Viewing a Specimen
To view a slide specimen w
1. Carefully place a spec
stage plate (10). For specimen slides, you should use the black/white stage plate.
2.
Illuminate the specimen slide by using a nearby desk lamp, table lamp, bright overhead light, or use natural light if
located near a window.
3.
To focus on your specimen slide, turn the focus knob (6) until the specimen comes in
travel in the focuser mechanism to reach focus, it may be necessary to loosen the pillar stand locking knob (5) and
raise or lower the entire head assembly (15) until the image comes into sharp focus.
Tip
: Experiment with different lighting for different specimens. When using downward lighting, the white side of the
stag
e may wash out fine detail whereas the black side will increase contrast but may make t
To view larger specimens without using the electric illuminator:
1. For larger specimens such as insects or insect parts, animal parts, rocks, fossils, PC boards, other materials, plan
flower parts, and other larger items --- you will have to make adjustments to the working space to obtain focus.
2. Make sure the binocular head (15) is high enough for the specimen to fit on the stage plate (10). You may have to
raise the head (15) by loosening the pillar stand locking knob (5) and move the head up the pillar stand (3) to the
desired position and then tighten the pillar stand locking knob (5).
3. Illuminate and focus the large specimen similar to items 2 and 3 in the section above.
To pr
ovide higher quality viewing of specimens you will want to use the electric illumina
top illuminator and a bottom illuminator. To use the illuminators:
1. Plug one end of the power cord into the socket on the back of the microscope and the plug prong end of the power
cord into a wall outlet – see Figure 4b below. Make sure you have the proper model for your power requirement –
either the 115-volt model or the 230-volt model.
2. Turn the switch (located at the back of the microscope) to the on position – see Figure 4b.
3.
Turn the top illuminator knob (9) on by rotating it clockwise and increase the brightness by continuing to rotate the
knob to the desired intensity.
4. Turn the bottom illuminator knob (to the right of the top illuminator knob) on by rotating it
illuminator does not have an adjustment for brightness. The bottom illuminator can only be useful when using the
frosted/opaque stage plate.
5. For many specimens, you should experiment with the different illumination options to get one that gives you the best
results.
Power Switch
R
otating the Binocular Head
The head of your microscope can be rot
h
ead, loosen the binocular head lock
b
inocular head tension screw (13).
Microscope Operation
ithout using the electric illuminator:
imen slide under the specimen holder clips (11) and center the slide directly in the middle of the
ated 360°. Therefore, you can view from any position. To change positions of the
screw (13) and rotate the head (15) to the position desired and then tighten the
Figure 4b
14
to focus. If there is not enough
he specimen less bright.
tor. Your microscope has a
clockwise. The bottom
Socket for Power Cord
t and