ECLIPSE E100 Instructions June 2006

Thank you for purchasing this Nikon product. This instruction manual is for the users of the Nikon Microscope ECLIPSE E100 describing basic operation of the microscope. To ensure correct usage, please read this manual thoroughly before using the microscope.

• It is prohibited to reproduce or transmit this manual in any form without the prior consent of Nikon. • The instructions and specifications in this manual are subject to change without notice. • Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this manual, if you find that any part of this manual is unclear or incorrect, contact your nearest Nikon representative. • Some ECLIPSE E100 microscope sets may come with different components and accessories from those shown in this manual. • Also read the manuals for the products used with the microscope, for example, the Nikon photomicrographic equipment.

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Warning and Caution Symbols Used in This Manual Though Nikon products are designed to provide you with utmost safety during use, incorrect usage or disregard of the instructions may cause personal injury or property damage. For your own safety, read the instruction manual carefully and thoroughly before using the product. Do not discard this manual. Always keep it near the product for easy reference. Inside this instruction manual, safety instructions are indicated with the symbols shown below. Be sure to follow the instructions marked with these symbols for your safety. Symbol

Meaning

WARNING

Disregarding instructions marked with this symbol may lead to death or serious injury.

CAUTION

Disregarding instructions marked with this symbol may lead to injury or property damage.

Symbols Labeled on the Product Symbol

Meaning Caution! Hot surface This symbol label attached near the field lens unit (the lamp is set underneath the field lens unit) and on the bottom surface of the base plate (the lamp is set above this place) reminds you of the following. WARNING: Risk of burn injury. The lamp and its surroundings (including the field lens unit) become hot during use. Do not touch them while the lamp is on and for thirty minutes after the lamp is turned off. CAUTION: The lamp and its surroundings remain hot even after the lamp is turned off. Make sure that they are sufficiently cool before replacing the lamp. Caution! This symbol label attached near the AC inlet reminds you of the following. CAUTION: Make sure that the input voltage set by the voltage selector matches the voltage provided in your region. The voltage selector on the microscope sent to the United States is set to “120V” at the factory.

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Common Sense Safety Instructions

1. Purpose

WARNING

Use this microscope only for microscopic observation. Do not use this microscope for any other purpose because the protection provided by the equipment may be impaired.

2. Never Disassemble the Microscope

WARNING

There are no user serviceable parts inside the microscope. Disassembly will void the warranty, and could degrade the performance, cause electrical shock or personal injury, or damage the instrument. If you have a service problem, contact your nearest Nikon representative.

3. Check the Input Voltage

WARNING

The input voltage is indicated in two places at the rear of the microscope: on the nameplate and above the AC-IN socket. Confirm that these input voltage indications correspond to the voltage provided in your region. If not, follow one of the instructions below. The use of microscopes with the different input voltage indications will cause overcurrent and overheating, which may result in fire or severe damage to the microscope. ● If the voltage indication on the nameplate differs:

Do not plug in the microscope. Contact your nearest Nikon representative. ● If the voltage indication above the AC-IN socket differs: Refer to p. 26 and change the input voltage setting before turning on the power switch. • For the microscope with the nameplate showing

Input Voltage Indications

[100/110/120 V 〜 ]: The voltage can be set to: AC 100 V, 110 V or 120 V. • For the microscope with the nameplate showing [220/230/240 V 〜 ]: The voltage can be set to: AC 220 V, 230 V or 240 V.

4. Use the Specified Lamp, Fuse, and Power Cord

WARNING

Use the specified lamp and fuse. For the microscope with the nameplate showing [100/110/120 V], use the power cord provided. For the microscope with the nameplate showing [220/230/240 V], use the specified power cord. Using an incorrect lamp, fuse, or power cord may damage the instrument or cause a fire. (Also see p. 41-42 on power cord.) ● Specified Lamp Halogen lamp 6V-20W (PHILIPS 7388 or OSRAM HLX64250) ● Specified Fuse • For the microscope with the nameplate showing [100/110/120 V 〜 ]: 250 V, 1 A, time-lag low-breaking type, 5X20 miniature fuses (two pieces) • For the microscope with the nameplate showing [220/230/240 V 〜 ]: 250 V, 0.5 A, time-lag low-breaking type, 5X20 miniature fuses (two pieces)

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5. Turn Off Power Switch before Assembling the Microscope, Replacing the Lamp or Fuse, and Plugging in or Unplugging the Power Cord

WARNING

Turn off the power switch before you plug or unplug the power cord to prevent electrical shock or fire. Also turn off the power switch and then unplug the power cord before assembling the microscope, and before changing the lamp or fuse. To turn off the power, turn the power switch to ○.

6. Keep the Microscope Free of Moisture and Foreign Matter

CAUTION

Keep the microscope free of moisture to prevent short circuiting that could result in overheating or other malfunctions. If water splashes on the microscope, immediately turn off the power switch (turn the switch to ○) and unplug the power cord. Then, wipe off the water with a dry cloth. Short circuiting can also result when foreign matter is trapped inside the microscope. If foreign matter or water has entered the microscope, do not use the microscope and contact your nearest Nikon representative.

7. Heat at the Light Source

CAUTION

The lamp becomes hot during use. Do not remove the field lens unit while the lamp is on, and be sure the lamp has been off for 30 minutes before touching it. • When changing the lamp bulb, make sure that the lamp is cool enough to touch (the light should be off at least 30 minutes). • Do not touch the lamp while it is on or until the lamp has been off for 30 minutes, as doing so could result in burns. • Never bring cloth, paper or flammable volatile substances such as gasoline, petroleum benzine, acetone, thinner, or alcohol near a hot lamp, as a fire could result.

8. Stage Rack

CAUTION

The rack for the stage protrudes during use. Be careful not to hit the rack with your hand or other parts of your body when handling the microscope as you may get hurt by an edge of the rack.

Rack

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9. Installation This microscope is a precision instrument. Using the microscope in an unfavorable environment could result in malfunctions or degraded performance. Consider the following conditions when choosing the installation location. • Observation conditions are better if light from windows and bright room light can be avoided. • Install the microscope in a location with a room temperature of 0˚ to 40˚ C and with a maximum relative humidity of 85%. High temperature and humidity are to be avoided because they promote mold growth and condensation, which may damage the microscope. • Dirt and dust degrade optical performance and are to be avoided. • Vibrations in the environment will degrade the image. Install the microscope in a location free of vibrations. • Install the microscope on a solid table and keep the microscope level. • This microscope emits a feeble electromagnetic wave. Do not place a precision electronic device near the microscope as precision could be degraded. Also, avoid placing a radio or TV near the microscope as reception of sound and images may be hampered. • Install the microscope in the location of 10 cm or more away from the surrounding walls. • Install the microscope in the place that allows easy detachment of the power cord from the AC inlet in the event of emergency.

10. Carrying the Microscope This microscope is a precision instrument. Handle it gently. Strong shocks and forcible operation will damage the instrument. Shocks to the objectives, especially, could degrade image precision. • When carrying the microscope, hold it at its arm with both hands. • Do not hold the focus knobs, the eyepiece tube, or the stage. These parts could easily come off and could result in malfunctions.

11. Handling the Lamp Do not touch the glass part of the lamp with bare hands. Wear gloves or use a cloth when handling the lamp so as not to leave fingerprints on the surface. Wipe off any fingerprints or stains using a clean cloth moistened with alcohol. Fingerprints will etch into the hot surface of the lamp and reduce the brightness, damage the lamp or reduce its service life. Handle the lamp gently. Shocks and vibrations will damage the lamp or reduce its service life. When changing the lamp, be sure that the contact is not damaged. If the contact is damaged, the lamp may not light up or may overheat. Insert the lamp’s contact pins fully into the socket holes. If the pins are loose, the lamp could come off or result in a contact failure, which will cause overheating or smoke. Also, make sure that the field lens unit is securely attached.

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12. Focus Knobs Do not turn the right and left focus knobs simultaneously in opposite directions. Do not turn the coarse focus knob any further after the stage has been moved up or down to its limit. These operations will damage the focusing mechanism.

Do not turn the knobs in opposite directions.

13. Oil-Immersion Observation Use only a minimum quantity of oil. If too much oil is applied, surplus oil could flow out to the stage and the condenser which could lead to degraded performance.

WARNING

When using petroleum benzine or absolute alcohol to wipe off immersion oil or to clean the lenses, follow the instructions provided by their manufacturers. Absolute alcohol and petroleum benzine are inflammable. Take great care when handling them.

14. Shipping Clamps The microscope is held tightly by the clamps during shipment. Be sure to remove the clamps before use. For details, see p. 27.

Shipping Clamps

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Contents

Warning and Caution Symbols Used in This Manual ････････････････････････････2 Symbols Labeled on the Product ･････････････････････････････････････････････2 Common Sense Safety Instructions ･･･････････････････････････････････････････3 I.

Nomenclature of Each Part ･･･････････････････････････････････････････8

II.

Switches and Controls ･･･････････････････････････････････････････････10

III. A Swift Microscopic Procedure ･････････････････････････････････････12 IV. Microscopy (Detailed Procedure) ･･･････････････････････････････････14 V.

Miscellaneous Operations ･･･････････････････････････････････････････22 1. Oil-Immersion Observation ･･･････････････････････････････････････････････22 2. Adjusting the Torque of the Coarse Focus Knob ････････････････････････････24 3. Photomicrography and TV Microscopy ･････････････････････････････････････24 4. Cord Hangers ･･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････24

VI. Assembly ･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････25 1. Assembly of Standard Set････････････････････････････････････････････････26 2. Assembly of Additional Components･･･････････････････････････････････････28 1) Condenser ･･･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････28 2) Objectives ･･･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････29 3) Specimen Holder ･････････････････････････････････････････････････････29 4) Eyepiece and Eyepiece Pointer ･････････････････････････････････････････29 5) Monocular eyepiece tube ･･････････････････････････････････････････････29 6) Other Accessories ････････････････････････････････････････････････････29 3. Replacement of Consumable Materials ････････････････････････････････････30 1) Replacing the Lamp ･･･････････････････････････････････････････････････30 2) Replacing the Fuse ･･･････････････････････････････････････････････････31

VII. Optical Characteristics ･･････････････････････････････････････････････33 VIII. Troubleshooting tables ･･････････････････････････････････････････････35 IX. Care and Maintenance ･･･････････････････････････････････････････････40 X. Specifications ････････････････････････････････････････････････････････41

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Nomenclature of Each Part The microscope is made up of the following components.

1 Basic unit 2 Eyepieces Screwed on to the eyepiece tube. 3 Eyepiece tube This is a binocular eyepiece tube. A trinocular eyepiece tube is available for photomicrography and TV microscopy. Amonocular eyepiece tube can be used also. 4 Objectives Objectives with various magnifying powers are available. 5 Condenser Used for condensing light. The condenser should be positioned slightly lower than its upper limit. Adjust the aperture diaphragm lever according to the objective. 6 Field lens unit Pull the field lens unit upward when changing lamp. 7 Lamp Halogen lamp of 6 V-20 W is used. 8 Fuse For the microscope with the nameplate showing [100/110/120 V], 250 V, 1 A, time-lag lowbreaking type, 5X20 miniature fuses (two pieces) are used. For the microscope with the nameplate showing [220/230/240 V], 250 V, 0.5 A, time-lag lowbreaking type, 5X20 miniature fuses (two pieces) are used. 9 Power cord Use the power cord provided.

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2 Eyepieces

3 Eyepiece tube

1 Basic unit

4 Objectives

8 Fuse (x2)

5 Condenser

9 Power cord

6 Field lens unit

7 Lamp

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Switches and Controls 1 Diopter ring Adjust the diopter ring to compensate for the difference between your right and left eyesight. (p. 18) 2 Revolving nosepiece Can hold up to four objectives. 3 Specimen holder Put your finger at the root tilt of the claw to open the claw. (p. 15, 29) 4 Magnifying power indication ring 5 Condenser aperture diaphragm lever Set the lever to match the magnifying power of the objective. (p. 20) 6 Blue filter and the filter holder 7 Stage 8 Power switch When turned to |, power is turned on and the lamp lights. When turned to ○, power is turned off and the lamp goes off. 9 Brightness control dial When turned clockwise, the lamp voltage increases and the viewfield becomes brighter. When turned counterclockwise, the lamp voltage decreases and the viewfield becomes darker. 10 Longitudinal stage motion (Y Axis) knob These knobs are located either to the right or the left of the stage. 11 Lateral stage motion (X Axis) knob ditto 12 Fine focus knob 13 Condenser clamp screw

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14 Condenser vertical motion lever Use this lever to adjust the vertical position of the condenser. (p. 19) This lever is located either on the right or the left side of the stage. 15 Coarse focus knob torque adjustment ring Used to adjust the tension (torque) of the coarse focus knob. (p. 24) 16 Coarse focus knob There are both coarse and fine focus knobs on the opposite side of the stage motion knobs. 17 Fine focus knob Used for focusing. There is no coarse focus knob on the side with the stage motion knobs. 18 Voltage selector (Fuse holder) Use this selector to match the input voltage of the microscope to the voltage provided in your region. (p. 26) 19 Nameplate Indicates the input voltage. 20 AC-IN socket Plug the power cord into this inlet. Make sure that the power switch is off (turned to ○) before plugging the cord in.

1 Diopter ring 7 Stage

2 Revolving nosepiece

3 Specimen holder

8 Power switch

9 Brightness control dial 4 Magnifying power indication ring 10 Longitudinal stage motion (Y Axis) knob

5 Condenser aperture diaphragm lever

11 Lateral stage motion (X Axis) knob

6 Blue filter and the filter holder

12 Fine focus knob 13 Condenser clamp screw

14 Condenser vertical motion lever

18 Voltage selector (Fuse holder) 19 Nameplate 15 Coarse focus knob torque adjustment ring

20 AC-IN socket 16 Coarse focus knob 17 Fine focus knob

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A Swift Microscopic Procedure Turn on the lamp and adjust interpupillary distance.

Focus with 10x objective.

1 Turn on the power switch.

the 1 Match bottom edge

2

Widen or narrow to merge the viewfields into one.

of the diopter ring with the engraved base line.

Viewfields specimen slide on 2 Place the stage. (Coverglass up.)

the 10x in the 3 Swing optical path.

3 Adjust brightness too.

Use this knob for focusing.

12

Adjust the diopter.

Magnify the image and observe!

Repeat the steps 1 to 3 twice.

to the 40x. 1 Switch Focus with this knob.

1 Check the magnifying power.

2

the lever to the 2 Move magnifying power of the

Switch back to the 10x. Use your right eye.

objective.

3 Observe. And focus with this ring.

Turn off the power. Wait till the microscope cools down before storing.

3 Hold the 10x. Use your left eye.

Then focus with this ring.

Repeat the steps 1 to 3.

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Microscopy (Detailed Procedure) 1)

Lamp Illumination Turn on the power switch (turn to |) and the lamp will come on. Turn the brightness control dial to adjust the brightness of the viewfield. (Turning the dial clockwise increases the brightness; turning the dial counterclockwise decreases it.)

Power ON

Darkens.

2)

Brightens.

Interpupillary Distance Adjustment Adjust the distance between the eyepieces to merge the right and left viewfields into one. (This is an adjustment to match the distance between eyepieces with the distance between your eyes).

Merge the right and left viewfields into one.

3)

Align the Diopter Ring with the Engraved Base Line Turn the diopter ring on the right eyepiece to align its bottom edge with the engraved base line. Turn and align the diopter ring on the left eyepiece in the same way.

Match the bottom edge of the diopter ring with the engraved base line.

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4)

Specimen Mounting Place specimen slide on the stage with the coverglass facing upward. Open the claw of the specimen holder with your finger at the root tilt and fix the specimen slide with the claw.

Coverglass

5)

Focus with the 10x Objective Rotate the revolving nosepiece to bring the 10x objective into the optical path. (The objective will click into place when rotated into position.) Bring the specimen image into focus by turning the coarse focus and then fine focus knob. • Direction of stage movement relative to focus knob rotation is shown in the figure. • There is no coarse focus knob on the side with the stage motion knobs. There are both coarse and fine focus knobs on the opposite side of the stage motion knobs. • Do not turn the right and left focus knobs simultaneously in the opposite directions. Do not turn the coarse focus knob further after the stage has reached its lower or upper limit. These operations could result in a malfunction.

Turn the focus knob as shown to move the stage down.

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Focusing Turning the focus knobs recklessly is a long and hard way to focus on the image. If you are using a high power objective, you may even damage the specimen by pressing it against the objective. Before breaking the coverglasses or damaging the objectives, read the following and find the correct way to focus on the specimen. (1) Put the 10x (or 4x) objective in the optical path. (2) Turn the coarse focus knob to raise the stage to its upper limit. * 1 (3) Looking into the eyepieces, slowly rotate the coarse focus knob to lower the stage. When the specimen image appears, stop rotating the knob. (4) Rotate the fine focus knob and precisely focus on the image. When you want to observe the image with a high power objective, first focus on the image using a 10x (or 4x) objective. Then change to a high power objective and rotate the fine focus knob for precise focusing.

First raise the stage to the most extent not to hit against the objective,

then look into the eyepieces and lower the stage.

1. When rotating the coarse focus knob while looking into the eyepieces, be sure to turn it only in the direction that lowers the stage. 2. When raising the stage using the coarse focus knob, take your eyes off the eyepieces and look at the gap between the upper surface of the specimen and the front of the objective from the side. 3. First focus with a low power objective. Then change to a high power objective. *1: Since the working distances of 10x and 4x objectives are large (p. 33), these objectives do not touch the specimen even when the stage is raised to its upper limit provided that the slide and coverglasses of a standard thickness are used. (The standard thickness for slides is 1.2 mm and that for coverglass is 0.17 mm.)

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Using the Working Distance for Focusing Each objective has its working distance indicated on its side. The working distance is the distance between the front of the objective and the specimen when the specimen image is in focus. If you have difficulties in focusing with the standard procedure described on p. 16, try one of the following methods using the working distance for focusing. Method 1: While looking at the microscope from the side, rotate the coarse focus knob to bring the specimen close to the objective. When the distance between the specimen and the front of the objective becomes slightly smaller than the working distance, take your hands off the coarse focus knob. The specimen is now almost in focus. Look into the eyepieces and rotate the fine focus knob in the direction that lowers the stage.

Raise the stage until this distance is slightly smaller than the working distance.

Lower the stage with the fine focus knob to find the focal point.

Method 2: Swing the 40x objective into the optical path. While looking at the microscope from the side, rotate the coarse focus knob until the specimen almost touches the objective (about 0.5 mm apart from the front of the objective). The specimen is now almost in focus. Switch to the 10x objective, look into the eyepieces, and rotate the fine focus knob slightly to find the focal point. Be careful not to hit the objective with the specimen.

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6)

Eyepiece Diopter Adjustments Adjust the diopter ring on the eyepiece tube according to the difference between your left and right eyesight. This adjustment enables the user to take full advantage of the high-quality objectives, including their parfocality. (1) Swing the 40x objective in the optical path. Rotate the coarse and then fine focus knobs to bring the specimen in focus.

Switch to the 40×.

Focus with this knob.

(2) Switch back to the 10x (or 4x) objective. While looking into the right eyepiece with your right eye, focus on the specimen by rotating the right diopter ring and not using the focus knob.

Use your right eye. Switch back to the10×. And focus with this ring.

(3) While looking into the left eyepiece with your left eye, focus on the specimen by rotating the left diopter ring and not using the focus knob.

Use your left eye. Hold the 10×. Then focus with this ring

(4) Repeat the steps (1) to (3).

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7)

Condenser Vertical Position Adjustment Use the condenser vertical motion lever to move up the condenser till it touches the limit. Then, slightly lower the condenser. If you should see the diffuser image on the viewfield background, slightly move up or down the condenser till the diffuser image disappears.

Condenser vertical motion lever

8)

Objective Selection Rotate the revolving nosepiece to the desired objective magnification. (The objective will click into place when rotated into position.) Adjust the aperture diaphragm lever according to the selected objective (see the procedure 9)).

9)

Aperture Diaphragm Adjustment Set the condenser aperture diaphragm lever to the same figure as the magnification of the objective in the optical path.

Corresponding objective magnification 100×

60×

40×

20×

10×

4×

Aperture diaphragm lever

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