Observing the Proper Maintenance of an Inverted Metallurgical Microscope

Inverted metallurgical microscopes need special care. These microscopes are not only expensive and functional. They can also be very delicate. Learn more about the proper way of maintaining these types of microscopes from the article below. Inverted metallurgical microscopes are special microscopes that are primarily used for inspecting opaque metal samples. And being inverted, these microscopes are constructed with their objective lenses positioned below the stage, rather than the traditional way of putting them above it.

Inverted metallurgical microscopes are very pricey microscopes. They value over a thousand dollars apiece in the market today. And their functions, as far as metallurgical applications are concerned, are very extensive. Therefore, the proper care and maintenance are mandatory for these microscopes.

Here are the ways on how to maintain Inverted Metallurgical Microscopes:

1. Make sure that the optics are clean before using the microscope
Before doing anything, inspect the microscope’s optics first. If there are dusts and dirt in the lenses, remove them before calibrating the microscope. Dirty lenses would produce inaccurate observation results. Furthermore, if you calibrate the lenses before cleaning them, you would need to do the whole job of focusing and fine-tuning all over again. Dust and dirt may lead to the loss of resolution and contrast of inverted metallurgical microscopes. The image produced may also be blurred. Do regular maintenance checks on the lenses and clean them according to manufacturer’s instructions.

2. Align the inverted metallurgical microscope before and after using them.
Ideally, an inverted metallurgical microscope should always be pre-aligned. Doing so will save the user some time when using the device. But it is most helpful to the first-time inverted metallurgical microscope users. If the microscope is pre-aligned, there is no need for them to turn too many knobs to focus on the sample. And they won’t be damaging the system due to ignorance and misuse.

3. Lubricate the knob and mechanical parts of the microscope on a regular basis.
The kind of grease or oil to use depends on the type and the brand of the inverted metallurgical microscope you own. Greases and lubricants ease the movement of the microscope’s moving parts. Oils are applied to shafts and the microscope’s rotating stage. Find out what the manufacturer of your microscope recommends to use as lubricants. There is a wide range of oils and greases that can be used with microscopes. And they can be anything from thinners to machine oils. But keep in mind that not all of them are going to be compatible with your inverted metallurgical microscope.

4. Always inspect the microscope’s electrical cables.
All electrical cords weaken over time. The moment that cracks appear on the cords, change them immediately. These cords are highly available in hardware stores and do-it-yourself shops. Whenever possible, bring a sample of the cord you would be replacing. That way, you can match the gauge and the strands that the microscope originally has.

5. Clean the microscope’s body regularly.
The microscope’s optics is not the only parts that need to be free from specks. The body of the inverted metallurgical microscope should be kept clean as well. If the microscope’s body is made of high quality metal with a painted surface, a mild detergent will do. For any stubborn dirt, the use of either methanol or ethanol is prescribed. For bodies that are either plated or chromed, xylene or chlorinated hydrocarbon is ideal. But be careful not to get these chemicals on plastic parts and painted surfaces as they can dissolve them.

6. Use the right type of screwdriver when removing parts.
The head of the screws are easy to break and deform. During the instances that screws had to be driven, use the screwdriver that perfectly fits the heads. When a Philips screwdriver is needed, don’t substitute the flat type. Damaging the head and the feather of the screws may affect the performance of the entire microscope in the long run. Whenever a screw is damaged, replace them with another one of the exact same size.

7. Send the microscope in for professional repairs and inspection.
Whenever there is something wrong with the microscope, no matter how trivial it is, a professional repairman should be summoned. Doing so would prevent further damages on the microscope leading to costly repairs. Ideally, inverted metallurgical microscopes should be sent in for professional inspection every six months or so.

These are the seven tips on how inverted metallurgical microscopes should be maintained and taken cared of. Ensuring that the microscopes are functioning in prime condition is necessary to produce highly accurate images. It is on the image produced by the microscope where its usability depends upon.