Introduction to Microscope Maintenance
1. Regular maintenance
(1) Moisture-proof If the room is humid, the optical lens is prone to mold and fog. Once the lens is moldy, it is difficult to remove. The lens inside the microscope is inconvenient to wipe, and moisture is more harmful to it. Mechanical parts are prone to rust when exposed to moisture. In order to prevent moisture, when storing the microscope, in addition to choosing a dry room, the storage location should also be away from the wall, away from the ground, and away from moisture sources. One to two bags of silica gel should be placed in the microscope box as a desiccant. And often bake the silicone. After its color turns pink, it should be baked in time, and then continue to be used after baking.
(2) Dust falling on the surface of dust-proof optical components not only affects the passage of light, but also generates large stains after being enlarged by the optical system, which affects observation. Dust and sand falling into the mechanical parts will also increase wear and tear, causing movement to be blocked, and the harm is also great. Therefore, the microscope must be kept clean frequently.
(3) Anti-corrosion The microscope cannot be placed together with corrosive chemical reagents. Such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, strong alkali, etc.
(4) Heat protection The purpose of heat protection is mainly to avoid the opening and falling off of the lens caused by thermal expansion and contraction.
2. Wipe the optical system
Usually, the surface of each optical part of the microscope should be cleaned with a clean brush or wiped clean with lens cleaning paper. When there are indelible dirt, oil stains or fingerprints on the lens, when the lens is moldy, foggy, or reused after long-term suspension, it needs to be wiped before use.
(1) Wiping range The eyepiece and condenser are allowed to be disassembled for wiping. Due to the complex structure of the objective lens, special instruments are required to correct it to restore the original accuracy during assembly, so it is strictly forbidden to disassemble and wipe it.
When disassembling the eyepiece and condenser, pay attention to the following points:
a. Be cautious.
b. When disassembling, it is necessary to mark the relative position of each component (you can draw a line on the shell for marking), the relative order and the front and back of the lens, so as to prevent mistakes during reassembly.
c. The operating environment should be kept clean and dry. When disassembling the eyepiece, just unscrew the upper and lower lenses from both ends. The field diaphragm inside the eyepiece cannot be moved. Otherwise, the boundaries of the field of view will be blurred. After the condenser is unscrewed, it is strictly forbidden to further disassemble the upper lens. Because the upper lens is oil-immersed, it has been well sealed when it leaves the factory, and its sealing performance will be damaged if it is disassembled.
2. Wiping method First use a clean brush or blower to remove the dust on the surface of the lens. Then use a clean flannel to make a spiral unidirectional movement from the center of the lens to the edge. After wiping once, change the flannel to another place and wipe again until it is clean. If there are oil stains, dirt or fingerprints on the lens that cannot be wiped off, use willow branches wrapped in absorbent cotton, dipped in a small amount of alcohol and ether mixture (80% alcohol, 20% ether) to wipe. If there are heavy mildew spots or mildew spots that cannot be removed, use a cotton swab dipped in water to moisten it and stick calcium carbonate powder (with a content of more than 99%) to wipe it. After wiping, the powder should be wiped clean. Whether the lens is clean can be observed and checked by the reflected light on the lens. It should be noted that the dust must be removed before wiping. Otherwise, the grit in the dust will groove the mirror. Do not use towels, handkerchiefs, clothes, etc. to wipe the lens. Do not use too much alcohol-ether mixture to prevent the liquid from entering the bonding part of the lens and degumming the lens. There is a layer of purple-blue light-transmitting film on the surface of the lens, don't mistake it for dirt and wipe it off.
3. Wipe the mechanical part
The painted part can be wiped off with a cloth. However, alcohol, ether and other organic solvents cannot be used to avoid paint removal. If there is rust on the unpainted part, it can be wiped off with a cloth dipped in gasoline. After cleaning, reapply the protective grease.
