-60€. Maybe there is no need to 'butcher' it just make a new piece/rod instead of the turret/head holder (L piece) and fasten the existing pinion on the new part/rod which can hold the camera... Still might be in too good condition

Leitz/Leica, Nikon, Olympus, and Zeiss all made good quality focus blocks. Reichert as well, but harder to find.

You'll likely prefer a 1 micron per division block and those typically came at the upper end (such as the ones Michael has listed above).

One thing to watch for is a somewhat limited fine focus range in some of the older blocks. This is true for the old gray Leitz Dialux blocks, the old black Nikon S (also with fine focus gear problems) and also the Zeiss WL. Surely others, but those come immediately to mind.

Around here (Bay Area, CA) the best source would be one of the disembodied focus blocks with a turret meant for epi use; likely Nikon or Olympus. Those may be 2 micron/div. blocks, but built to a high standard and with little error if kept moving against gravity. One should be available for not too much more than $100 - though Ebay seller aspirations seem to have skyrocketed recently. With the Nikon, you have to watch for a broken plastic fine focus gear. A metal replacement adds another $60 or so.

The Nikon Microphot (FXA model is the one I have) has a superb 3 speed focus block. If you can find a stripped one near you (they're $$$heavy to ship), that could work.

Certain stands have an internal design that delivers near-infinite fine focus travel.
Most 'horsehoe' stands have ~ 2mm fine focus travel
The Microsystem 70, mentioned above, has around 1 mm, I think.

A good place to start looking for pointers might be in this lot:
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... php?t=6070
(maybe start a the last page and work forwards? .. somewhere on photomacrography.net there is discussion of a cheaper modern stand that has a good fine focus block in it.)

If you are in the U.S. there is an AO series 4 frame on ebay right now for 30.00. Very strong and precise focus block. 1 micron. I was going to buy it for the nosepiece but it isn't the one I want.
# 203471873445.

I have an AO Series 2 in similar shape as the one apochronaut mentioned that's in my boneyard, I would happily part with it as it's the only one of the series 2/4 line I have. I'm not certain if the 2 has the same capabilities as the 4 in the desired area, but a quick look suggests it's 1um fine focus.

Chas wrote: ↑

Wed May 18, 2022 9:33 am

The Microsystem 70, mentioned above, has around 1 mm, I think.

Indeed it does
. .

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ The patent is available here: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/ ... GB1168786A

dtsh wrote: ↑

Wed May 18, 2022 6:39 pm

I have an AO Series 2 in similar shape as the one apochronaut mentioned that's in my boneyard, I would happily part with it as it's the only one of the series 2/4 line I have. I'm not certain if the 2 has the same capabilities as the 4 in the desired area, but a quick look suggests it's 1um fine focus.

Does it have the dovetaled nosepiece or the R.M.S. threaded nosepiece? If it is the dovetailed type, I would take that. Presumably the poster wouldn't want that part.

apochronaut wrote: ↑

Wed May 18, 2022 8:00 pm

dtsh wrote: ↑

Wed May 18, 2022 6:39 pm

I have an AO Series 2 in similar shape as the one apochronaut mentioned that's in my boneyard, I would happily part with it as it's the only one of the series 2/4 line I have. I'm not certain if the 2 has the same capabilities as the 4 in the desired area, but a quick look suggests it's 1um fine focus.

Does it have the dovetaled nosepiece or the R.M.S. threaded nosepiece? If it is the dovetailed type, I would take that. Presumably the poster wouldn't want that part.

Pretty sure this *isn't* the one you want, but everyone loves pics. 2 of the nose, 1 of the stand. This is the nose with the included lens below the head.
And lastly, the stand itself.

That is the R.M.S. type. Thanks for the pictures. The frame looks good, though. If the poster is in the U.S. , that would do the job nicely.

I only know of one with the graduation scale on fine. It is not geared as is convention. Universal to this scale.
Kohler base would be better as the field iris is all you need mostly for intensity.
Like the difference between volume and loudness.
It's not an ideal starter project apart from the price.
6v 30w square filament is obsolete.
Drive it at full like a 6v Osram at 8v in the jenalux and it will burn your retinas without a second thought.
Hilux 12v 100w has added filters but they are not a toy.
Monocular is x1 and carries a Canon 50D with double battery pack without issue. Then when you pick up another two or 3 at £30-£150 each you will launch your own golden voyage of discovery maybe.
edit: The fine focus stop to stop is just short of 10 turns, If I remember correctly it could be extended a fraction either way/overall with a needle file.

Thanks for all the advice! It's still pretty overwhelming, but now I have a much broader range of brands/models to look for. One thing I've noticed is that the turret of most models would have to be removed (probably via hacksaw) as they'd get in the way, which doesn't sound like much fun. I suppose if the price is right, major scope surgery is less distasteful!

MattFossen wrote: ↑

Wed May 18, 2022 10:00 pm

Thanks for all the advice! It's still pretty overwhelming, but now I have a much broader range of brands/models to look for. One thing I've noticed is that the turret of most models would have to be removed (probably via hacksaw) as they'd get in the way, which doesn't sound like much fun. I suppose if the price is right, major scope surgery is less distasteful!

Try not to confuse the price with the value.

MattFossen wrote: ↑

Wed May 18, 2022 10:00 pm

Thanks for all the advice! It's still pretty overwhelming, but now I have a much broader range of brands/models to look for. One thing I've noticed is that the turret of most models would have to be removed (probably via hacksaw) as they'd get in the way, which doesn't sound like much fun. I suppose if the price is right, major scope surgery is less distasteful!

Easy enough to lop the arm off and mill or file it even; the casting for the AO2 is *likely* hollow, so there might be an opening (easy enough to cap).

MattFossen wrote: ↑

Wed May 18, 2022 10:00 pm

Thanks for all the advice! It's still pretty overwhelming, but now I have a much broader range of brands/models to look for. One thing I've noticed is that the turret of most models would have to be removed (probably via hacksaw) as they'd get in the way, which doesn't sound like much fun. I suppose if the price is right, major scope surgery is less distasteful!

The series 4 fine focus block is in the base of a hollow arm. It's all brass and tool steel. It is a fine side to side micrometer screw that moves a pawl up and down. A vertical brass mounting part of the mechanism runs up into the arm past the top of the focus block, so the cast aluminum but hollow arm would need to be cut about an inch or more above it.
Focus blocks of this type are in two stages with the fine and coarse separate. The coarse usually carries the condenser rack, so it is proximal to the stage and thus independant of the arm. If you can find one where the fine focus is on the outside or forward of the coarse focus( unusual but possible) , that would alleviate the necessity if cutting the the arm, or some designs might have the entire mechanism independent of the arm, attached remotely.

So, I purchased a couple of the beat-up B&L scopes, and have incorporated one of them into my setup (it's the black one in the photo). It works pretty well overall, but I did have to flip my "real" scope around 180 degrees to fit the butchered one in the working space; this necessitated using the extra B&L stand as a glorified paperweight to keep the pillar stand from tipping over. It's hideous, but it Mostly Works!

Which one is Bausch and which one is Lomb?

I've been afraid to ask them; I suspect the black one resents that I removed part of it with a hacksaw.

Ask if you don't understand.

There are plenty of Olympus BH2 frames on the used market and the system has a good reputation for its mechanical quality, so why aren't you concerned?