How to adjust the phase-contrast microscope condenser for proper vision

HOW TO ADJUST THE PHASE-CONTRAST MICROSCOPE CONDENSER FOR PROPER VISION

ALIENATION OF THE CONDENSER

To make a good alienation of the optics of a phase-contrast microscope we have to follow the next steps.

1.- Turn on the microscope light and set it to maximum power.

2.- Raise the condenser to the maximum possible (Be careful! The condenser, not the stage).

3.- We use the 10X objective (yellow color)

4.- Put the condenser in the 10/20 position.

5.- We raise the stage to the maximum that the microscope allows.

6.- We begin to lower the stage with the macro and micro focus controls until we see the following image.

7.- If we do not see the image as shown here, but it is off-center we have to use the black controls of the condenser (located on the right and left of the front of the condenser) to align the condenser until we get the image. We may have to use the macro and micro controls (focus controls) to view the image. Keep in mind that the image may be somewhat different depending on the new models that are manufactured from the OPTIKA microscope or from other models of microscopes on the market

ALIENATION OF CONDENSER RINGS

8.- Once we have achieved the previous image, we raise the stage again to the maximum that the microscope allows. Then we remove one of the eyepieces and place the CT telescopic eyepiece in its place.

9.- We have to unscrew the upper part of the CT eyepiece until when looking through it the image is totally clear, that is, well focused. We will begin to see some rings (these are the rings of the condenser and the phase-contrast objective). We have to ensure that the different rings that we see through the CT eyepiece (some brighter, others less) are totally concentric. To achieve this, we need to use the rear controls of the phase- contrast condenser that are located at the rear of the condenser. These controls that are silver in color are those that serve to align the phase-contrast rings.

10.- To use the two silver controls of the condenser we have to introduce them towards the inside of the condenser (you will notice that they have a spring that allows this movement), and when we press them to its upper limit we begin to move them in the direction that they allow us, while at the same time we look through the CT eyepiece to see if the rings are centere

When we get the images that we have above we have already aligned both the condenser and the rings of the condenser.

It is essential the condenser to be well adjusted to see the blood with the quality shown in the course.

On the other hand, it will be necessary to have a correct configuration of the camera software so that the image provided by the camera through the monitor is of high quality.

If, with the passage of time, we observe that we do not see the blood cells as seen in the Atlas or in the Course videos (both in phase-contrast and in darkfield) we will have to do again this adjustment that we have described.

ANOTHER WAY TO ADJUST CONDENSER RINGS

 We use the 40X objective and place a small white sheet on the stage like a blood sample like the one shown in the image below. We lower the condenser and the stage until we can see the black dot of that small size.

Once we have it, we remove one of the eyepieces and we will see the black dot at the bottom of the eyepiece tube. We can put the CT eyepiece to align it so that with the silver controls we return to center the black point within the circles that we have in the vision of the CT. Through the CT we have to see what appears in the image below.

When we put the black dot in the middle of the circle we have the whole microscope tightly adjusted.

More information in the following video.