Posts Tagged ‘microscope accessories’
Microscopy Accessories – Why You Need Them
You have your new microscope but you are not done with it yet. On top of purchasing the microscope, you need microscopy accessories to keep your instrument in top shape and to enhance its imaging performance.
Accessories to Accessorize With
A functional wristwatch or a real leather briefcase can do much to improve one’s corporate image. In microscopy, accessories are designed to protect the microscope and to give microscopy convenience. Say if you are in the middle of doing microscopic research, you do not drop what you are doing because you ran out of slides or immersion oil, which are the basic accessories of a microscope. Can you imagine the magnitude of the disaster?
You will also require a carry case for your microscope, dust covers, clamps, black and white stage plates, stage clips, and much more to satisfy your microscopy needs. On the other hand, auxiliary accessories will depend on the type of microscope you are using.
The auxiliary accessories encompass a diverse range of items. There are micromanipulators, stands, temperature control stages, and stage incubators. There are also mechanical systems to customize science research.
Before buying that microscope, check out the microscopy accessories take note or make a list of the items you might need for the interiors of your microscope. However, do not attempt to replace interior parts unless you know the nuts and bolt of your microscope’s insides. Suppliers of microscopes will be willing to do the job for you.
The Difference Counts
Microscopes have different functions and technology specializations; hence these require different microscopy accessories. Each microscope demands a different, if not unique, sets of accessories. When you take home a microscope, say a digital microscope, you will need imaging software. For a fluorescent microscope, enhanced illumination plays a factor; you’ll be shopping for better illumination accessories.
If what you have is an ocular piece, lenses are available should you need a new set. But for a digital microscope you will need a larger monitor or screen to enjoy greater magnification of your specimen or subject. As a rule, pricier accessories reflect quality, especially if you are dealing with a specific brand. Makers of microscopes have accessories for their different types of microscopes and models.
There are cheaper accessories available. These can come in handy if money is tight but if you can, always get the same brand accessories for your microscope. The manual that goes with your microscope is a big help if you want to know specific details of your microscope accessories needs.
Nothing Lasts Forever
Things come and go. Microscopes too. If you have been using your microscope for years and its beginning to show wear and tear, count and compare the cost of costly repairs with the frequent purchase of accessories.
The local dealer should have a wide range of selections for your microscopy accessories. If your microscope brand does not have the accessory you need, you can always find a different make of accessory that can be easily integrated into your microscope.
With proper care and handling, your microscope will go a long way but along the way you’ll need microscopy accessories. It’s better to know what you will need later and where to get it.
CanScope – complete solution for all your microscopy needs.
Contact: 1-877-56SCOPE(72673) or info@CanScope.ca
Looking for microscopy accessories in Toronto? If you need Achromat and Plan Apochromat Objectives in Toronto or biological microscopes in Toronto, you can find it all in CanScope.ca. Visit the site now.
The Stereo in Stereo Microscopes
Stereo technology started with a theatrical bang. In the movie industry, stereo relates to 3D vision where spectators were required to wear red and green spectacles. The point was to combine separate motion picture images into a single image. It’s the same with stereo microscopes, sans the red and green spectacles, of course.
Stereo Technology in Microscopy
The stereo sound was the wave of the 60s. The technology enable the production of three dimensional sound effects with the use of microphones; two microphones recorded sound and these were connected to two separate channels connected loudspeakers. Listening to vinyl records back then, music enthusiasts heard sound coming from different directions.
In stereo microscopes, images not music from two different angles are combined – to create an illusion of depth of the specimen. This happens when different images of the same object are presented to each eye. The microscope offers a lateral and upright view of the object from two dissimilar angles and the eyes sees the object in 3D. With stereoscopy features, two eyepieces plus two objectives, the microscope is a perfect instrument for dissecting specimens or inspecting larger objects, i.e. rock minerals and diamonds.
Stereoscopy gives dissecting convenience. Dissecting the specimen becomes easier because viewing the specimen at same time while dissecting it can be done. Larger specimens like rock minerals can also be conveniently viewed because there is more distance between the objective and the stage. Custom stereo microscopes can also be obtained from some dealers or can be assembled according to specific needs.
Types of Microscopes with Stereo Functions
Microscopy research requirements demand specific functions that can be responded with the different microscopes available. For stereo or for dissecting specimen, such as plant or human tissue, the stereo feature comes useful. However, you don’t just get any microscope out there because it has STEREO written all over it.
Concerned dealers inquire what you need for a microscope to ensure that you get that you get exactly what you need for stereo microscopes. There are binocular and trinocular microscopes with stereo features. Different models and brands will come with or without fixed magnification with a magnification selection knob, and easy zoom in and zoom out function.
Digital technology also goes with stereo technology. You can have the best of both worlds in this amazing piece of instrument, and you don’t need bulky contraptions to view 3D imaging. With a USB camera added, excellent imaging for live video and still jpg is possible. You might also need an upright rather than an inverted microscope.
If you are a gemologist, stereo binocular microscopes should fit the bill. You can see a 3D image of a tiny diamond and examine it for flaws. Student laboratories will benefit from a pole-mounted microscope.
Stereo Does It
Had it not been for stereoscopy, it would still be tricky to dissect specimens accurately without the aid of the eyepiece. For illumination, the microscope may use a fluorescent bulb, LED ring light or fiber optics. Added to stereo 3D imaging some stereo microscopes have video capability and a digital camera.
Before you dismiss stereo microscopes as adult instrument, let it be known that the microscope is also great for educating young children; prices may range from under 100 dollars or can run up to thousands of dollars. It is your choice.
CanScope – complete solution for all your microscopy needs.
Contact: 1-877-56SCOPE(72673) or info@CanScope.ca
Looking for stereo microscopes in Toronto? No problem. You can also find a polarized light microscope in Toronto and the latest in metallurgical microscope in Toronto all the time. Visit CanScope.ca today.
Microscopy Accessories: When Beauty Needs More than the Naked Eye
The world is beautiful – you know that. As a child, you were amazed at how wonderful the color of the rainbow is. You were even amazed at the thought of night and day.
Then, when Science class came, these magnificent natural phenomena are made more splendid when you learned that night and day is because of the Earth’s rotation. You marvel at yourself when you knew that rainbows are not because of magic, but of light’s wavelengths passing through raindrops.
Still, there are so many things that you have no answer yet. There are still so many things that you need to know. Like, what is numerical aperture? What are Achromat and Plan-Apochromat Objectives?
And of course, there’s that “small side -” the side that you don’t understand because you simply cannot see it using your naked eyes alone. You talk about atoms and molecules but you have not really come close to seeing them. Good thing though that the world came up with the microscope.
Yes, through the microscope, the world became more visible – and more understandable. Wait – there’s more good news! You can now make use of microscopy accessories. When you cannot afford to buy those very expensive digital or electron microscopes, you can always use microscopy accessories instead.
Here are some of them:
Pocket Microscope
This is one of the microscopy accessories that does not live up to its size. The pocket microscope maybe small but it is a powerful one. This is also sometimes referred to as a “pen microscope” because it comes with a pen clip. As such, you can conveniently clip this onto your shirt pocket for a more dramatic effect. And of course, you won’t have any problems regarding magnification because pocket microscopes come in different magnifications to suit your every need.
Microfilm viewer
If you are confronted with situations when you need to see through a microfilm or even an x-ray film, you sometimes panic because naturally, you cannot really see through it without the use of special gadgets. Good thing though that today, you can already seek the aid of a microfilm viewer. This small accessory makes use of high quality glass optics and comes with a handle. This is also one of those microscopy accessories that considers its user: the microfilm viewer is specifically designed to minimize eye fatigue – a consequence if you work for long periods of time.
Flexible Stand Loupe
This accessory is made up of a loupe (a small magnifying glass), a flexible arm and a solid stand. This is indeed ideal for inspecting specimen on a working table where you need both of your hands free. The arm is flexible enough for any position. Therefore, you can continue to inspect a specimen while maintaining good posture and taking advantage of the best lighting conditions.
So you see, it’s not only the microscope that can give you a “better view on things.” There are a lot of microscopy accessories out there that can do the same job of aiding your eye. They are cheaper, lighter and smaller.
So the next time that you are confronted with a “viewing problem,” don’t go chasing microscopes directly. Try one of the microscopy accessories mentioned above. You’ll see that they’re equally great in bringing you the beauty of the smaller things in this world.
CanScope – complete solution for all your microscopy needs.
Contact: 1-877-56SCOPE(72673) or info@CanScope.ca
Looking for microscopy accessories in Toronto? Visit CanScope.ca. Click on their website as well to learn about numerical aperture and Achromat and Plan-Apochromat Objectives in Toronto.
Understanding Phase Contrast Microscopes
In 1953, the world recognized the scientific genius that is the phase contrast microscope. Forget high useful – it wasn’t just useful, it was crucial for actual live observations of intra-cellular processes like cell division.
Medical and biological sciences research are now focused on the real time, real life observation of living organisms to analyze its components and understand life better than we already do. Specifically designed for live specimens, this type of microscope enables observation of virtually invisible occurrences within a cell.
Obviously more advanced than the typical light microscope, this instrument uses the various refractive abilities of different objects to heighten the contrast between colorless and transparent structures. Under this powerful type of microscopy, specimens remain alive as they do not need to be stained – colored or dyed – to distinguish characteristics.
Light Waves and Visible Contrasts
Light waves peak and valley in regular intervals. The moment they line up, they’re said to be in phase; otherwise they’re said to be out of phase. This basic understanding of light waves is the key to how a phase contrast microscope works — it influences the optical path of light through transparent or colorless objects under observation.
Light waves passing through transparent portions of the specimen is slower then the uninfluenced light. To cause a difference in brightness, a transparent phase-plate mounted on the microscope increases the phase to half a wavelength, making the transparent object outshine its surroundings. This unique feature of phase contrast microscope makes it an indispensable tool in medical and biological observations of living cells.
How It Works
A phase contrast microscope makes use of two light sources — one under your specimen and another that is reflected off your specimen. Now, light passes through any transparent object but gets reflected off the surface of a solid, colorless object. When these light waves condense on a lens placed just above your specimen, it is easy to see if the light waves are in or out of their phase. This phase condenser lens on this type of microscope is analogous to the fluorescent filters in fluorescence microscopes; both make light differentiation possible.
Advances in Biomedical Microscopy Technologies
The latest in biomedical microscopy is the introduction of infinity-corrected phase contrast microscopes. Over the last decades, the largest manufacturers of research and/or professional grade microscopes have introduced this new type of optical system into various microscopy modules. This technology places another lens between the objective and the eyepiece and sets the object image to infinity. This correction makes it possible to introduce auxiliary components in the microscope.
This integrated capability makes imaging a an exciting part of the research. Now, you can capture, store, display — virtually do anything — with images of your specimen. With the flexibility of integrated digital technology, you can capture full color photographs or videos of your specimen and display, store and retrieve them from your computer. These capabilities produce virtually the same images on eyepieces and photo ports, allow you to hook up various types of cameras on to the microscope, which would definitely make training and demonstration more real life.
CanScope – complete solution for all your microscopy needs.
Contact: 1-877-56SCOPE(72673) or info@CanScope.ca
Looking for infinity corrected objectives in toronto orĀ phase contrast accessories for microscopes? Whether you need that, a microscope filter, or something else, Canscope.ca has something for you. Check them out!