AmScope IQCREW M40-K-MDM35 User manual

®
Early Explorer Series
8+
AGES
WARNING - CHOKING HAZARD
Small parts. Not for children under
three (3) years. Adult Supervision
required.
M40-K-MDM35
USER GUIDE
SCIENCE • TECHNOLOGY • ENGINEERING • MATH
STEM
by

MICROSCOPE
& CAMERA KIT
EXPLORE... LEARN... GROW!
Premium
Download Our Kids Software
an Exclusive!
®
amscope.com/iqcrew

amscope.com |
IQCrew M40 User Guide
1. Introduction
IQCrew’s Early Explorer Series is designed to inspire kids to learn more
about science. Microscopes are important tools which help children understand
science and nature by allowing them to peek into the microscopic world. This is
why microscopes are a standard component of STEM curricula. Biology, chemistry,
geology, and many more elds rely on microscopes to understand how things work.
SCIENCE |TECHNOLOGY |ENGINEERING |MATH
1
The IQCrew brand offers a range of microscopes and accessories to drive
the curiosity of the budding scientist:
• Compound Microscopes: view specimens under high magnication where light
is transmitted through the specimen.
• Stereo Microscopes: view specimens under low magnication where light is
reected from the surface of the specimen.
• Inverted Microscopes: view specimens in petri dishes as light is directed from
the top of specimen while objective is at the bottom.
• Experiments and Accessories supplementing the microscopes to continue
learning.
See our full line of products at www.amscope.com/iqcrew

| amscope.com amscope.com | 2
Let’s Begin!
To get things started, this complete kit includes some prepared slides for viewing
right out of the box. It also includes materials to prepare your own samples, like a
Petri dish and blank slides. A graduated cylinder for measuring, tweezers, a probe,
and a stirring rod are also included for preparing and positioning specimens.
Carefully lift the microscope from the box using two hands. Place one hand
around the microscope arm and the other under the base. For best results, use the
microscope on at, sturdy surfaces. Install 2 AA batteries (included) as shown on
page 7 in this guide. Always be aware of the orientation of your mirror and light
source. The more light that is reected or transmitted through the hole in the stage,
the brighter and sharper the images will appear in the microscope eyepiece.
Then attach your digital camera eyepiece (included) to the microscope (see page
9 for instructions). Place a prepared slide on the microscope stage. Make sure you
download the camera software from amscope.com/download. Now connect the
camera with the provided USB cable and begin viewing the amazing microscopic
world. You can have fun with creating your own samples using the easy-to-use kid's
software created just for you and share it with your family and friends.
WARNING - CHOKING HAZARD
Small parts. Not for childr en under
three (3) years. Adult Sup ervision
required.
Safety Information
This microscope kit has tools with sharp points or edges, including a microtome
and a pick. Please use this product very carefully, children must be under adult
supervision. This microscope set contains chemicals that may be harmful if
misused. Please read all the warnings and cautions in the instruction manual and
on individual containers carefully. Do not allow the chemicals to come into contact
with any part of the body, especially the mouth and eyes. Keep small children and
animals away from experiments. As the microscope kit also has instruments with
sharp edges and points, eye protection is strongly recommended.
WARNING- BATTERY SAFETY INFORMATION
‣ Battery installation and removal should be performed by an adult.
‣ Use only batteries recommended in this instruction manual.
‣ Be careful to install the batteries with correct polarity as indicated.
‣ Do not mix old and new batteries.
‣ Remove all batteries when replacing.
‣ Do not mix alkaline, standard, rechargeable, or different types of batteries.
‣ Rechargeable batteries are to be removed from the microscope before being
charged.
CAUTION:
The following chemicals in this package could be harmful if misused:
• Eosin Biological Dye
• Gum Media
Avoid eye and skin contact. Do not swallow. Do not inhale. May cause irritation. In
case of accident, call a doctor. Keep away from young children.
SAFETY INFORMATION
a) Glass slides and slide covers are very delicate. Please handle with care.
b) The incorrect use of chemicals can cause injury and damage to one’s health. Use
only the slide preparations listed in the instructions.
c) Because children’s abilities vary, even within age groups, supervising adults
should exercise discretion regarding which slide preparations are suitable and safe
for children. The instructions should aid adults in assessing slide preparations to
discern their suitability for each child.
d) Supervising adults should discuss the warnings and safety information with the
child before commencing the preparation of slides. Pay particular attention to the
safe handling of chemicals (if used).
e) Your slide and brine shrimp preparation space should be kept clean, clear and
away from any food storage areas. Place brine shrimp hatching station in a location
where brine shrimp will not be consumed by humans or animals.
3
85+ Piece Microscope Set

| amscope.com amscope.com |
NAME USAGE
Ocular Tube The main body of the microscope, connecting the
lenses.
Eyepiece The lens you look through to further magnify specimens
Stage Where specimens are placed for viewing
Stage Clips Used to prevent slide from moving
Illuminator A source of light which illuminates the specimen
Filter Dial Holds lters which can be used to change the color or
quality of light
Lamp Housing Contains the light-source, including the LED bulb
Arm Connects the ocular tube and focusing mechanism to
the rest of the microscope
Objective turret (nose piece) Holds the objective lenses and rotates to switch
between lenses
Focusing knob Adjusts the height of the objective turret to focus on the
specimen
Battery compartment cover Remove the battery cover to change the two AA
batteries which are used to power the LED light
Battery compartment screw Secures the battery compartment lid
M40 - Parts Names and Applications
5
Here's what you will nd in the box!
4

| amscope.com amscope.com |
How To Use Your Microscope
1. Installing Batteries in the Microscope
Remove the battery cover on the bottom of
the microscope and install 2 AA batteries. Make
sure to follow the diagram on the inside of the
battery compartment to ensure that batteries
are installed in the correct direction. Once installed replace the battery cover.
2. Adjust the focus
I. Rotate the focus knob and raise the body tube
as far as it will go. Turn the turret to the shortest
objective.
2. Put one of the prepared slides under the
stage clips and position the prepared specimen
over the hole in the stage.
3. Rotate the focus knob to lower the body tube
as far as it will go.
4. Look through the eyepiece and slowly turn the focus knob until the specimen can be
seen in focus.
5. Observe what happens when you slowly
move the light source or the mirror. Adjust the
mirror or light source to provide the amount of
light that gives you the best image.
6. Observe what happens to the image when
you move the slide to the left and then to the
right.
7. To increase magnication, rotate the
objective turret to a higher power and refocus. Practice rotating the turret to change
magnication.
3. Using lters
7
Tip: The color lter will be most useful when looking at clear or dim specimens.
CAUTION: To prevent the wires attached to the light from breaking, never rotate the light source a
full 360°. Be careful as you turn the focus knob so that the objective lens does not make contact
with a slide or the stage. This may cause damage to the slide and also to the objective lens.
Microscope Features
• Eyepiece: The eyepiece is the part of the microscope that you look through. It
is a lens that adds magnication.
• Objective Lenses: There are 3 lenses attached to the turret. These lenses
are called objective lenses because they are close to the object that is being
observed. Each lens has a different magnication (low, medium and high). The
low magnication lens is the easiest one to use and should be used when you
start looking at a new slide. The medium lens has more magnication, and
lets you see more details. The high magnication lens shows the most details.
• Focus Knobs: There is a focus knob on each side of the microscope. Slowly
turning the knob will move the lenses up or down. This is how you focus the
microscope.
• Stage: This is a at surface under the objective lenses. This is where slides can
be placed for viewing through the microscope.
• Stage Clips: The 2 clips on the stage are used to hold a slide so it does not
move around.
• Filter Wheel: A lter wheel attached to the bottom of the stage. The wheel
has several holes called apertures. Some apertures contain color lters which
change the color of the light. Some apertures are empty and have different
sizes. These apertures affect the brightness of the light.
• LED/Mirror: Light is needed to look at a specimen through the microscope.
This microscope has a 2-sided light. One side has a mirror, which can be used
to reect light from a lamp or light from a window towards the specimen. By
rotating the mirror down an LED light on the other side will now be on top. When
the LED is pointed up the light will automatically turn on. When it is pointed
down it will turn off.
• Magnication: A microscope's total magnication is a combination of the
eyepieces and the objective lens. The total magnication on this microscope
is 120x - 1200x.
6
Digital Camera Eyepiece
30FPS @640x480 USB
20mm Digital Camera
microUSB 2.0
connectivity
Downloadable easy-to-use kid’s
software for PC & Mac
Download at:
amscope.com/download

amscope.com |
| amscope.com
This microscope includes a lter wheel built
into the stage. The edge of the wheel can be
seen under the front of the stage, and it can be
easily rotated using your nger. There are several
settings you can use. Some have colored lters
which are used to change the color of light shining
through them. Others are empty but are different
sizes. They are used to reduce the amount of light.
Four colored lters are included: grey, yellow,
blue, and green. The grey lter is a neutral color,
which means it does not change the color of
the light. Instead, it makes the image slightly darker. The other colors can have
interesting effects, especially when using stains. An easy experiment to try is to
put a small amount of salt or sugar crystals on a blank slide. Rotate the wheel to
change colors while you look at the crystals though the microscope.
4. Eyepieces
A microscope’s eyepiece magnies
the images created by the objective lenses.
This is called compound magnication. This
microscope uses interchangeable eyepieces,
which means that different eyepieces can be
used to change the microscope’s magnication.
You can easily slide the eyepiece in or out of the
microscope’s tube.
5. Using Slides
The microscope’s stage has 2 clips on
top which can be used to hold a slide in place.
They are very easy to use. Make sure the clips
are facing the front of the stage. Angle the
slide slightly down so the top edge is under
both clips. As you gently push the slide under
the clips and towards the back of the stage the
slide should be at against the top of the stage.
If you are using a prepared slide move the slide
around until the specimen is directly under the
objective lens.
Be careful not to hold the microscope upside-down. The eyepiece can fall out.
8
1. Insert the included mini USB
connector into the camera.
9
Installing the Digital Eyepiece Camera
2. Remove the eyepiece from the
microscope and keep it safe for future
use.
3. Put a slide you want to view on the
microscope stage.
4. Now insert your new digital camera
into the eyepiece tube.
5. Plug the other end of the USB cable
into your computer.
6. Now download and open the
software. You are ready to begin.
Download Software at www.amscope.com/download

| amscope.com amscope.com |
Dry Mount Slides
Here is how to prepare a dry mount slide:
The highest magnication
is not always the best for
every specimen!
TIP:
It is recommended that you begin
viewing at the lowest magnication
or power and focus the object.
Once the image is focused, increase
magnication by turning the
objective turret and refocus
1. Select a clean slide. Make sure it is free of dirt and smudges
2. Inspect the specimen to determine if it needs to be sliced. Try to use a translucent
to transparent specimen for light to pass through it
3. Place the sample specimen on the slide using tweezers or a toothpick
4. Carefully place a cover slip over your specimen to atten it out. There is no need
to worry about air bubbles so you can just drop the cover slip onto the specimen.
Recommended Specimens to look at with dry mount slides:
• Hair, fur or feathers
• Small insects or insect body parts
• Buttery or moth wings
• Cloth
• Printed Material
11
Recommended Specimens to look at with wet mount slides
• Plant material, like leaves, onion skin, ower petals
• Mold spores from bread, cheese or fruit
• Fibers like thread or yarn
Let's Begin by Preparing Your Own Slides!
Now that you've studied the features of your microscope, its time to try it out for a
test drive and try out a simple observing exercise.
NOTE: When preparing slides you want to use the thinnest possible sample. Have
an adult use a razor blade or sharp knife to cut slices for you to try. DO NOT CUT
SPECIMENS WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION.
Wet Mount Slides
The most common way to prepare a specimen is with a wet mount. Here's how you
do it:
1. Place a drop of water on a clean slide using a pipette or dropper.
2. Using a tweezer or toothpick, carefully place the specimen onto the drop of water.
3. Pick up a cover slip and place one edge on the slide. This method will help prevent
air bubbles from being trapped under the cover slip.
4. Slowly lower the cover slip until it lays at on the water. Soak up any excess water
with a paper towel. It is now ready to view under a microscope.
10

| amscope.com amscope.com |
12
Staining a Specimen
Many things you look at under your microscope are quite difcult to see because
they do not have much color in them. If you use stains, they will be much more
visible and you will be able to distinguish between many of the details inside them.
1. Place a drop of stain in a petri dish and dilute with a dropper full of water. You can
use the eosin dye provided in the kit.
2. Add a drop of the diluted stain to the outer edge of the coverslip on the top of
your slide.
3. Wait until the staining agent is drawn under the slide cover. Wipe up excess
staining with a paper towel.
4. Put the slide under your microscope stage. Cell nuclei should appear as the
darkest portion under the microscope.
Make Your Own Slides
It's so easy to make slides that the variety of slides you can create will be limited
only by your own imagination.
A section of almost any material can be placed on a slide and observed with a
microscope. All you need is the proper equipment and a little patience, and you'll
be making slides in no time. Everything you need for the following experiments can
be found in this kit or around your home (make sure to ask a parent rst before you
borrow any items, such as the measuring cup).
NOTE:
In order to stain a slide, you will need to prepare the Eosin Dye: Without opening the container, look
closely at the container marked "Eosin Dye". You'II notice a few grains of 'dust' at the bottom of the
container. These are the grains of Eosin. Remove the container's lid and ll the container with water.
Gently stir the mixture, you have now prepared Eosin Dye for use.
Onion Skin Cell Experiment:
Tissue from an onion is a good rst exercise in using the microscope and viewing
plant cells. The cells are easily visible under a microscope and the preparation of
a thin section is straight forward. An onion is made of layers, each separated by a
thin skin or membrane.
13
1. First, place a small drop
of water on a microscope
slide. This is to hold the
onion skin and to keep it
from drying out.
2. With adult supervision,
take a small piece of onion
and using tweezers, peel
off the membrane from the
underside (the rough side).
3. Using tweezers, place the
onion skin membrane at
onto the drop of water on
the slide.
4. Using your dropper, add a
drop of Eosin dye provided
with this kit on top of the
onion on the slide. This
will help you see the cell
structure better.
6. Observe the slide under
your microscope. What do
you see? Can you spot the
four parts?
5.Place one edge of the
cover slip over the onion and
dye. Carefully lower it into
place using a toothpick or
tweezers. This helps prevent
air bubbles from getting
trapped under the cover slip.

| amscope.com amscope.com | 15
Brine Shrimp Hatchery
Brine shrimp are tiny crustaceans that are ideal for study with a microscope. Brine
shrimp are the major part of the diet of many sea creatures. The word brine means
water containing noticeable amounts of salt. Brine shrimp are salt water creatures.
If you have a Biology microscope kit, it comes with brine shrimp eggs and a hatchery.
You can also buy it online or from a store. Here's how to grow and observe your own
shrimp.
Growing Brine Shrimp:
1. Prepare the saltwater
for them to live in by
adding 1-1½ teaspoons of
non-iodized table salt to a
cup of water. Stir until all
the salt has dissolved.
2. Pour a small amount
of saltwater into each
compartment of your
hatching station.
3. Sprinkle a tiny amount
of eggs into each
compartment, just enough
to cover about ¼ to ½ of
the surface of the water.
4. Move your hatching
station into a sunny
window. DO NOT COVER IT
WITH THE LID. The shrimp
need oxygen to survive.
6. Observe the life cycle
of the shrimp as they
grow: the dried eggs,
the hatching eggs, the
developing larvae, and
nally, the mature shrimp.
5. Your shrimp should start
hatching in 24-48 hours.
They are really tiny, so look
for little brown specks
that are moving below the
surface of the saltwater.
Crystal Growth Experiment:
Grow your own crystals with salt and water. Magnesium Sulfate (MgSo4) is more
commonly known as Epsom Salt. It is one of many types of salt that can be used to
grow crystals. It can be easily found at drug stores and markets. It is used to relieve
pain or to help with digestive problems. When added in water, it creates a solution.
Ingredient Ratio - 2½ tbsp epsom salt : ¼ cup water
What you'll need:
• 2½ tbsp epsom salt
• ¼ cup water (distilled preferred, but tap water also works)
• 1 drop of liquid dish soap
• 1 Petri dish (a blank slide can be used, but the growing area will be smaller)
• 1 container for heating the water such as a pot for use on a stove or a Pyrex
glass container for use in a microwave
• 1 stirring spoon and 1 dropper or pipette
1. Heat water on a stove or in
a microwave until it begins
to boil. Adult supervision is
required. Always be careful
when handling hot water.
2. Slowly pour the salt into
the water, stirring as you
do so. Continue to stir until
the salt has completely
dissolved. You may continue
adding salt until it no longer
dissolves. Any salt that
does not dissolve should be
removed using a spoon.
3. While the solution is
cooling place one drop of
dish soap in the petri dish.
Spread it evenly with a nger
to create a thin layer.
4. Use a dropper or pipette
to transfer the salt solution
into the petri dish. Only
a thin layer of solution is
required. Place the dish in a
dry place where it will not be
disturbed.
6. Make a note of the
different observations and
carry out research like a real
scientist!
5. Within one hour you
should see thin crystals
forming on the bottom of
the dish. Place the petri dish
on the stage and observe
the crystal formation using
the bottom light.
14

| amscope.com amscope.com |
S/N PROBLEM CAUSE SOLUTIONS
1Light source of
microscope is dim
No battery installed or
batteries are dead.
Install two AA
batteries in the battery
compartment
2
Light source is bright
but the image is not,
or the light is not
uniform
The objective lens is not
properly aligned
Rotate objective turret
until it clicks in place.
The lter wheel's aperture
is not correctly aligned
Rotate the lter wheel to
a suitable position
3 The image is blurry The focus is not correctly
set.
Follow the instructions
to properly focus.
Microscope Best Practices
The microscope should be used in a dry
environment. Do not use the microscope outside
in wet conditions as water can damage the light-
source or contaminate the optical system. Always
turn off the illuminator when the microscope is not
being used.
When storing the microscope, remove the
batteries to prevent corrosion. Always remove slides from the stage before putting
the microscope away. Do not use anything except lens cleaning tissue to clean the
lenses. Always carry the microscope with two hands - one around its arm and one
under the base. Keep the microscope in a cool, dry, dust-free place. Use a dust-
cover to prevent dust and humidity from entering the microscope.
Make a Record of Your Experiments
Begin to start thinking like a scientist as you
perform your experiments. Observe carefully and
make records of your experiments (make sure you
date them). Record the types of specimens you
observe; their colors, shapes and patterns; how they
look through each objective; how you prepare your
slides; what tools you use; how different specimens
compare with each other; and so forth.
Troubleshooting
If you are experiencing difculty with your microscope, try these troubleshooting
techniques:
1615
Observing Brine Shrimp:
Once your shrimp have hatched, cover the hatching station with the lid and observe
the shrimp through the magnifying lens.
For even higher magnication, suck up some shrimp into the pipette and place a
few drops of that water onto a blank microscope slide. Cover the droplets gently
with another slide, and then remove the covering slide. This will atten out the
water without crushing the shrimp.
Place the slide on your microscope stage and examine the shrimp with both the
medium and high lenses. The shrimp will be swimming rapidly. Move the slide
around to keep them in view.
Your brine shrimp will live for 1-3 days. If you want to observe them for a longer
period, feed them by adding a few grains of yeast to the hatching compartments.
Also, skim off unhatched eggs from the water surface so the growing shrimp can
get more oxygen.
Exciting Things to Look For
• When brine Shrimp rst hatch they only have one eye, called a naupliar eye and
an extra set of antennae with ne hairs to help them swim. Do you see the eye?
• After about 12 hours, the shrimp molt - shed their exoskeletons - and move
into a new stage of development. They will continue to molt until they reach
the adult stage about 8 days after hatching. If you are lucky, you might see one
as it molts!
• The adult brine shrimp have two eyes in addition to the naupliar eye. They also
have 11 pairs of what look like legs. These appendages are called phyllopads
and they are not all the same. Some are adapted for swimming while others are
used to scrape and lter algae, which is what shrimp mostly eat. Can you see
any differences in the phyllopods?
Experiments to Try
See what kind of water your shrimp like best. Place unsalted water into one
compartment, and ll the other three compartments with water that has salt at the
ratios of ½ teaspoon, 1 teaspoon and 2 teaspoons of salt per cup of water. Which
solution did they hatch best in? Were there any differences between the results
after 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours?
See how pollutants in the water affect the shrimp. Once you have grown some
shrimp, use the pippette to transfer an equal amount to each half of your petri dish.
Then add a different pollutant to each sample. What happens when you add vinegar,
dish soap, sugar, soy sauce, or anything else to the water?

| amscope.com amscope.com |
NOTES
18
Date of slide:
Name of sample:
Collected from:
Stain:
Mount:
Lighting:
Observations
Sketches
Low magnification
High magnification Other: _____________
Medium magnification
NOTES
17
Date of slide:
Name of sample:
Collected from:
Stain:
Mount:
Lighting:
Observations
Sketches
Low magnification
High magnification Other: _____________
Medium magnification

| amscope.com amscope.com |
NOTES
20
NOTES
19
Date of slide:
Name of sample:
Collected from:
Stain:
Mount:
Lighting:
Observations
Sketches
Low magnification
High magnification Other: _____________
Medium magnification
Date of slide:
Name of sample:
Collected from:
Stain:
Mount:
Lighting:
Observations
Sketches
Low magnification
High magnification Other: _____________
Medium magnification

Questions? We are here to help!
Visit: amscope.com/iqcrew | or email: [email protected]
Additional Products (can be purchased separately)
‣Explore the world of microscopes with
our best selling book.
‣Promote early learning
with our “Microscopic
Adventures” experiment
cards.
IQCREW-M40-UG-0720
®
Early Explorer Series