MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Hello does anybody have recommendations for alternatives or options for mechanical stages to the BH2-SRG rotating stage for the Olympus BHS Microscope? I have recently acquired one with a third party mechanical stage but I am unable to use it as the stage clips are too high, blocking the rotation of the objectives from the nosepiece.

Maybe post a picture of the parts?

Low-height stages for polarization work are available from several makers, including Olympus. However, they're hard to find used and usually expensive.

I'd guess the one fitted to your stage is one of the Japanese ones, or later Chinese clones. As you say, they'll bump into the noses of higher magnification objectives and possibly damage them.

Two possible workarounds until you find a low-profile version:

1) Move what you have to the outermost position so that only the slide holders need to clear for most of the rotation. Then, be very careful in rotating the stage not to interfere with the x-y mechanism that's sitting higher.

2) Use actual slide clips and center the slide manually. These should clear.

Here are pictures of the parts, as well as the problem with the stage colliding with the objectives:

I have seen other alternatives like this mechanical stage from this link: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/143405630456?_t ... %7Ciid%3A1 . But once again, I am concerned that the height's of 3rd-party stages are too high causing no clearance.

The principal is to add more distance from the centre of the slide to high point that will not clear.
It's very different to what you have so could work.
Good luck if you choose to try it.

"This one had the circular stage BH2-SRG with permanently attached centering bolts, and it clips onto the same round stage holding frame used for several biological stages (the BHT stage and nose turret are easy to remove for different uses). Olympus also made a larger circular stage BH2-SRP, which is one piece with its stage holder frame and includes a lever-controlled clicker for every 45 degrees of rotation."

I purchased the entire BHSP in order to obtain BH2-SRP

For the interference problem between the Slide Holder and the objective lens, I replaced the fixing bolt (shortened length) to ensure that only one position had interference, so I turned the stage counterclockwise.

I have an extra set of FM-3 for sale on eBay.

Even the original designed for BH A-FMP will somewhat hinder your nosepiece. You will have to replace the knobs with flatter low profile ones. I believe the u-fmp of the BX era solved this issue, do not quote me on it though.

Just updating this forum post with a question. Does anybody who own the Olympus U-FMP can provide the dimensions of the Allen screw that secures it? I am trying to see if I can mount a U-FMP Mechanical Stage onto a BH2-SRP.