1. How to Care For and Use the Microscope
Microscopy
How to Care For and Use the Microscope

2. Scope
Compound Light Microscope

3. Parts of Scope
Ocular (eyepiece) lens – closest to eye; 10X standard magnification
Head – ocular lens inserted
Arm – hold while carrying
Mechanical stage – has window over which specimen is placed; holds down slide; knobs for moving slide back/forth, up/down
Iris diaphragm – allows more or less light through specimen; acts like iris of eye
Light knob – adjusts amount of light
Light source – electrical light
Course Adjustment knob – moves stage up and down to focus on specimen
Fine Adjustment knob – minutely moves stage up and down for fine tuning or precise focusing
Base – stand of scope
Abbey Condenser – small lens below window of stage varies light; do NOT touch!
Nosepiece – objectives attached; rotates objectives
Objective lenses – 4X, 10X, 40X, 100X; lenses closest to object/specimen

4. Objective Lenses 4X – Scanning power; scans all of specimen
10X - Low power; see more detail than scanning but less of specimen
40X – High power; see much greater detail than low power but very little of specimen
100X – oil immersion lens; used with special oil; used in Microbiology

5. Total Magnification Ocular Lens X Objective lens
How much specimen is totally magnifided
i.e. 10X x 40X = 400X total magnification – therefore the specimen is 400 times larger than originally

6. Focusing/Viewing Specimen
ALWAYS begin with 4X scanning power to position specimen properly in window
Focus with course adjustment knob; fine tune with fine adjustment knob
Carefully turn nose piece so that 10X is over specimen/window of stage.
VERY carefully turn nose piece so that 40X is over specimen/window of stage.
Focus with FINE ADJUSTMENT KNOB ONLY
Course adjustment knob outer; fine adjustment knob inner
Adjust light with light knob or iris lever accordingly

7. Transporting
ALWAYS carry the microscope with BOTH hands; one under base, one holding arm
Always return microscope to proper numbered slot in scope cabinet

8. Returning Scope Before returning the scope to the cabinet---
Clean all lenses
Remove slide from stage
Turn course focusing knob so that stage is at lowest point
Rotate nose piece so that 4X objective over window
Accordian the power cord and secure with velcro strip

9. Terms
Parfocal – once a specimen is in focus on lower power then switching to next higher power, specimen should remain in focus
Field of View – circle of light seen when looking through ocular lens.
Working Distance – distance between bottom of objective lens and specimen
Depth of Field – depth of specimen

10. Calming Frustrations
Before using the microscope, ALWAYS clean the stage window, light source and most importantly ALL lenses and the slide.
This will save tons of time!