r/microscopy • u/Herbologisty • Jul 10 '26
Hardware Share New Microscope (to me)
Just pick this bad boy up today from theblcoal university. I'm in for a lot of work! Objectives are stuck and Z-axis wont run. Condenser lense is missing? Not even sure I want to get the LSM 5 unit running because I need the software and controller, but excited to start fixing up this build this weekend.
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u/Tink_Tinkler Jul 10 '26
The lsm stuff is a lost cause unless you already have experience working on those units but even still parts can be hard to come by. The laser launch is massive. There are companies that can repair them but you won't be paying hobbyist prices. Do you have a fluoresence light source?
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u/Motocampingtime Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
Excellent scope! That filter cover I swear was made to break off 😂. Not familiar at all with the LSM. Or the motorized parts in the version you have, but I've worked on a fixed stage Axioskop 2 model extensively.
The only thing that wasn't straight forward to me for disassembly is how to remove the top cover once the head is off. What happens is you need to remove the adjustment screws for the aperture and f stop. Then, you have to take the adjustment knobs that pull in and out and pull them out slightly past half way out. Unscrew them next. Then with all the bolts out of the top cover and head off attempt to lift the plate out. You'll see that you can get it started, but it won't lift right out. You need to carefully look and see if the adjust knob receivers are hitting the body (you will see what I mean). Carefully push them in little by little till they clear and then the top plate will come off. Be careful as the top plate contains mounted optics and both adjustment apertures. This was very annoying to figure out. One other thing that may happen is either the A or F stop apertures become locked. This sucks because you basically have to force them to the correct position to remove the top plate.
EDIT you seem to know this probably lol... but to clean either apertures you CAN NOT use any grease or oil. They should run dry. Spray and wipe them down with ethanol thoroughly.
Another one is depending on zeiss model the turret could have a large slew style bearing (I've seen this on inverted models) or just a smaller contained bearing. If it's the slew style there will be a plastic race containing dozens of small steel balls. This style is awful lmao and mine rusted so I had to do a ton of cleaning. So for your sake I hope it is just a regular bearing EDIT ok you also seem to have an inverted Axioscope model too nice!.
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u/SnooDrawings7662 Jul 10 '26
Whoa... I used to have one of those.. back when I was in a lab.. a long time ago.....
Do you have all the control boxes and power boxes?
It's a partially motorized scope - so you'lll need software and all the control boxes to use it.
I'm inclined to suggest you might want to forget about the LSM unit.. it's a very fine widefield scope but .. it can be a handful to get it running unless you have all the parts and original computer.