This is description of this part:
Rotary stage mount for fitting an interchangeable, and also rotating, stage to microscopes of the LOMO Biolam class.
Microscopes of the LOMO Biolam class came from the factory with five types of stage:
- small square, screwed on (in the portable models of the D series: LOMO Д1 / Д2 / Д3 / Д11 / Д12 / Д13)
- larger square, screwed on (in the student models of the S series: LOMO Biolam C1 / C2 / C3 / C11 / C12 / C13)
- round, rotating, interchangeable (in the working models of the R series: P1 / P2 / P3 / P4 / P11 / P12 / P13 / P14)
- large square with built-in mechanical XY movement (in a few models of the R series: P5 / P6 / P15 / P16)
- round, rotating, interchangeable, with built-in mechanical XY movement (in the P7 and P17 models)
No interchangeable stage could be fitted to a LOMO Biolam with a screwed-on stage, because those models have no stage carrier for it - all they have is the stage holder for the fixed stage.
The part offered here is an original adapter made by LOMO. It lets you upgrade exactly those models that otherwise take only fixed, screwed-on stages, so that they accept interchangeable stages as well - and not only round ones.
Why do I write that non-round interchangeable stages can be fitted, when none appear in the list above? Because this adapter will also take Carl Zeiss Jena stages on a Lomo Biolam - and that manufacturer offered interchangeable square stages with built-in mechanical XY movement too.
Key data of this stage carrier for interchangeable stages:
Manufacturer: LOMO (ЛОМО)
Fitting: the adapter is screwed onto the stage holder of the fixed stage with 4 screws (included)
Hole spacing: two rows of two screw holes each. Spacing in the first row (measured from hole centre to hole centre): 70 mm. The spacing of the second row, measured the same way: 41 mm. Diagonal distance between a hole in the first row and one in the second: 20 mm
Centering: yes, a stage sitting in this mount can be centered with two screws (included)
Rotation: yes, if the stage itself allows it (polarising stages, for example), it can be turned once mounted
Stages accepted: they need a round mounting boss 70 to 72.5 mm in diameter (this tolerance is allowed by the spring pressure screw and the centering screws)
A note on fitting: one of the four screws that fasten this adapter to the stage holder is shorter than the others - and has to be. You can see this in the gallery photos.
In the last photo in the gallery you will see a LOMO Biolam microscope with such a rotary stage mount fitted.
Over the years LOMO microscopes of the Biolam class were also sold under other names, for example:
- Lomo Erudit (ЛОМО Эрудит)
- Lomo Biolam 70
- Lomo Micmed-1
- Bresser Biolam
- Bresser Erudit
- Zenith Biolam
The adapter shown here of course fits those as well.
You will find a comparison table of the first generation Lomo Biolam microscope models (with one digit in the model name) here: https://www.microscopeparts.eu/photo/99964-1.
You will find a comparison table of the second generation Lomo Biolam microscope models (with two digits in the model name) here: https://www.microscopeparts.eu/photo/99983-5.
Here you will find a round, rotating LOMO stage that fits this mount: https://www.microscopeparts.eu/part/99291.
What is this part needed for?
- if your microscope has such a stage carrier but it is damaged or incomplete - for instance the central spring pressure screw has failed, or the centering screws are missing or snapped off
- if you have a Lomo Biolam microscope with a screwed-on stage and want to upgrade it to work with interchangeable stages
- if you want to use interchangeable stages with a mounting diameter of 70 to 72.5 mm in your own DIY project, an accessory box for example