February 25, 2008
About Microscope Prism Repair
A microscope is a high precision instrument. Utmost care is required to preserve its accuracy. Such instruments require the right amount of maintenance, as the user services not many parts. Proper maintenance of the microscope is required in order to avoid damage to its lenses. Microscope prism repair requires an expert to work on. You should never open the prism or remove it. This can completely alter the alignment of the device and will then have to be sent to its manufacture for repair.
Remove Dust
- You can remove dust with an artist brush or airbrush, which has thin bristles. This should be done before wiping or rubbing the lenses, otherwise you can cause scratches on the lenses
- In order to remove dust from the outer surface, use a soft brush or an airbrush. A lens cleaning fluid recommended by the manufacturer can also be used if the problem persists. You can also clean the surface with a clean silk cloth or a muslin cloth after washing the cloth well
- If there is dust inside the objective, unscrew the nosepiece and clean it with an air brush or soft brush
- For dust inside the eyepiece, unscrew the top most lens of the eyepiece and remove the dust with an artist’s brush or airbrush. Lenses can also be cleaned with a clean cotton swab, which is moistened with lens cleaning fluid or distilled water
- If there is dust on the surface of the prism, the observation tube is removed, and the surface of the prism is cleaned with a soft tissue moistened with lens cleaning fluid or distilled water. The prisms should never be removed. Remember that this can alter the alignment of the device. Clean them by having them in their original position itself. The observation tube may be cleaned by blowing air through it.
Maintenance
You should never attempt to disassemble any part of the microscope for repair. You need to contact the manufacturer if there is any problem with your microscope and call for a qualified technician to attend to the problem. The microscope should always be handled with care. Never expose it to vibrations, moisture, dust, sharp knocks, or sunlight. Humidity may cause fungal growth on the surfaces of the lenses and prisms. This can cause a clouding effect and cause rusting of the metal parts of the microscope. Keep the glass surface clean, free from dirt and fingerprints to prevent fungal attack. You can use the air conditioner to lower the humidity level. For drying the microscope within a temperature-controlled cabinet, silica gel or anti mold strips can be used.
Always check that your prisms are aligned at the correct angles. Any error in the alignment of the prism can cause the images for your left and right eyes to be out of focus. You can buy a circuit repair microscope that can allow you to adjust the prisms. This will help you move the device from place to place, keep it in different positions without affecting the possibility of getting a good three-dimensional, superimposed image.
Microscope repair is highly technical and requires the expertise of a technician to do this job. If you feel there is a problem, call your manufacturing company for assistance. Do not attempt to clean or repair the prism. You could end up damaging the device and this could cost you heavily on its repairs.