Columbia FM600 punches above it's weight

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ZodiacPhoto
Posts: 59
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2022 6:53 pm

Columbia FM600 punches above it's weight

#1 Post by ZodiacPhoto » Sun Oct 23, 2022 5:59 pm

I posted earlier a mini-review of the tiny Columbia FM 600 microscope I bought: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=16396
My microscope, while fully functional, had three issues I wanted to straighten:
1. Fine focus knobs required a tad more effort than I feel comfortable with.
2. Objective turret was somewhat tilted to the right side (I initially thought it was by design).
3. Condenser iris diaphragm was not perfectly centered.
So, I took the microscope apart, cleaned and lubed, and aligned everything:
CandL.jpg
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After this, everything is perfect!
I installed SPlan 4x, 10x, 20x, and 40x objectives and WHK 10x/20 eyepieces from Olympus, and now this little gem punches way above it's weight.
Having said this, the stock optics from Swift is not bad at all.
with_oly.jpg
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GerryR
Posts: 183
Joined: Sun May 22, 2022 11:44 am
Location: Virginia, USA

Re: Columbia FM600 punches above it's weight

#2 Post by GerryR » Sun Oct 23, 2022 11:19 pm

Nice 'scope and fine job. I've used Swift optics and have been very happy with them. (Also, I like the Fluke 45 Multimeter in the background. I use mine often.)

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woyjwjl
Posts: 325
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2022 1:55 pm
Location: Wuhan, China

Re: Columbia FM600 punches above it's weight

#3 Post by woyjwjl » Mon Oct 24, 2022 2:21 am

Interesting work, really good

Is OLY 160mm limited system compatible?
Micrographers from China, thanks to the forum for providing a platform for exchange

ZodiacPhoto
Posts: 59
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2022 6:53 pm

Re: Columbia FM600 punches above it's weight

#4 Post by ZodiacPhoto » Mon Oct 24, 2022 11:12 am

Yes, because both eyepieces are adjustable, I was able to achieve perfect parfocality with Olympus optics.

Dennis
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Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 3:19 pm
Location: New Jersey, USA

Re: Columbia FM600 punches above it's weight

#5 Post by Dennis » Mon Oct 24, 2022 11:56 am

ZodiacPhoto,

You are further along than me but one suggestion is to buy a small sized magnetic parts dish for the screws.
I know they could drop on the floor before getting to that point. But these little parts if they fall on the floor sometimes it gives a real search to find them.

-Dennis

ZodiacPhoto
Posts: 59
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2022 6:53 pm

Re: Columbia FM600 punches above it's weight

#6 Post by ZodiacPhoto » Mon Oct 24, 2022 10:40 pm

Dennis,

Great idea, I have one in y garage, but it is too large for my work bench and microscope screws.
Will look for a smaller one.
So, I ate all those M&M yogurts for nothing (I use the cups)? :D
dai_yocrunch_vanmm_01_z.jpg
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ZodiacPhoto
Posts: 59
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2022 6:53 pm

Re: Columbia FM600 punches above it's weight

#7 Post by ZodiacPhoto » Fri Dec 02, 2022 12:22 pm

If somebody is interested in this scope, there is one on Ebay, will end really cheap, I think. I don't know the seller:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/165806982460?h ... ondition=4

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