Tips On How To Use A Dissecting Microscope
A dissecting microscope is an instrument used in examining small parts of animals or plants. It is characterized as having a low magnification power of 50x. It can accommodate objects having three dimensions. The most basic parts of a dissecting microscope include its tube, arm, ocular head, focusing knob, zoom knob, right and left ocular, nosepiece, objective lens, condenser, slide, diaphragm, knob for mirror positioning, stage plate, stage clip, transformer, and voltage selector.
It is important to learn how to use a dissecting microscope to attain an effective examination of your object of analysis. Here are some simple guidelines.
HANDLE WITH CARE
To pick up a dissecting microscope, the user should grasp its arm using the left hand and support its base with the right hand or vice versa. While carrying it to any flat surfaced desk, never push your fingers underneath the microscope’s base.
SET UP THE EQUIPMENT
Take out the equipment’s dust cover and raise its ocular head. Do this by revolving the focusing knob to the point where the ocular head’s back part is positioned above the top of the microscope’s arm..
Set up the top lighting by removing the wrap of the cord and inserting the light into the hole. If it is on the base, insert the light into the bottom part. In some cases, a dissecting microscope is equipped with a distinct transilluminator. Also, remove the wrap the transformer’s cord. Make sure to put off the voltage selector before plugging it into an outlet. This should turn on.
Place the specimen on the field at a center position while turning the zoom knob to 10x. It is located at the top of the ocular head. For example, if your specimen is any flower, cautiously pull the petals and other parts out of the stem without damaging these parts or tearing them apart. Stick a part of this flower in the dissecting microscope and take a closer look at it. If you see most pollens from your specimen, take them out and place them in a Petri dish and observe these pollens as well. Basically, this is how dissecting works. Or if your specimen is a rock, you can break it off into tiny pieces and put the little shards in a Petri dish. There are a lot of subject specimens available so it is up to you to choose one.
Assuming your dissecting microscope is binocular, use your right eye to view the specimen through the right ocular. Make use of the focusing knob to gain focus of the specimen. If the right side is already focused in a fine manner, start looking through the left ocular, this time, with your left eye. Adjust focus by turning the left ocular. These are all done to give good focus on both eyes.
To obtain an image that has absolutely zero black areas and in three dimensions, adjust the focus based on your preferred interocular space or distance. This can be done by spreading the right and left oculars together. For a clearer magnification of the specimen, adjust the zoom knob once again.
It is also possible to regulate the dissecting microscope’s adjusting diopter. A diopter is often used to fix the differences when focusing for your specimen. Adjustment varies from each microscope user. You can start by covering your left or right eye with your one hand positioning it upfront the scope’s eyepiece using the adjustment diopter and focus knob. Get the specimen into its sharpest focus. After obtaining your desired focus, put your other hand over the other eye, this time, without the adjusting diopter. Bring again the specimen into its sharpest focus by using only the diopter.
Using the transformer setting, regulate the amount of light that passes through the specimen. Remember to always use the lowest setting of the transformer if you want to lengthen the usability of your bulb. The lowest setting results to an adequate illumination just enough for examining your specimen. When cleaning the lenses, use only those paper lenses and do not attempt to cleanse it with a cloth.
KEEP IT SAFE
Setting up a dissecting microscope is as important as keeping it in a safe place. After using it, turn off its light source and unplug the microscope’s transformer from your outlet. Also, you have to unplug the light used from your transformer. Carefully roll the plug and tie up. Lower the ocular head and put back its dust cover. Place the dissecting microscope inside a cabinet or any storage.
