Microscope maintenance

The microscope is a precision opto-mechatronic instrument. In order to fully utilize its functions and extend its service life, attention should be paid to the maintenance of the microscope.

1 Microscope maintenance
1.1 Anti-hyperthermal microscope is composed of precision mechanical and optical lenses. Due to the different thermal expansion coefficients of various materials, the microscope cannot be exposed to sunlight or placed close to the stove and heating. It can only be stored at room temperature, and its working temperature range is generally 5 °C ~ 40 °C.
1.2 Moisture-proof If the lens is wet for a long time, the lens is prone to mildew and the surface will corrode, so it should be stored in a dry environment. The humidity should not be >80% at 31 °C, and the relative humidity should be reduced by 10% for every 3 °C increase in temperature.
1.3 Dust and dust will not only affect the image quality, but also dust with corrosive dust such as acid and alkali, which will easily corrode the mirror surface. Hard particles with high hardness may also scratch the mirror surface when wiping the lens, damaging the lens. In addition, when the dust falls into the mechanically movable part, the mechanical part is easily inflexible or even damaged.
1.4 Anti-corrosion microscopes should not be exposed to acids and bases, and should not be placed together with highly volatile chemicals and other harmful chemicals to avoid corrosion of the lens.
1.5 Shockproof microscopes are precision instruments, and severe vibrations can cause a decrease in precision. It should be handled gently, and it should be kept steady. The action should be gentle when using.
1.6 Wipe
1.6.1 Wiping the mechanical device If the mechanical device is stained, wipe it with a clean soft cloth. If it cannot be wiped off, wipe it with a small amount of xylene with a mirror paper or a fine silk cloth. Care should be taken not to use chemicals such as alcohol or ether to avoid corrosion of the surface of the unit.
1.6.2 Wipe the optical lens Generally, the method of first blowing, then brushing, and then wiping is used. Blowing is to blow off the attachment on the surface of the lens with a blower (or with an ear wash), but you can't blow directly with the mouth. When you can't blow it, use a clean special cleaning brush to gently brush. When there is still dirt on the surface of the lens after the above two methods are treated, gently wipe it with a little bit of xylene on the lens paper. If you find that the lens is moldy and foggy, you can wipe it with a mixture of a small amount of absolute alcohol and ether, but the liquid should not be too much, and the residence time should be short to avoid corrosion inside the lens. The oil lens should be wiped in time after each use. First wipe it with dry rubbing paper, remove most of the medium oil, wipe it twice with xylene dampening mirror paper, and then wipe it once with dry rubbing paper. .
1.7 Other optical lens surfaces should not be touched by hand to avoid contamination. The device with tension is returned to its natural relaxed state after use. It is best not to place any adjustable part in an extreme position. Do not switch the power switch frequently for a short time. The brightness of the microscope should be lowered during the use of the microscope. Never leave specimens on the stage for a long time, especially when there are volatile substances.
2 Troubleshooting common faults
2.1 Lens image quality is low Due to damage to the lens layer or fogging of the lens surface, the image quality is degraded. For moldy lenses, it is advisable to fumigate the spores of the mold with chemicals such as methyl salicylate and wipe them off. The lens that damages the film needs to be replaced.
2.2 Uneven light in the field of view First check whether the optical surfaces such as the objective lens, eyepiece, and condenser are damaged. If it is stained, wipe it with lens paper; if it is damaged, repair it as described above. Then check if the objective lens is in the light path, and whether the field diaphragm is concentrated or not. After the cause of the fault is determined, it can generally be solved after adjustment.
2.3 If the image is blurred, if it is not caused by damage to components such as the lens, check whether the objective lens is in the correct position and whether the optical surfaces are dirty. Dispose according to the situation as described above. If an immersion objective is used, there is a possibility that the immersion liquid is used improperly or bubbles or impurities are mixed in the immersion liquid.
2.4 After the focus adjustment, the automatic sliding down after the focus adjustment is mostly caused by the wear of the gasket between the hand wheel and the end face of the rack sleeve due to long-term use, which causes the static friction of the end face to decrease. When repairing, it can be removed according to different structural forms. For a microscope with a coarse adjustment button tension adjustment ring, it may be due to the looseness of the tension adjustment ring, and the tension can be adjusted to eliminate it.