NIKON S-KT (01) PDF MANUAL

Take special care when handling the objectives. Before attaching the objectives to the nosepiece revolver, lower the microscope stage sufficiently. Securing each objective with the fingers of one hand, screw it into each nosepiece hole with those of the other hand.

For mounting, simply put the eyepiece into the eyepiece tube. It is recommended that the eyepiece be left in place even when not in use in order to prevent the entrance of dust into the eyepiece tube. Or insert the eyepiece cap in place of the removed eyepiece. The inclined eyepiece tube, trinocular, binocular or monocular, can be rotated after loosening the clamp screw, for convenience in viewing from any desired direction without moving the microscope stand. By further releasing the clamp screw the eyepiece tube can be removed and replaced with another type.

To mount the condenser, loosen the lock screw, and insert the condenser from beneath the condenser holder as far as it will go. Then, tighten the lock screw. In this case locate the diaphragm eccentering lever and its screw at a convenient position so as to facilitate their manipulation with one hand. The correct distance for retaining immersion oil between the lower surface of the slide and the top of condenser is obtained when the condenser is raised to the upper limit by turning the condenser focus knob.

Stop down the condenser iris diaphragm and slide it in a radial direction from center to edge. The more the iris diaphragm is off-center, the higher the contrast and resolution. Details of the object are distinguished by increased and unsymmetrical shadows at the boundaries.

When the iris diaphragm is positioned so as to let the light bundle enter the object at an angle of incidence equal to the aperture angle of the objective, the resolution reaches the maximum and twice as much as the resolution by central illumination.

If the diaphragm is further decentered to such an extent as to prevent the light bundle entering the objective, oblique dark field illumination will be obtained. If the iris diaphragm is opened wide, images by illumination at various angles are obtained. An illumination angle unfavorable for the object may be included.

In central illumination maximum resolution is obtained when the opening of the iris diaphragm just corresponds to the aperture angle of the objective. In this case excessive outer rays as used for dark field illumination are cut off and flare is minimized. If the opening is made smaller, contrast is enhanced, although the resolution is lowered. But if the iris diaphragm is large enough to cover 60-70% of the objective aperture, the decrease of resolution will not be pronounced.

If the diaphragm is stopped down to the minimum for admitting only very small light bundles, the effects of diffraction, reflection, refraction, etc., may be exaggerated so that fringes may be seen at the image edges which may likely induce misinterpretation of the image.

Condenser focusing is accomplished by turning the condenser focusing knob. This manipulation is necessary mainly for Koehler type illumination or dark field observation. The condenser is usually placed at the upper limit and need not be lowered.

Turn the brightness adjusting wheel at the side of the base, and the green area in the voltmeter window will indicate the voltage, increasing as the wheel is turned in the direction of the arrow below it.

Attaching the Lamp Cord: As shown insert the cord connector, facing the notch upward, and fasten it by a clockwise turn of the outside lock ring.

Attaching the Lamp Socket: The lamp socket is attached as follows: Insert the socket, fitting the key groove according to the marking. Turn it clockwise and push it in. Since the socket will automatically be positioned by friction, there is no need for further adjustment. Do not insert the socket fully, but leave a clearance of about 2mm to attain the brightest illumination.

Centering the Radiant Field Diaphragm: Using the 40X objective, bring the specimen into sharp focus. Fully close the radiant field diaphragm. Move the condenser lens vertically, until a sharply focused image of the diaphragm is obtained on the specimen surface. Then, move the diaphragm image to the center by manipulating the two centering screws. When switching to other objectives, the diaphragm image may slightly deviate from the centered position, producing, however, no objectionable results for routine observation.

First, reverse the attaching procedure to remove the socket, and then, when the lamp bulb is cool, turn it in the direction opposite to the arrow mark on the socket. Insert the new bulb (6V 15W), fitting the notch on the brim of the bulb to the white circle found on the foot of the arrow, and rotate the lamp socket in the direction of the arrow to install.

The model S-Kt is provided with coaxial, coarse and fine focus knobs, both of which are located near the base. Clockwise rotation of either of the focus knobs by the operator lowers the microscope stage and vice versa.

When using a binocular or trinocular eyepiece tube for observation, the adjustment of the user’s eye-sight (diopter) discrepancy between the right and left eyes is necessary. This is done by rotating the adjusting ring on the lefthand eye-piece tube.

After focusing with the right eye by raising or lowering the microscope stage, turn the adjusting ring left or right to obtain a sharp image with your left eye as well. Then, regulate the interpupillary distance of the binocular tube by sliding the eyepieces left or right by means of the knob, until the viewfields of both eyepieces merge. It will be advantageous to memorize the attained diopter and interpupillary distance readings for future use.

The coarse adjustment may be eased or tightened by means of the coarse focus tension adjusting ring.

If the rotation of the coarse focus knob is too loose, turn the adjusting ring counter-clockwise. Too much tension may be adjusted by turning clockwise. Excessive rotation in the opposite direction should be avoided.

Never twist the focus knobs for this adjustment as in traditional microscopes whose focus knobs, coarse and fine, are located separately (not coaxial). Focusing may be performed as follows: First, raise the microscope stage until the distance between the specimen and the objective becomes less than the working distance of the objective to be used then looking through the eyepiece, lower the stage until the specimen to be examined is clearly visible.

4X, 10X, 40X and 100X-objectives are parfocal, and are approximately in focus when revolved into position one after another. The use of the fine focus knob only is required for critical focusing.

The right-hand focus knob has a preset lever on its drum.

When the lever is fastened by turning clockwise (as indicated by the arrow) until it stops, the coarse focus knobs cannot be turned to move the stage closer to the objective. This preset is utilized for quick refocusing after the stage has been lowered and defocused for changing a specimen or applying immersion oil. The preset device, when locked, prevents damaging the objective and glass slide.

Manipulation of the fine focus knob is necessary:

1. To obtain the sharpest image.
2. To transfer the focus from center to an edge of the viewfield.
3. To focus upon different layers of a thick specimen.
4. To correct a slight blurring which may occur when shifting the slide.
5. To measure the thickness of an object under examination.

The microscope is so designed that one revolution of the fine focus knob raises or lowers the microscope stage 0.2mm. This permits direct reading on the left-hand knob scale, looking from the front, to 0.002mm (2µm). The complete range of fine motion is 38mm; the same as that of coarse motion.

When using the 100X objective, the application of immersion oil in the minute space (0.1-0.16mm) between the objective and the cover glass is necessary to attain the specified numerical aperture. For critical work immersion oil should be placed between the top lens of the condenser and the slide as well as between the objective and the cover glass.

Oil immersion observation is performed as follows: First, using a 10X or 40X objective (dry system), focus the specimen and center it in the viewfield. Set the preset lever by turning clockwise. Lower the microscope stage and revolve the nosepiece revolver to the 100X objective. After applying a drop of immersion oil onto the cover glass, raise the stage to the preset limit. Then focus by looking through the eyepiece and raising the stage carefully by manipulating the fine focus knob. The oil immersion 100X objective is designed to attain its critical focus by about 1/3 forward rotation of the fine focus knob, that is, by bringing the stage about 0.08mm closer to the objective from the parfocal position. Air bubbles in the immersion oil, which may sometimes spoil the microscope image and are visible when looking into the microscope tube without the eyepiece, can be removed by repeating slight movements of the nosepiece or by adding a certain quantity of immersion oil or by means of a needle.

Unremoved hardened oil may often impair the image. Therefore, immediately after finishing the work, remove the remaining oil from the lens using a soft cotton cloth moistened with xylol. Never use alcohol or immerse the front of the objective in xylol.

Be careful not to use immersion oil that has been aged and thickened.

The refractive index of the immersion oil should be 1.515.

Lower the stage by means of the coarse focus knob and unlock the stage lock screw. The stage can then be removed.

This stage enables fine crosswise travel of the slide in a range of 50mm x 75mm, allowing reading of the movement to 0.1mm by the use of the vernier provided.

For securing the slide in position on the stage, open the slide holder.

Each direction travel is performed by rotation of two coaxial knobs located one above the other on the vertical rod protruding below on the left side viewed from the front, the upper knob being for longitudinal and the lower one for lateral travel of the slide on the stage.

In fluorescence microscopy or when using oil immersion objectives, where the clearance between the condenser and the slide also should be oil-immersed, thickened oil may cause irregular travel of the slide.

In this case, removing the circular opening plate at the center of the stage or fastening the slide holder lock screw will be helpful for a positive travel of the slide. Also, the use of the stage with spiral grooves is recommended.

By loosening the stage lock screw on the edge of the stage, the stage can be rotated horizontally for convenience in observation from the opposite side of the microscope, where the eyepiece tube is rotated 180°. This rotation of the stage may often be of use in photomicrography, when the picture format is changed from vertical to horizontal or vice versa. It is recommended that the slide adapter on the stage be used for sufficient longitudinal travel of the slide in such reversed position.

The circular gliding stage glides and rotates smoothly and precisely in any desired direction within a circle 18mm in diameter simply by pushing the rim of the stage with ones fingers.

To lock the gliding stage in position, press it downward and turn the rim of the stage counterclockwise. Fastening of the gliding stage is necessary when using an attachable mechanical stage, which is available on order. Also available is the centerable circular rotating stage type G, which permits measurement of the rotating angle of specimen with its graduated circular scale.

1. Avoid extraneous light coming from the outside. Set up the microscope in a place free from vibration. Use a vibration-proof plate under the microscope, if possible.
2. Carefully adjust the illumination field and aperture diaphragms for Koehler type illumination.
3. Photo-sensitive film, has no accommodation facility such as the human eye. Therefore, in photomicrography, it is necessary to adjust the accommodation of the finder to the eye to see the cross-hairs in the finder sharply at all times. In other words, focus precisely so that the image of the specimen and of the cross-hairs are simultaneously sharp, except when using the ground glass screen. For high magnifications with oil-immersion, etc., the photographic stand is specially recommended.

• Avoid touching the lens surfaces with fingers or any rough material. For dusting, use a soft camel hair brush and then wipe the lens surfaces lightly with a well-washed soft cotton cloth. Wet the cloth with xylol, but never alcohol or ether for wiping off finger marks or grease. The microscope stand surfaces should be dusted in the same way and may be slightly oiled.
• Tension of the coarse focus knobs should be adjusted, in this type (S-Kt) of microscope, by means of the adjusting ring, not by twisting the knobs.
• Dismantling of the internal optical parts and the microscope body should not be attempted, because it may interfere with the performance of the instrument. It should be done only by an expert or the original manufacturer.
• Do not apply grease of an unspecified type to the sliding surfaces of the coarse focusing adjustment or the gliding stage. If necessary, contact your dealer or the manufacturer.
• Avoid any forcible manipulation of the moving parts. At all times, the instrument should be handled carefully e.g. for carrying the microscope, hold the base with one hand and the arm with the other. For transportation, pack the body tube, rectangular or circular stage and lenses-objectives, eyepieces and condenser-in a separate container.
• Protect the microscope from dust and store in a dry place. When not in use, it should be covered with the vinyl cover or kept in the cabinet which is available on order. When storing it in the cabinet, do not forget to tighten the locking screw of the eyepiece tube. Place the support under the microscope substage and secure it. Fasten the holding screws for the microscope at the cabinet bottom. It is recommended that the objectives and eyepieces be kept in a container with desiccant.
• Sufficient brightness can not be obtained in interference-phase-contrast observation using the binocular Model S-Kt at a magnification of 600x or higher. The Model S-Ke or L-Ke is recommended for use with interference phase contrast.
• The circuit in the microscope is designed to minimize the occurence of electrical interference. Use the microscope at a distance of at least 1-2 meters away from an AF short wave receiver or a noise may be heard in the reception. Also, the instrument must be kept 2 meters or more from a electro-encephalograph in a clinical examination room. When taking electro-cardiograms, however, it is found by practical tests that there is no need for taking this precaution.