This is description of this part:
Complete manipulator of the mechanical XY stage for Leitz Wetzlar microscopes.
This is a complete control assembly for the mechanical microscope stage, allowing precise movement of the specimen in both the X and Y axes of the stage plane. The manipulator consists of two coaxial knobs, two independent drive shafts and the fixing elements that attach it to the stage mechanism.
This particular manipulator was removed from a Leitz Dialux microscope. The last photograph in the gallery shows the entire microscope stage from which it was dismounted. The manufacturer also used the same or very similar stages in many other Leitz Wetzlar microscope models, which is why the manipulator may also be compatible with other models from this company.
On the second-hand market and in service documentation one encounters many names referring to this assembly. The most commonly used terms include, among others:
- stage manipulator
- XY stage manipulator
- mechanical stage drive
- stage control knobs
- specimen mover
- coaxial stage drive
- stage drive assembly
- mechanical stage control
- manual XY stage drive
- stage actuator mechanism
Such manipulators very often suffer mechanical damage during transport of the microscope. Because they protrude beyond the outline of the stand, it is precisely they that absorb the impact energy first — in the event of a fall or improper packaging of the instrument.
In many cases it is not the entire manipulator that is damaged, but only one of its components. Most often these are the knobs, the drive shafts, the coaxial sleeves or the fixing elements. For this reason, this database also contains all the most important constituent parts of this (and other) manipulators, offered separately as service elements.
Damage to the manipulator does not make further work with the microscope impossible. The specimen can be moved by hand, or a simple specimen holder without an XY movement mechanism can be fitted. Such a solution works well at low magnifications; however, when working with objectives of magnifications greater than 40x (e.g. 60x, 63x, 80x or 100x), precise manual movement of the specimen becomes very difficult. At total magnifications exceeding about 400x, even a slight movement of the hand shifts the image by a considerable distance within the field of view. The mechanical manipulator enables very smooth, controlled and repeatable movement of the specimen in both axes, which is particularly important during observation with oil immersion and when producing photographic documentation.
The photographs in the gallery show the exact dimensions of the complete manipulator. The last photograph presents the entire microscope stage together with an arrow indicating the mounting location of this element, which makes it possible to identify the offered part unambiguously.
What is this part needed for?
- if you have an incomplete Leitz microscope stage in which this manipulator is missing (e.g. someone did not finish the repair)
- if you have a Leitz microscope stage in which the manipulator does not work or is of very poor quality (it turns stiffly or unevenly)
- if you need a precise coaxial mechanism for your own DIY project, e.g. related to macro photography or rotating an object for 3D films
