AmScope SM-8 Series User manual

Series

User’s Manual

Series

abl

Contents

Before Use..........................................................................................3

Introduction ............................................................................................................. 3

Safety Precautions ................................................................................................... 4

Parts .............................................................................................. 5

SM-8B/T .............................................................................................................. 5

Definition of Parts ............................................................................................... 6

Getting Started ............................................................................ 8

Assem ly .................................................................................................................. 8

Operation .................................................................................... 9

Setting Up ................................................................................................................... 9

Focusing ................................................................................................................... 9

Using the Trinocular Port ................................................................................. 10

Attaching a Camera ........................................................................................... 10

Adjusting Focusing Tension ........................................................................... 11

Maintenance/Precautions ..................................................................................... 11

Specifications.............................................................................. 12

SM-8 Series Specifications ................................................................................... 12

Optional Accessories ............................................................................................. 13

Technical Terms & Concepts .......................................................................... 14

Troubleshooting........................................................................ 15

Common Issues (Optical) .................................................................................. 15

Common Issues (Mechanical) ........................................................................... 16

Series

Before

Use

Introduction

Congratulations on the purchase of your new AmScope microscope!

This manual is designed for the SM-8 series microscopes (SM-8B, SM-8T, and all their variants).

The two base models of this series differ in that the -B models are binocular (two eyepiece ocular

tubes), while the -T models are trinocular (two eyepiece ocular tubes with a third port on top for

a microscope camera).

Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the features and functions of your new mi-

croscope.

If you’d like more information on microscopes, parts, or accessories, please visit our website at:

www.iScopeCorp.com

We highly recommend you study this manual thoroughly before operating the microscope and

that you keep it on hand for future reference.

If you have additional questions or need assistance, please send us an email at:

info@amscope.com

Series

Before

Use

Safety Precautions

As the microscope is a precision instrument, always handle it with care, avoiding impact

or abrupt movement during transportation. Do not shake the package.

Do not place the microscope in direct sunlight or in high heat. Keep it indoors in a dry

and clean place with temperatures between 32-100 degrees F (0-40 degrees C), and in

maximum relative humidity of 85%.

Avoid touching the lenses on the objectives and the eyepieces so that oil and dirt from

your fingerprints do not obstruct your view.

Before turning the power on, make sure that the power supply voltage is consistent with

the voltage of your microscope (for units with built in illumination).

Series

Parts

SM-8B/T

Eyepieces

Ocular Tubes

Interpupillary

Adjusters

Focusing Rack

Articulating Table Clamp Stand

Magnification

Knob

Objective

Focusing Knob

Locking Mechanism

Series

Parts

Definition of Parts

AdjustableTrinocularPort

Threaded port with adjusta le length of attachment of digital or video camera

Boom Stand

Stand for the microscope that allows the head to e moved in physical space in various directions

Continuous Zoom

A microscope head with a kno to change magnification through a range

Dimmer

Controls the amount of light that escapes from the illumination source

Diopter

Allows the focus to e perfected for oth eyes, independent of each other

Fixed Power

Microscope head whose o jectives are pre-set at certain levels and changed y rotating the o jective

FocusingKnob

Used to move the microscope head vertically to ring the sample into focus

GooseneckIlluminator

Illuminator independent of the unit that allows movement of one or two necks for controlled lighting

Head Lock Screw

Screws the microscope head into place

Series

Parts

Magnification Knob

Changes the magnification of the lenses on a continuous zoom microscope

Microscope Head

Contains the o jective lens, eyepiece ocular tu es, and prisms used to magnify

Ocular Tube

Tu e designed to hold the eyepieces or camera in place

Ring Light

An illuminator that mounts directly onto the o jective to emit even light on the sample elow

Simul-FocalMicroscopeHead

Head containing a focus adjustment for a trinocular port camera to simulatneously to match the eyepieces

Table Stand

A stand which sits on the ta le and holds the head directly a ove the sample without moving

Series

Getting

Started

Assembly

First, take the styrofoam container out of the cardboard carton, paying attention to which side is labeled up.

Remove the tape and open the container carefully so as to avoid dropping and damaging the optical items. Check

carefully to ensure that all parts and accessories are intact.

Check the packing list to ensure that you’re received all items. Please note that this can vary depending on

which model you’ve purchased, and is generally listed on www.amscope.com at the items’ details page for your

specific model.

Remove the microscope from the box and remove the plastic protective covering. The body of the microscope

is composed of the base that comes with your unit, the focusing rack, and the head lock screw. Attach the vertical

pillar to the base, the double arm boom stand to the vertical pillar (securing it with the protective collar and the

lock lever). Use the protective collar to as a second safety to prevent the arm from sliding down.

The articulating arm must be assembled before mounting the microscope. This is done easiest by attaching the

clamp to the table, then piece by piece inserting and securing the arm’s components to each other.

After mounting the focusing rack to the base and securing it on the vertical drop down bar, slide the head and

objective of the microscope into the hole and secure with included head lock screw.

For the SM-6T models, screw the photo port onto the top of the microscope head (trinocular C-mount port).

Remove the eyetube caps and drop the desired eyepieces into the eyepiece ocular tubes. Be sure to avoid

touching the lens to ensure no artifacts appear in your image.

Remove the cap from the objective lens.

Plug in the microscope and turn it on if a light source is included (or refer to your specific light source in-

structions for mounting/turning on if an external source). If no light emerges from the light source, adjust the

dimmer knob near the power switch.

An external light source is needed for this model microscope (such as a ring light or gooseneck illuminator).

Series

Operation

Setting Up

Once you have placed your sample on the table or base below the objective, center the sample as best as possible.

A slide is neither needed nor required for a stereo microscope, although they can be used if desired. If using a slide,

use the stage clips to hold it in place.

With both eyes open, look into the eyepieces. Adjust the interpupillary distance by holding the eyepiece tubes

and rotating the eyepiece tubes either towards or away from each other until only one circle of light is seen by both

eyes.

Adjust the magnification knob to the lowest setting (0.7) and move the microscope’s focusing knobs (on the

focusing rack) to adjust the height of the unit until at approximately 4 inches (101mm) away from the sample. If

not clear after adjusting, please be sure that you have not installed any additional Barlow lenses onto the objective.

Center the object in the field of view once you have achieved focus.

Focusing

A stereo microscope’s focus differs from a compound microscope. Magnification and focal distance (working

distance) are inversely related to each other. The more magnified one is, the lower the distance between the objec-

tive and the sample to achieve focus.

When first using the microscope, remove all Barlow lenses and set the magnification knob (on the microscope

head) to the minimum setting (0.7x).

Begin focusing the microscope by moving the knob until the head is about 4 inches (101mm) away from the

sample. This should bring the microscope in focus at 7x.

If you’d like to use greater magnification than the minimum setting, you will need to move the microscope head

closer to the sample as well as adjust the magnification knob to a higher setting. The more magnified, the closer

you need to be.

If you’ve achieved the maximum magnification (45x and 3/16 of an inch or 4.76mm) on the microscope, you can

use other accessories to either further increase or further decrease the magnification, called Barlow lenses. These

lenses screw onto the objective to either amplify or reduce the total magnification.

The SM microscope has two options available--the 0.5x and the 2.0x. The 0.5x will cut magnification in half down

to a minimum of 3.5x (and double working distance to approximately 8 inches or 203mm), while the 2.0x will

double your magnification (but half the working distance, down to 3/32 of an inch or 2.4mm).

Series

Operation

Using the Trinocular Port

The AmScope SM-8T model is uniquely designed so that you can view the image through the eyepieces and the

trinocular port without removing the camera or using your eyepiece.

This feature allows the images through the microscope’s eyepieces, and those displayed on your computer screen

or television be viewed at the same time (although unless using 20x eyepieces to match your camera, the image

may differ in magnification). You do not need an adapter to attach your AmScope camera to the trinocular port,

however you may need one if you have a non-AmScope camera. Our photo port is a 23mm size.

If using a simul-focal microscope head (one with a focusing adjustment on the third port), then you can use the

middle portion to focus the camera. This allows the camera to be in focus even if the magnifications between the

eyepieces and the camera are different. The SM-8T models do not come standard with a simul-focal feature.

Attaching a Camera

If your microscope has a C-mount, you can simply screw the camera onto the trinocular port.

If your camera has a 23mm mounting size, remove the C-mount cap (if present) from the top of the trinocular

port by loosening the screw. Then, drop the camera with reduction lens directly into the trinocular port. It should

slide in without issue.

To focus through the trinocular port (simul-focal models only), simply turn middle portion of the tube. Other-

wise, you will need to focus it individually using the microscope’s focusing mechanisms.

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