Top Features of a Quality Teaching Microscope

Teaching microscopes are typically used by instructors and students for educational purposes. It is capable of allowing three people to observe a single specimen at the same time. Here are some of the relevant features of a quality teaching microscope.

1. Triple viewing head

What makes a teaching microscope unique is its ability to allow three people to analyze one sample simultaneously. This can be done through the microscope’s triple viewing head. Being trinocular, it is equipped with two eyepieces, hence being called as binocular, and a vertical viewing port which is referred to as the third head. This third head is utilized for video cameras which enable a clearer view of the subject on a monitor or in a projector. This will enable the students to watch the sample at the same time while the teacher is doing his lecture thus facilitating the instructions and learning in the most effective way. Because both the instructors and the students use the instrument at once, an immediate evaluation can be easily done when the instructor manipulates the teaching microscope. This is a better way compared to demonstrating the sample one by one to the students.

2. High power objectives.

Most quality teaching microscopes are equipped with high power objectives, which are much capable of providing bright and vivid images of the specimens being examined. It is a common knowledge that a microscope has usually one set of objective lenses and a particular stage. As three people view the samples, a rectangular bar is employed to establish connection with the eyepieces. This rectangular bar which is connected to the eyepieces is equipped with the essential mirrors and tunnels for viewing. This way, images are transmitted to the center head and to the other two sides with the same level of magnification.

3. Objective lenses

The objective lenses in this type of microscope are capable of various levels of magnification such as 40x, 10x, 40x, and 100x. As the three eyepieces are used, enlarged images are to be expected up to these levels of magnifications. With a teaching microscope, one can use an oil-immersion-type lens through the magnification level of 100 x thus producing a magnified image of up to 1000x. In an oil immersion method, particular oil is being used.

4. Head inclination.

The heads of the teaching microscope can be inclined to a 45-degree angle to attain an ease of use. It can also be revolved at a complete angle range of 360 degrees. This capability enables the user to use the instrument with flexibility.

5. Other parts

Most of the binocular heads of the teaching microscopes have interpupillary distance adjustments. It is around 55 millimeters to 75 millimeters. They also have oculars that contain diopter adjustments. Also, it has a substage condenser with a movement knob, which helps in adjusting it. It also has a movement knob, iris diaphragm, holder of filters (swing out model), screw sockets (for condenser), rack pinion gears made of high quality steels for an easier movement of a condenser, a tungsten halogen lamp that works on a system of transmitted base lighting to achieve a better contrast, and a stage that has a large mechanical stage for easy measurement and ability to be moved in any directions. Typically, the teaching microscope’s stage is measuring at around 132 millimeters x 141 millimeters in terms of size. Other important parts are the knobs. When focusing the specimen, various knobs can be utilized. These are the coaxial knobs that enable the user to concentrate on the desired focus and the fine focus adjustment knobs which are fitted on both sides of the teaching microscope. It also has a lock stop that is adjustable. This is needed to minimize the adjustments regarding tension.

6. Height and weight

Because it is 480 millimeters in height and 20.5 pounds in weight, it becomes very ideal to use as it is not too heavy to carry and not too small to consider as a toy microscope. This further means portability, being compact and not difficult to carry or transfer from place to another. In addition, it is built with steady base and compounds that are enameled making them resistant to harsh chemicals and wear and tear.

7. Easy storage

May it be an indoor or outdoor instruction, a quality teaching microscope is very much simple to use as well as easy to store. One does not have to require a bigger space for three people to view the specimen or if the instructor uses a video camera to display the images on a projector, it will still require the same space for a large number of people viewing simultaneously.