Motic SwiftLine M18 Series User manual

Motic SwiftLine M18 Series
Compound Microscope
Use and Care Manual
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MOTIC SWIFTLINE
Enduring Quality and Technical Excellence

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MOTIC SWIFTLINE M18
Your M18 microscope is an instrument of precision, both optically and
mechanically and will last a lifetime with a minimum amount of
maintenance. It is built to the highest and most rigid optical and
mechanical standards and has many built-in features to insure durability
and high performance in the hands of both student and professional
users.

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COMPONENTS OF THE MICROSCOPE
ARM –the vertical column (attached to the base) which supports the
stage and contains the coarse and fine adjusting knobs and mechanism.
BASE –the housing and platform of the instrument to which the arm is
attached. The base stands on rubber feet and contains the Koehler
illuminator assembly.
COARSE FOCUS –the larger, outside knob of the focus control which
facilitates rapid and heavy movement of the focusing mechanism. In order
to prevent gear damage, the focus control is equipped with an upper limit
stopper that protects the high magnification objectives and slides.
COAXIAL CONTROLS –the focusing mechanism moves the stage up
and down to bring the specimen into focus. The coaxial focusing system
combines both the coarse and fine focus into one knob located on both
sides of the microscope. The control is designed for a continuous
operation over the range of the stage movement. The system is also
furnished with a tension control to prevent “stage drift”.
CONDENSER –the function of the condenser is to provide full
illumination to the specimen plane and to enhance the resolution and
contrast of the object being viewed. The standard condenser of the M18
Series has a numerical aperture of 1.25 with filter carrier and iris
diaphragm. It is mounted in a sub–stage focusing assembly that can be
raised or lowered for precise light control.
DIOPTER ADJUSTMENT –located on the left eyepiece of the binocular
head and is designed to help compensate the difference between the
user’s eyes.
EYEPIECES –the upper optical element that further magnifies the
primary image of the specimen and brings the light rays in focus at the
eye-point.
FINE FOCUS –the smaller inner knobs of the focus control which allows
for slow and subtle focusing movement to bring the specimen into sharp
focus.
HEAD –the upper portion of the microscope which contains the refracting
prisms and the eyepiece tubes which hold the eyepieces.
• M18B-P –Binocular Microscope
• M18T-P –Trinocular Microscope

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ILLUMINATION –the built-in Koehler light source which provides the
optical system with light. The M18 Series uses a variable intensity 3W
LED.
IRIS DIAPHRAGM –a multi-leaf round shaped device which is controlled
by a lever. It is similar to a camera shutter and is installed under the
condenser. By moving the lever back and forth, the iris diaphragm opens
and closes, increasing and decreasing the contrast of the specimen. If the
image is “washed out” the iris diaphragm is opened too wide. If the image
is too dark the iris is not open wide enough.
NOSEPIECE –the revolving turret that holds the objective lenses,
permitting changes in magnification by rotating different powered
objective lenses into the optical path. The nosepiece must “click” into
place for the objectives to be in proper alignment.
OBJECTIVES –the infinity plan optical system which magnifies the
primary image of the instrument. Magnifications are typically 4X, 10X,
40X and 100X.
SIEDENTOPF –a binocular head design where the interpupillary
adjustment (increasing or decreasing the distance between the
eyepieces) is achieved by twisting the eyepiece tubes in an up and down
arc motion similar to binoculars.
STAGE –the table of the microscope where the slide is placed for
viewing. This component moves upward and downward when the
focusing knobs are turned. The stage of the M18 has a built-in mechanical
stage with a below-stage ergonomic “X” and “Y” axis controls. A finger
clip holds the slide securely and is designed to be a slow return holder to
provide protection to the specimen.
IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGY
“COATED” LENS –in attempting to transmit light through glass, much of
the light is lost through reflection. Coating a lens increases the light
transmission by reducing or eliminating reflection, thus allowing more light
to pass through.
COMPOUND MICROSCOPE –a microscope having a primary magnifier
(the objective) and a second (the eyepiece) to both conduct light, amplify
magnification and convert the image into a field of view easily seen by the
human eye.
COVER GLASS –thin glass cut in circles, rectangles, or squares, for
covering the specimen (usually a thickness of 0.15 to 0.17mm). The

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majority of specimens should be protected by a cover glass, and must be
covered when using 40XRD or 100XRD objectives.
DEPTH OF FOCUS –the ability of a lens to furnish a distinct image
above and below the focal plane. Depth of focus decreases with the
increase of numerical aperture or with the increase of magnification.
EYE POINT or EYE RELIEF –the distance from the eye lens of the
eyepiece to your eye where a full field of view is seen.
FIELD OF VIEW –the area of the object that is seen when the image is
observed. It may range in diameter from several millimeters to less than
0.1mm.
FOCAL LENGTH –parallel rays of light after refraction through a lens will
be brought to a focus at the focal point. The distance from the optical
center of the lens to the focal point is the focal length.
NUMERICAL APERTURE (NA) –a measure of an objective’s light
gathering capabilities. The concept may be compared to the F-valve in
photographic lenses. Generally speaking, N.A. values of less than 1.00
are "Dry" objectives. Values of 1.00 or greater require oil as a medium.
Please note that condensers are part of the optical system and are also
assigned an N.A. value. That value must be at least as high as that of the
highest objective used.
PARFOCAL –a term applied to objectives and eyepieces when
practically no change in focus is needed when changing objectives. The
objectives on your microscope are parfocaled at the factory so that only
a slight adjustment of the fine focus knob is needed to maintain focus
when switching magnification.
RESOLUTION or RESOLVING POWER –the ability of a lens to define
the details of the specimen at a maximum magnification. This is governed
by the NA (Numerical Aperture) of the lens. For example, a 40X objective
with NA 0.65 has a maximum resolving power of 650X, equal to 1000
times the NA. This rule of NA x 1000 is true of all achromatic objectives.
WORKING DISTANCE –the distance from the lens of the objective to the
cover slip on the slide, when the specimen is in focus.

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USING THE MOTIC SWIFTLINE M18 MICROSCOPE
Once you have learned the terminology and purpose of each component
of the microscope, use of the microscope is simple. By following these
steps, you will be able to begin studying the specimen quickly and easily.
1. Open the slide holder of the mechanical stage and carefully place the
slide against the fixed side and back edge of the mechanical stage.
Now slowly release the slide holder lever to hold the slide in place.
2. Align the specimen under the objective lens by using the adjustment
knobs under the mechanical stage. The bottom knob moves the slide
from right/left while the top knob adjusts the slide from front/back.
These knobs allow for precise movement and scanning of the slide.
3. Rotate the nosepiece to place the lowest power objective (4XD) over
the specimen. Be sure the objective “clicks” into position.
4. Adjust the interpupillary distance of the Siedentopf binocular head for
a comfortable view. Align the eyepiece tubes of the binocular head to
create one perfect circle, by moving the eyepiece tubes in an arc
motion.
5. While viewing through the eyepiece, rotate the coarse focus knob to
bring the specimen into focus. This should be done slowly and
carefully.
6. To adjust the contrast of the specimen, open the iris diaphragm to its
largest aperture. If additional contrast is required to permit accurate
viewing of the specimen, the diaphragm should be slowly closed until
the details of the specimen are sharply defined. Be careful not to
close the aperture too much. Although you may be achieving a higher
contrast, the fine structure of the image maybe destroyed. Reducing
the aperture increases the contrast and depth of focus, but it also
reduces resolution and introduces diffraction. The aperture must be
adjusted for each objective.
NA 0.25 for 10XD
NA 0.65 for 40XRD
NA 1.25 for 100XRD
The iris diaphragm is not intended to control the brightness of the
illumination, but induce contrast of the specimen by diffracting light
rays.
7. Use the fine focus control to complete the focus and produce the
sharpest image.

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8. For additional clarity, use the left eye diopter adjustment to correct the
differences between the user’s eyes. Set the adjustable left eye
diopter at zero. Then focus with the coaxial focusing knob, using your
right eye only (close your left eye). Now using your left eye only,
adjust the diopter ring until a clear image is seen (close your right
eye). The diopter adjustment is now set to the user’s eyes and will not
need to be adjusted again until a different user uses the microscope.
9. Now you can rotate the nosepiece to higher magnification objectives.
The objectives are parfocaled so that once the lowest objective (4XD)
is focused, only a slight turn of the fine focusing knob is required
when changing to 10XD, 40XRD and 100XRD objectives.
CENTERING THE CONDENSER
1. Fully open the field of view diaphragm and condenser aperture diaphragm.
2. Set the specimen on the stage with the cover glass facing up.
3. Bring the specimen image into focus, using the 10X objective.
4. Close the field of view diaphragm to its minimum setting by means of the
field diaphragm ring.
5. Turn the condenser focus knob to bring the field diaphragm image into
focus on the specimen plane.
6. Adjust the condenser centering screws so that the image of the field
diaphragm appears at the centre of the field of view. At this time, stopping
the field diaphragm image, just short of the maximum field of view, may be
convenient for centering.
7. Adjust and centre the field diaphragm so that it is just outside the field of
view for each magnification change.
USE OF FIELD DIAPHRAGM
1. The field diaphragm determines the illuminated area on the specimen.
Rotating the field diaphragm ring changes the size of the field diaphragm.
For normal observation, the diaphragm is set slightly larger than the field
of view. If a larger than required area is illuminated, extraneous light will
enter the field of view. This will create a flare in the image and lower the
contrast.
2. The thickness of the glass slide must be 1.7mm or less, otherwise the field
diaphragm may not be focused on the specimen plane.
3. The diaphragm does not have any effect when the condenser top lens is
swung out of the optical path in the Swing-out type condenser. Fully open
the field diaphragm, as the N.A. of the illuminating system will be reduced
if the diaphragm is excessively stopped down.

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OIL IMMERSION
It is desirable to use immersion oil with the 100XRD objective. Oil
generates a fine resolution and brightness of the image viewed through
the microscope. Drop a tiny amount of oil (1 drop) onto the slide prior to
focusing with the 100XRD objective (between the slide and the objective
tip). It is essential to thoroughly clean the objective tip after use.
IMPORTANT: The focal distance of the 100XRD and 40XRD objective to
the slide surface is very close and only the 100XRD objective is sealed to
prevent immersion oil contamination, it is a good practice to avoid
dragging the 40XRD objective through an oiled slide.
Objective
Glass Slide
Oil

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Please note: Purchase of C-Mount Lens is necessary for camera attachment*
Moticam
C-Ring
MA15602
C-Mount Locking
Screw
*C-Mount: Swift Part Number MA15602