Home page of the microscope service parts, repair and spare parts online catalog - Sermik-Oplatek Mikroskopservice Dresden f.n.n.Z

Description of this part for the microscope.

mm
Distance between the pins: 26 mm
How the distance was measured: from the centre of one pin to the centre of the other
How the pins are fitted: one on the underside, the other facing outward
Pin width: 2 mm

These particular blades were removed from an Olympus BH2-SC condenser taken out of an Olympus BH-2 BHS microscope.

I could not confirm this, but everything indicates that these blades will also fit the iris diaphragms in the following microscope condensers for Olympus BX microscopes:
- Olympus U-SC
- Olympus U-SC-2
- Olympus U-SC3

The microscope condensers listed above are sometimes referred to collectively as:
- Olympus Achromat 0.9 flip-out condenser
- Olympus 0.9 swing-out condenser

Before you decide to use these diaphragm blades to repair a condenser other than the one they were removed from - compare their appearance and dimensions carefully.

It is quite possible that Olympus, like many other manufacturers, used the same diaphragm blades in most microscope condensers of that era, for example:
- Olympus U-POC
- Olympus U-PCD
- Olympus U-AAC
- Olympus U-UCD

Damaged iris diaphragm blades are one of the more common faults in microscopes. It usually happens when:
- the grease in the mechanism that opens and closes the diaphragm has dried out and the user tries to force it
- a foreign body gets between the blades (for example a chip of glass from a broken slide)
- the diaphragm is closed too quickly or opened too far

In the BH2-SC / U-SC condensers the iris diaphragm sits inside the condenser housing, it is not a separate part screwed on underneath. It follows that if the iris diaphragm fails you can:
- leave the damaged diaphragm in place and not use the condenser to its full potential
- replace the whole condenser
- repair the diaphragm by replacing the damaged blades

These separate diaphragm blades are not a spare part for a microscope. They are parts for repairing the diaphragm in a microscope condenser - and that condenser can sit in various microscopes.

Here are examples of microscope models in which the condenser models are most often used whose iris diaphragms the blades offered here fit:
- Olympus BH-2: BHS / BHT / BHTU
- Olympus BX: BX40 / BX50 / BX51 / BX60

The most important microscopes used with the condenser models mentioned here are listed in the "compatibility" section, but this is by no means a complete list.

The last photos show the microscope condenser from whose diaphragm the blades offered here were taken.

A curiosity: it is possible that these blades also fit the iris diaphragm of the Meiji MA976 microscope condenser.

Description of this part for the microscope.

SC microscope condensers have an upper, swing-out lens. When it is in the light path, the condenser offers N.A. 0.9. With the top lens swung out, the condenser works at a low numerical aperture of N.A. 0.16 (values from 0.16 to 0.2 are quoted on the internet). In fact such a low N.A. is achieved with the iris diaphragm alone, without any lens at all - but in these condensers Olympus fitted a protective glass (a round glass disc) protecting the diaphragm from dirt that could fall into it from above (for example from the stage) and damage it. This glass is cemented into the conical casting that forms the condenser body.

It is exactly this part that I offer here, that is the protective glass (the so-called zero glass) cemented into its housing.

This particular part was removed from an Olympus BH2-SC condenser taken out of an Olympus BH-2 BHS microscope.

I could not confirm this, but everything indicates that this protective glass will also fit the microscope condensers for Olympus BX microscopes:
- Olympus U-SC
- Olympus U-SC-2
- Olympus U-SC3

The microscope condensers listed above are sometimes referred to collectively as:
- Olympus Achromat 0.9 flip-out condenser
- Olympus 0.9 swing-out condenser

Before you decide to use this glass with its housing to repair a condenser other than the one it was removed from - compare their appearance and dimensions carefully.

This glass is damaged quite often:
- it can get scratched during cleaning
- it can crack due to stress
- it can get broken during unprotected storage or in transit

The glass protecting the diaphragm is not a spare part for a microscope. It is a part for repairing the condenser - and that condenser can sit in various microscopes.

Here are examples of microscope models in which the condensers that this glass fits are most often used:
- Olympus BH-2: BHS / BHT / BHTU
- Olympus BX: BX40 / BX50 / BX51 / BX60

The most important microscopes used with the condenser models mentioned here are listed in the "compatibility" section, but this is by no means a complete list.

The last photos show the microscope condenser that the glass with its mount offered here comes from.

A curiosity: it is possible that this part also fits the Meiji MA976 microscope condenser.

Description of this part for the microscope.

condensers have an upper, swing-out lens. When it is in the light path, the condenser offers N.A. 0.9. With the top lens swung out, the condenser works at a low numerical aperture of N.A. 0.16 (values from 0.16 to 0.2 are quoted on the internet). This swing-out lens sits in a mount on the swing arm and is held by three screws. The seating diameter is 23 mm and the seat itself has no thread, unlike for example the top lenses in the Olympus U-UCD condenser.

It is exactly this part that I offer here, that is the top achromatic 0.9 lens for use without immersion oil (dry).

This particular lens was removed from an Olympus BH2-SC condenser taken out of an Olympus BH-2 BHS microscope.

I could not confirm this, but everything indicates that this top lens will also fit the microscope condensers for Olympus BX microscopes:
- Olympus U-SC
- Olympus U-SC-2
- Olympus U-SC3

The microscope condensers listed above are sometimes referred to collectively as:
- Olympus Achromat 0.9 flip-out condenser
- Olympus 0.9 swing-out condenser

Before you decide to use this lens in a condenser other than the one it was removed from - compare their appearance and dimensions carefully.

A note on the appearance of the top lens: sometimes a white protective cap is fitted over the top lens. It is an original Olympus item and it changes how the top lens looks - not only the colour of the mount (from black to white) but also its shape (from a cone to a flatter form). It is still the same lens, not a different, white one.

This top lens is not a spare part for a microscope. It is a part for repairing or rebuilding the condenser - and that condenser can sit in various microscopes.

Here are examples of microscope models in which the condensers that this top lens fits are most often used:
- Olympus BH-2: BHS / BHT / BHTU
- Olympus BX: BX40 / BX50 / BX51 / BX60

The most important microscopes used with the condenser models mentioned here are listed in the "compatibility" section, but this is by no means a complete list.

The last photos show the microscope condenser that the top lens offered here comes from.

A curiosity: it is possible that this part also fits the Meiji MA976 microscope condenser.

Description of this part for the microscope.

condensers have an upper, swing-out lens. When it is in the light path, the condenser offers N.A. 0.9. With the top lens swung out, the condenser works at a low numerical aperture of N.A. 0.16 (values from 0.16 to 0.2 are quoted on the internet). It is exactly this arm that does the swinging, and it is what I offer here: it holds the top lens in its mount above the condenser body and at the same time lets you swing it out of the light path.

In the BH2-SC / U-SC condensers this arm with its mount is a single casting together with the lever the user grips. The whole part is fastened to the condenser housing with a single screw (included). The lens sits in the mount without a thread and is clamped by three screws - you can see it and read its description here: https://www.microscopeparts.eu/part/99924.

The inner diameter of the mount is 23 mm.

Please note: originally there was a rubber sleeve on the small lever, which you grip with your fingers, so that the grip is firmer and the fingers do not slip. It is missing here - it must have been lost somewhere during use. It is a removable, replaceable item. If you have a damaged arm in an old condenser and you are looking for a replacement - do not throw away your old rubber, you can move it over without any trouble.

The working position of the whole arm with the top lens is set by a pair of stops - the small screw on the arm rests against the screw in the body. Thanks to this the lens locks in the same place every time it comes back and does not have to be centred again each time.

This particular part was removed from an Olympus BH2-SC condenser taken out of an Olympus BH-2 BHS microscope.

I could not confirm this, but everything indicates that this arm will also fit the microscope condensers for Olympus BX microscopes:
- Olympus U-SC
- Olympus U-SC-2
- Olympus U-SC3

The microscope condensers listed above are sometimes referred to collectively as:
- Olympus Achromat 0.9 flip-out condenser
- Olympus 0.9 swing-out condenser

Before you decide to use this arm in a condenser other than the one it was removed from - compare its appearance and dimensions carefully.

What goes wrong in this mechanism? Here is an example list of problems that can be solved by replacing the arm:
- the arm wobbles on its axis when the pivot screw is loose or worn
- the lens stops returning to its place when the stop screw has been unscrewed or lost, for example during cleaning
- the lens mount gets damaged when someone tries to force the lens out without undoing the three screws
- the casting cracks when the condenser is dropped - the arm sticks out beyond the outline and takes the impact first

This arm is not a spare part for a microscope. It is a part for repairing or rebuilding the condenser - and that condenser can sit in various microscopes.

When replacing the arm with another one, bear in mind that the stop for the working position sits on the arm itself. A new arm will most probably have to be readjusted with that one screw until the lens sets itself exactly on the axis of the light path.

When the arm is swung out, there is no optics left above the iris diaphragm - only the protective glass cemented into the body remains (https://www.microscopeparts.eu/part/99926). It is what then protects the diaphragm blades (https://www.microscopeparts.eu/part/99927) from dirt falling from the stage.

Here are examples of microscope models in which the condensers that this arm fits are most often used:
- Olympus BH-2: BHS / BHT / BHTU
- Olympus BX: BX40 / BX50 / BX51 / BX60

The most important microscopes used with the condenser models mentioned here are listed in the "compatibility" section, but this is by no means a complete list.

The last photos show the microscope condenser that the arm offered here comes from - and a blue arrow points to the part I am talking about.

A curiosity: it is possible that this part also fits the Meiji MA976 microscope condenser.