
Occasionally it may be necessary to apply enamel to a microscope or a part of a microscope that has become scratched or that has had its surface protection wore away by years of use. It is best to sand the damaged area (carefully!) and carefully mask it with paper and masking tape, and then apply epoxy enamel.
Full Answer
What should I do if my microscope is not working?
Check to see if your microscope is plugged in. Check to see if the bulbs are installed correctly. You may have to install or reinstall the microscope bulb. If the bulbs are installed, check to make sure they are not loose, which sometimes happens during shipment. Check the rheostat (light intensity control) on the side of the microscope.
Why do microscopes need repairing?
Over time microscope gears can get worn out or may be jammed up with debris or a sticky substance. In these cases a microscope technician should examine the microscope and repair it.
What do you do if your microscope gears are stuck?
Stuck Microscope Focusing Gears If you run into a microscope that has focusing gears that seem to be stuck and will not move, don't try to force the gears. Over time microscope gears can get worn out or may be jammed up with debris or a sticky substance. In these cases a microscope technician should examine the microscope and repair it.
What causes a microscope to lose focus?
If the focusing mechanism becomes loose the stage will drift or the head will fall slowly, causing the microscope to lose focus. There are times when gears inside a microscope might become stripped and in that case a microscope technician needs to repair the microscope.

How do you fix a microscope that won't focus?
0:081:07Microscope Won't Focus? [Troubleshooting Tips] - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you put the slide on upside down it may not get into focus at your higher magnifications the 4dxMoreIf you put the slide on upside down it may not get into focus at your higher magnifications the 4dx or 100x objective. Secondly is check the focus stop of your microscope.
How do you service a microscope?
To clean the microscope eyepiece or the microscope objective lens, moisten lens paper with lens cleaning solution and clean the lens with a circular motion. You can dry the lens with a clean, dry piece of lens paper and when you are finished use an aspirator to remove any lingering dirt or particles.
What should be done if a microscope has a broken part?
If a slide or cover glass is broken, dispose of it and replace it immediately to prevent anyone from being cut. The adhesive used to attach a cover glass to a slide is applied as a liquid. As the liquid dries, it only hardens around the edges of the cover glass.
What is maintenance and care of microscope?
10 Tips for Microscope CareTip 1: Handle with care. ... Tip 2: Keep lenses clear of slides. ... Tip3: Clean after using immersion oil. ... Tip 4: Cover when not in use. ... Tip 5: Look after the bulb. ... Tip 6: Store in a clean, dry place. ... Tip 7: Only use special lens paper or wipes for cleaning the lenses.More items...
How often should microscope be serviced?
Center the 4× objective over the stage, turn the power off, ensure it is dry, and drape the dust cover over the microscope. Microscopes should be serviced annually by a professional microscopy service, and lenses and bulbs should be replaced as needed.
How do you deep clean a microscope?
Dip a lens wipe or cotton swab into distilled water and shake off any excess liquid. Then, wipe the lens using the spiral motion. This should remove all water-soluble dirt.
How do you fix a microscope slide?
0:071:46How to Heat Fix a Microscope Slide - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhere we're going to hold the slide against the opening of a backbone sin rater. And then the heatMoreWhere we're going to hold the slide against the opening of a backbone sin rater. And then the heat will coagulate the protein in the bacterium causing it to stick to the slide so it doesn't wash off.
How do you salvage a broken slide?
The usual practice of repairing a broken slide is to use Scotch Tape; but often fine splintering with loss of some part of the slide results in loose-jointed coherence, making impossible placing the slide on the stage of a microscope or filing it in a slide box with compartments.
How do you fix a slide?
1:112:33Heat-Fixing Slides - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo now let me show you how you would heat fix your slide. You. Hold it like this the purpose of heatMoreSo now let me show you how you would heat fix your slide. You. Hold it like this the purpose of heat fixing is twofold number one it kills the bacteria.
Why should we take care of the microscope?
Lens and Objective Care – Microscope lenses are very fragile and need to be handled with care to prevent scratches. Never let your lens touch the microscope slide and never touch any of the lens with your fingers. Microscope lenses are difficult to clean and proper care is very important.
What are the parts of the microscope?
Function of each Microscope PartEyepiece or Ocular Lens. Eyepiece lens magnifies the image of the specimen. ... Eyepiece Tube or Body Tube. The tube hold the eyepiece.Nosepiece. ... Objective Lenses. ... Arm. ... Stage. ... Stage Clips. ... Diaphragm (sometimes called the Iris)More items...•
Why do you need to care and maintain your microscope?
Lens and Objective Care – Microscope lenses are very fragile and need to be handled with care to prevent scratches. Never let your lens touch the microscope slide and never touch any of the lens with your fingers. Microscope lenses are difficult to clean and proper care is very important.
How do you test a microscope?
Check for cleanliness: with no slide on the stage, dial in your highest power objective lens, adjust the diaphragm to the smallest opening, turn on the illuminator and look through the eyepiece lens. If you see dust particles, turn the eyepiece lens. If the dust moves, it is on the eyepiece.
How is the proper care storage and transport of the microscope?
When transporting the microscope, hold it in an upright position with one hand on its arm and the other supporting its base. Avoid jarring the instrument when setting it down. Use only special grit-free lens paper to clean the lenses. Clean all lenses before and after use.
When maintaining the microscope what is used to clean the lens Mcq?
So, a 70% ethanol solution can be used to clean and sterilize the lens. this can also help get rid of any unwanted dirt. A small cotton swab or a soft tissue can be used to dip in the ethanol solution and wipe away gently without damaging the lens and the quality of the instrument.
What is a repair and service microscope?
Repair and service information for the microscope, an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. Author: Sam Goldheart (and 3 other contributors)
When was the first microscope invented?
After numerous improvements to these lenses, the first compound microscope (including an objective lens and an eyepiece) was introduced in Europe around 1620. Microscopes come in various sizes. Most are designed to sit flat on a table, desk, or laboratory counter.
What is a microscope used for?
A microscope is a magnification instrument used across multiple branches of medicine and science in order to view objects too small to be seen by the human eye.
What is included in a microscope?
Microscopes include a flat surface where the specimen is placed, magnifying lenses, and an eyepiece. Microscopes also often include a light to illuminate the specimen and a power cord.
What is the phone number for a microscope?
If your question is not listed here, please call us at (877) 409-3556 and a technician will gladly assist you.
Where is the fuse on a microscope?
Depending on the your microscope model, you will either find the fuse on the bottom or back of the microscope. If the glass case of the fuse appears discolored or burned, or you can see broken pieces of the fuse element, this means the fuse is not working. Replacing the fuse will fix this problem.
Do you have to reinstall a microscope bulb?
You may have to install or reinstall the microscope bulb. If the bulbs are installed, check to make sure they are not loose, which sometimes happens during shipment. Check the rheostat (light intensity control) on the side of the microscope. Many customers omit to turn up the light! Check the fuse.
Why does my microscope not stay in focus?
When using a compound biological microscope if the stage tends to drift or fall slightly during use, the specimen will not stay in focus. This microscope stage drift is typically cause by a loose focus mechanism. On a compound microscope the tension adjustment is usually on the inside of the coarse focus next to the body of the microscope.
How to adjust the coarse focus on a stereo microscope?
The first method is to insert the tool provided on the focusing shaft between the focusing holder and the focusing knob. (See image at left).
Why is my microscope drifting?
If microscope focusing gears or tension on these focusing devices is too tight or too loose the microscope stage can drift or cause problems getting a microscope image into focus. Below are a few recommendations for adjusting focusing gears and tension on microscopes. When using a compound biological microscope if the stage tends to drift ...
Where is the tension adjustment on a microscope?
On a compound microscope the tension adjustment is usually on the inside of the coarse focus next to the body of the microscope. Turning this tension adjustment clockwise will tighten the tension (required if the stage is drifting).
Can a microscope get jammed?
Over time microscope gears can get worn out or may be jammed up with debris or a sticky substance. In these cases a microscope technician should examine the microscope and repair it. The image at left shows some internal microscope gears that are stripped on a stereo zoom microscope.
How to choose a microscope?
Step 1: Choosing a Microscope. If you're choosing a microscope, look for an older model, but not too old. Say a good 60s/70s model will be plenty good. The model we're using is a little older, but I wouldn't go much older than this. Zeiss, Leitz, Wild, Nikon, Olympus these are all brands you can trust.
How to use a microscope as an ordinary microscope?
1. We will take an old microscope and polish it up. I'll try to address the most common problems handling worn microscopes. Afterwards, you can use it as an ordinary microscope if you already have a light source. 2. We'll build a light source for the microscope. Now it's a real microscope.
What type of microscope do you use to see samples?
The type of microscope we'll use is an optical compound microscope designed for viewing samples by 'transmitted light'. That means that light passes through the sample instead of being reflected from it. A compound microscope uses a combination of an objective lens and en eyepiece.
What is compound microscope?
A compound microscope uses a combination of an objective lens and en eyepiece. The objective lens focuses a real image of the object inside the tube of the microscope which is then magnified by the eyepiece to give an enlarged image of the object. This image appears inverted.
How to clean an objective lens?
Cleaning an objective lens. Before you touch the lens even with lens paper , try to clean it as best as you can first with compressed air, then with a lens brush, then with lens paper. Any dust particles under your tissue might scratch the lens. Then use lens paper.
What are the disadvantages of optical transmission microscopy?
One big disadvantage of optical transmission microscopy is the low contrast: you need to use very thin slices which more often than not let most of the light pass through. Thus, what you get is a bright image with very little contrast and it can sometimes be quite hard to make out some of the distinct features you are looking for. This is why people have come up with different methods to enhance the contrast of microscopic images. While staining (ie. adding dye and then washing the sample) is the easiest and most common, a few methods achieve remarkable results without changing your specimen, solely by manipulating light.
What is the function of a condenser in a microscope?
The function of the condenser is to fill the objective evenly with a cone of light. This cone of light is narrow for an objective of low aperture but needs to be very wide for one of high aperture. The condenser allow you to adjust the code width by adjusting the distance between the condenser and your sample. Parts of the objective that do not receive light cannot fully participate in image formation!
