3.3: Microscope Handling and Care
- Page ID
- 124523
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Handling and Care
The compound light microscope is a precision equipment and used extensively in the laboratory. It is important to understand and follow the proper procedure to handle and care for the equipment to avoid damage.
General Handling
- Always carry the microscope with two hands – hold the microscope through the arms (see Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)).
- Place the microscope flat on the table.
- DO NOT DRAG the microscope across the table as it loosens the internal screws.
- Unplug the power cord before carrying the microscope back to its storage location or to a different location.
- Please do not attempt to clean the microscope lens or other components yourself.
- Please call your instructor if you feel a component of the microscope needs to be cleaned.
- Keep the scanning objective in place and keep the stage low when adding or removing slides.
- DO NOT attempt to fix or take the microscope apart. Please notify your instructor with any issues.
Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\) Microscope transport: Hold the microscope with two hands when moving it. (Image by Harmony Folse, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)
Operation
Retrieving the Microscope
- Clear the laboratory bench for the microscope.
- Obtain a microscope from the storage cabinet. Remember to carry the microscope with both hands as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)
- Carefully place the microscope on the laboratory bench.
- Plug in the power cord.
Placing the Specimen (The Slide)
- If the stage is not already at the lowest position, rotate the coarse focusing knob towards you to fully lower the stage.
- Press the specimen holding lever knob to open the lever and slide the slide from front to back on the stage to place it (see Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\))
- After placing the specimen, return the specimen holding lever gently.
Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\) Inserting a slide on the stage. (Image by Harmony Folse, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)
Moving the Specimen (The Slide)
- Rotating the upper Y-axis knob moves the specimen in the Y-axis direction (front and back).
- Rotating the lower X-axis knob moves the specimen in the X-axis direction (right and left).
Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\) X-axis and Y-axis knobs: The arrows indicate the direction the stage will move when the corresponding knob is rotated (Image by Harmony Folse, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)
Selecting the objective
- Hold the revolving nosepiece (a) and rotate it so that the intended objective comes exactly above the specimen. You will hear or feel a slight click when the objective is in the correct position for viewing the slide. Observe Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\) showing how the revolving nosepiece should be rotated to select the objective.
Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\) Changing objectives: The arrows indicate the direction the revolving nosepiece can be rotated to change between objectives (Image by Harmony Folse, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)
Focusing the specimen (the slide)
Always start with the scanning objective (4x). This is the objective with the red band around it.
- Make sure the stage is at its lowest position.
- Engage the scanning objective – 4x (c) by rotating the revolving nosepiece.
- Place the slide on the stage. Use the specimen holder to secure it.
- Center the specimen of the slide under the scanning objective and the light path by moving the X-axis and Y-axis knobs.
- While looking through the eyepieces, move the stage up by rotating the coarse focusing knob slowly until the specimen comes into focus so it looks sharp.
Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\) Using the coarse focusing knob: The coarse focusing knob can be rotated to move the stage up and down to focus the specimen. Only use the coarse focusing knob when on the scanning (red) objective. Do not use the coarse focusing knob on other objectives. (Image by Harmony Folse, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)
- While looking through the eyepieces, adjust the interpupillary distance by moving the binocular portion in either direction until the right and left fields of view coincide completely. This makes it possible to observe a single image and to reduce eye strain during observation.
- Center the specimen again with X-axis and Y-axis knobs.
- Adjust the iris diaphragm by moving the aperture diaphragm lever right and left to adjust the amount of light passing through the condenser (Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)). (Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)). Adjusting the diaphragm lever allows you to observe the specimen with the best contrast and resolution.
- When the subject is in focus with the scanning objective (4x), you may then move to the low power objective (10x). This is the objective with the yellow band around it.
10. While looking through the eyepieces, move the stage up by rotating the fine focusing knob slowly until the specimen comes into focus so it looks sharp. Do NOT use the coarse focusing knob when using the low power (yellow) or the high power (blue) objective!!!
Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\) Using the fine focusing knob: The fine focusing knob can be rotated to make small adjustments which help focus the specimen. The fine focusing knob can be used with any of the objectives. (Image by Harmony Folse, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)
11. Center the specimen again with X-axis and Y-axis knobs if necessary.
12. Adjust the aperture diaphragm by moving the aperture diaphragm lever right and left to adjust the amount of light passing through the condenser (Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)).
Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)Adjusting the aperture diaphragm: The aperture diaphragm lever can be moved left and right to adjust the amount of light passing through the condenser. By adjust this lever, different details on the slide can be seen under different light conditions. (Image by Harmony Folse, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)
13. When the subject is in focus with the low power objective (10x), you may then move to the high power objective (40x). This is the objective with the blue band around it. Repeat steps 10-12 above.
14. Before removing a slide, always return the revolving nosepiece to the scanning objective and lower the stage before lifting the slide off!
Storage
- Lower the stage to the lowest position.
- Return the objective to the scanning objective (RED OBJECTIVE).
- Remove the slide from the stage.
- Turn the microscope off.
- Unplug the power cord and the AC adapter then secure in the cord holder. Carefully wrap the cords and store them in the microscope as indicated in Figure below.
- Carry the microscope with two hands.
- Return the microscope to the cabinet with the arm facing out.
