Converting metalurgical microscope to biological?

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Andrew2007
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Converting metalurgical microscope to biological?

#1 Post by Andrew2007 » Fri May 20, 2022 5:54 pm

Hello

There could be a metalurgical microscope up for sale at a reasonable price, its designed to be used without coverslips so I've learnt that if I want to use it to view biological samples where I would normally use a coverslip I would have to replace the objective lenses.

Is there any way as three objective lenses aren't going to be cheap, it presently uses parfocal infinity corrected plan objectives?

Thank you

PeteM
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Re: Converting metalurgical microscope to biological?

#2 Post by PeteM » Fri May 20, 2022 6:28 pm

You'll want to be sure, first, that the metallurgical microscope has a transmitted as well as reflected illumination system present.

The epi objectives will likely be OK for coverslip use at 10x, decent at 20x, and not very good at 40x and above. Depending on the model of scope, you may need 160mm, 210mm, infinity etc. objectives meant for use with cover slips.

Scarodactyl
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Re: Converting metalurgical microscope to biological?

#3 Post by Scarodactyl » Fri May 20, 2022 8:25 pm

Yeah, it depends a lot on what type of metallurgical scope it is.

Andrew2007
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2019 1:19 pm

Re: Converting metalurgical microscope to biological?

#4 Post by Andrew2007 » Sun May 22, 2022 2:12 pm

Thanks, sorry for the late response.

It's a Brunel, the model number isn't available but to me it looks like a Sp400, but which one I don't know.

I would be mostly using the 10X and 20X objectives, avian fecal samples.
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PeteM
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Re: Converting metalurgical microscope to biological?

#5 Post by PeteM » Sun May 22, 2022 5:27 pm

Looks to me like you're in luck. That model appears to be a decent Chinese version meant to compete more or less with Olympus BX40 and Nikon E400 models - likely with Olympus infinity objective compatibility. I've had a couple Accuscope 400 series that are also similar. It's a good scope.

It should be usable as is for transmitted work up to the 20x objective (with slight image degradation at 20x/200x total). Olympus or Olympus-like infinity objectives (say, a 40x plan achromat) will likely be a match. The Olympus objectives will be slightly better in my experience.

Scarodactyl
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Re: Converting metalurgical microscope to biological?

#6 Post by Scarodactyl » Sun May 22, 2022 5:50 pm

I had a very similar model, the Unitron Examet 4. That was a nice scope, with complete compatibility with Olympus objectives and the head dovetail was also compatible iirc.
This one looks like it might have transmitted light fully set up including s condenser, hard to say though.

Andrew2007
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Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2019 1:19 pm

Re: Converting metalurgical microscope to biological?

#7 Post by Andrew2007 » Mon May 23, 2022 8:17 am

Thanks very much for the replies and helpful information guys. 😊

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