MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

On a friends AO Microstar the condenser support arms are visibly misaligned with the field diagram window and we can’t centre the field diaphragm. We have no record of ever having knocked the arms. Is it possible to recenter the arms / stage unit?
Thanks
Michael

It is not possible to align the condenser at all because you are missing one of the alignment control screws.

Sorry, I had taken the screw out as part of tearing down the mount and forgot to replace it for the photo. When it is in place it has to be inserted as far as it will go to bring the Kohler disc fully into the 10x FOV, still offset to the right of centre.
Michael

Mike - the stage and condenser ride on a dovetail attached to the stand. You could try opening up the holes attaching that dovetail (there's already likely a bit of play) and try moving it over.

Before doing that, might want to check that the turret is properly aligned. That microscope almost surely started it's life aligned, and something like the turret spring detent or the turret itself seems more likely to have been tweaked loose than the stage or condenser. In particular, the turret's spring detent is held just by two small screws at the front.

It's possible to make a sort of crude centering device to see that the head and turret are directly over the center of the field iris.

Thanks PeteM, it was the screws holding the dovetail, two were loos and the entire rail was off-square.
Full Kohler is now achievable.
Michael