ABSOLUTE CLARITY & CALIBRATION, LLC
109 Main Street  v Terryville,  CT  06786
Phone (860) 583-0502 v FAX (860) 314-1851

     The following steps are critical in evaluating the extent of repair that your microscope needs.  Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.  

Proper User Set-up & Diagnostics for Stereozoom Binocular Microscopes  

1.  Set cross-line target on stage.  Best results are achieved with 0.0006” cross-line reticle of 30mm diameter.  Focus and center cross-line image at highest magnification setting.  (You can draw a very fine pencil cross-line on white paper if no glass cross-line is available.)

-  It may become obvious to you that your eyes must strain in order to focus on the center of the very fine cross-line.  Continue with the rest of this procedure.

** This eye strain effect may be the cause of user complaints and can be corrected by a LASER alignment performed at ACC’s facility.

2.     If your microscope has dual diopter adjusters (one on each eyepiece tube) they should both be set at the zero mark or line.  If there is only one diopter adjuster, please see line #3.

3.     Focus at highest magnification using the stand focus knob.  “Best focus” preference should be given to the fixed eyepiece side (usually under the right eyepiece).  Do not move the stand focus knob from here on.

4.     Looking through the fixed eyepiece side, check focus of the cross-line target image at lowest zoom magnification setting.  The fixed eyepiece image should still be clear.  If not, the scope needs other adjustments.

5.     Focus the other eyepiece also at lowest magnification using the adjustable diopter collar under the eyepiece itself (usually under the left eyepiece).  Again, do not use the stand focus knob.  If dual diopters are available - each eyepiece should be adjusted for best focus individually.

6.     Scope should now stay focused when going from maximum to minimum magnification as long as the stand focus was set at highest magnification, and eyepieces were focused correctly (and matched) at lowest magnification setting.

7.     Recheck by going from high magnification, focus image using the stand knob then go the low magnification. All should be clear.  Use this procedure before starting your work under the microscope at the beginning of each day or after someone else has adjusted your microscope.

** Once this procedure has been completed, the diopter adjuster(s) should NOT be moved.

Observe for contamination:

1.  Remove both eyepieces and with your head approximately 10 inches away, look for haziness on the glass elements as you look down the eyepiece tubes.

2.  Remove the head from the stand.

3.  Pick up the scope head and aim the eyepiece tubes at a light source.  Put your eye up to the objective lens on the bottom of the scope.

4.  While slowly rotating the zoom, look for haze, hairs, crystals and oil contamination.  As you rotate the zoom, each side of each of the internal optical elements surfaces will come into focus one at a time.

If these procedures does not clarify the microscope out-of-focus problems and eye strain is evident, then it is badly in need of service and Absolute Clarity should be contacted at your earliest convenience.

| Back to top | Mineral Collectors page | Home |