Nose Piece Position When Storing?

[icantsleep]

Hi,
Should you store a compound microscope with the nose piece “clicked on” an objective or positioned in-between objectives? Does it matter?

[PeteM]

It doesn't much matter. With the head on, you've sealed the rear lenses of the objectives from dust. Even better with a proper dust cover on the scope.

The slight case for having an objective clicked in place is that the spring detent in the nosepiece will be in a more relaxed position - and thus less likely to lose proper tension over time.

Try to get some sleep . . .

[icantsleep]

Great points. Thanks Pete!

[apochronaut]

The standard practice in the past : with objective focusing microscopes was to always turn the nosepiece to the lowest power objective after use. There were several reasons for this. The primary reason was that the low power objective was almost always shorter with a longer working distance. so in most cases it could not accidentally be driven into the stage if something untoward should happen, or the focusing mechanism should all of a sudden develop drift. That is possible, if the microscope was stored away and the weather got really hot. Other reasons were that the low power is the objective that will be used first the next time, so it might as well be dialled up and in communal use, it is just a courtesy. It is also necessary and a courtesy to clean the immersion objective after use and rotating the low power objective in brings it out for easier cleaning. Usually the condenser should be backed off a little too.

With focusing stages, this is not so much the case anymore but the microscope could get knocked over or get upside down in transit, or young children might start turning dials, so it isn't bad practice in general. The secondary reasons still hold.

[Alexander]

The standard practice in the past : with objective focusing microscopes was to always turn the nosepiece to the lowest power objective after use.

I still do that today.