Condenser adaptations

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Saul
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Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:59 am
Location: Naperville, IL USA
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Condenser adaptations

Post by Saul »

As I promised to few our forum members, post about adopting a AO condenser (and others) to the Nikon microscope.
The AO condenser was purchased to make some tests with FO illumination, so I decided to clean the dust and make something useful. This is one of the initial designs


_DSC2965-web1333x2000U100-G10.jpg


It has perpendicular slots for different sliders, like a variable DF, oblique, Rheinberg, gradient, etc. and it was used together with the original AO condenser 32mm slot.


_DSC2969-web1333x2000U100-G10.jpg


It worked pretty well with my microscopes. Below is an example of one of my previous pol setups


_DSC2981.jpg


The most recent design has more ability to control illumination – one more location (in the base) for the 32mm
filter (even the ring light), old slots for perpendicular sliding variable/gradient/Rheinberg filters, a slot for the rotational adapter, and an extra location on the top.
All these features allow to create a different configuration similar to Hoffman, Goertz, and even something similar to the pseudo DIC effect, etc. The condenser itself can also be rotated when the base is stationary (if something is placed inside, below the condenser lens). The rotational adapter is very useful, it allows to rotate filters (to control the oblique effect, etc.), especially, if they are used with pol filters (different shapes), for contrast relief, pseudo DIC etc. Below are designs with the Nikon Alpha and the Olympus CH2 condensers with Nikon dovetail bases.


_DSC5501-web1333x2000U100-G10.jpg
_DSC5503-web1333x2000U100-G10.jpg


One of the reasons why I created them is that I could not use my standard inserts with Microphot – the original condenser’s holder opening is smaller than in the Optiphot.
In the most recent setup, there is one more retarder above the rotational adapter (it can be seen in the picture above), that is used for pseudo DIC :


IMG_2032-web1024x768U100-G10.jpg

IMG_2035-web1024x759U100-G10.jpg


I made an extra slot for one more rotatable insert in the TL holder for the retarder. The polarizing filter’s rotatable insert is in the original slot of the microscope.


_DSC5508-web1333x2000U100-G10.jpg


The ideas described above, were applied for the standard inserts for Nikon, Olympus with an additional adapter.
Below you can see the set for Nikon Abbe 1.25 condenser.


_DSC5509-web1274x2000U100-G10.jpg
_DSC5510-web1333x2000U100-G10.jpg
_DSC5511-web1333x2000U100-G10.jpg
Saul
μ-stuff

Saul
Posts: 1781
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:59 am
Location: Naperville, IL USA
Contact:

Re: Condenser adaptations

Post by Saul »

Saul
μ-stuff

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