This is description of this part:
Spring-loaded specimen holder for the mechanical XY microscope stage used on various Leitz Wetzlar microscope models.
This particular specimen holder was removed from a Leitz Dialux microscope. In the last photo in the gallery you can see the microscope stage from which it was removed. However, the manufacturer fitted the same type of mechanical XY microscope stage to many other Leitz microscope models, so this specimen holder is also compatible with models other than the Leitz Dialux.
When determining compatibility and whether this specimen holder can be mounted on a particular mechanical XY microscope stage, the following dimensions are critical:
- distance between the two side locating pins: 81 mm measured from the outer edge of one pin to the outer edge of the other pin
- locating pin diameter: 3 mm each
- therefore, the centre-to-centre distance between the locating pins is 78 mm
- diameter of the central mounting screw: 4 mm
- position of the mounting screw: centred between the two locating pins
If the spacing of the locating pins matches, this specimen holder can also be mounted on microscope stages made by other manufacturers.
Leitz Wetzlar produced specimen holders with fixed stage clips as well as versions with a spring-loaded stage clip. Here I am showing and offering the spring-loaded version.
On the used market and in technical documentation, this microscope part is described using a variety of names. Common terms include:
- specimen holder
- microscope stage specimen holder
- mechanical stage specimen holder
- slide holder
- microscope slide holder
- microscope slide clamp
- spring-loaded specimen holder
- spring-loaded slide holder
- spring-loaded stage clip
- specimen clamp
- specimen carrier
- mechanical stage carrier
- XY stage specimen holder
- specimen holder for mechanical XY microscope stage
- stage holder
- stage clip assembly
The photographs in the gallery show the exact dimensions of the microscope part offered here. In addition, the last photograph includes an arrow indicating exactly which microscope part is being described and where it is mounted on the mechanical XY microscope stage, making identification straightforward. The accompanying video demonstrates the operation of the spring-loaded stage clip.
What is this part needed for?
- if you have a stage that is missing the specimen holder
- if you have a "simple" specimen holder and want to replace it with one with a spring-loaded clamp
- if you want to install this holder on a stage in a microscope from another manufacturer
