Good deal for microscope base

[anoldsole]

Not my auction, just noticed a good deal on a nikon MM base if someone wants to add some weight to their setup to get rid of those pesky vibrations . $125 with $85 shipping.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-UM2-Measurescope-main-base-w-transillumination-lighting-vertical-stages/352328423960?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D51376%26meid%3Db9046f760b5c41728cd623c7ed009775%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D252429194163%26itm%3D352328423960&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Aa04960bb-41a6-11e8-aa4a-74dbd180916a%7Cparentrq%3Acfc89ee51620a991c19e4c53fff4f266%7Ciid%3A1

[Lou Jost]

Thank you for that! It is just what I was searching for. There was an earlier listing for one of these but the description said that the fine focus made a grinding noise, so I passed on it. This one on the other hand sounds good.
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Lou Jost
www.ecomingafoundation.wordpress.com
www.loujost.com

[Lou Jost]

Now comes the challenging part: how to stuff this into my airline luggage...
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Lou Jost
www.ecomingafoundation.wordpress.com
www.loujost.com

[ChrisR]

I don't know if you've seen one Lou, but keep a look out for the base which goes on those dovetails.
You usually get 50mm of micrometer x-y, and a rotating glass middle.
Only another 20kg or so.
There were simpler ones too.
If you see the one with fat encoders, they're 200mm/pi diameter; I'm sure you can work out what to do with that .
They have complex electronics inside, they aren't simple quadrature encoders, to my eyes. I didn't get the counter part, but I doubt I'd use it.

I know nothing about the base illumination system, I've not come across a manual for the UM-2.
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Chris R

[lothman]

as I looked at the first link I found those focus blocks

column only
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stereo-Microscope-Rack-Pinion-Coaxial-Coarse-Fine-Focusing-Adjustable-Mechanism/182869704367?hash=item2a93e23eaf:g:qj4AAOSw~RVZ-Y1O

column with bracket
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Microscope-Rack-Pinion-Coarse-Fine-Focusing-Adjustable-Mechanism-Head-Holder/183153342204?hash=item2aa4ca36fc:g:OTAAAOSwD99avaIq

[Lou Jost]

Those look nice! But I wonder, since they are for stereo microscopes, the fine focus might not be fine enough for focus stacking with high-magnification objectives?
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Lou Jost
www.ecomingafoundation.wordpress.com
www.loujost.com

[lothman]

[Photomicro]

[anoldsole]

I actually use a very similar base, laid flat on it's back on a diy isolation table. I removed the optical head and attached a plate with a THK rail where the head was attached. I initially intended on using it vertically but the head wouldn't hold very much weight and had a habit of sliding down unexpectedly.

The X/Y tables pop up cheap sometimes and they are very easy to install. Did a quick search and found one actually (if I didn't have one i'd buy it!): https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-37371-2-STAGE-X-Y-AXIS-POSITIONER/142630254201?hash=item21356cf679:g:YAIAAOSwk1haOTy~

Micrometer heads pop up cheap as well. Laying it down flat on it's back you will lose an axis of movement, but if you replace the stock springs with high tension versions, you can get that axis back if they are strong enough to pull up the stage. The springs need to be fairly strong - it's very heavy. Pretty much eliminates any vibrations. The coarse movement isn't accurate enough for high magnification, but it's useful for a quick & dirty stack with an mp-e at lower magnifications, or as a quick coarse movement with a ton of travel.

[Lou Jost]

Looks very nice. If I lived in the US I would buy it.
_________________
Lou Jost
www.ecomingafoundation.wordpress.com
www.loujost.com