This is description of this part:
Complete control handle (handwheel) of the mechanical XY stage for microscopes based on the N-117M / DN-117M models.
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.
The N-117M / DN-117M microscope is a fairly good laboratory microscope manufactured at the Chinese NYO factory and sold worldwide under various names. These microscopes are known and sold, among others, as:
- Delta Optical Genetic Pro (mainly in Poland)
- AmScope B340 / T340 (mainly in the USA and the rest of the world through Amazon)
- Labtron LEM-C10 / C11 / C12 (mainly in the UK)
- Sigeta MB-207 (mainly in Ukraine)
- Boeco Germany BM-117 (mainly in Germany)
- BestScope BS-2020 (mainly in the USA, shipped worldwide)
- Brunel N117M (mainly in the UK)
- Apex N-117M (mainly in the UK)
- Surgifield SM-DN-117M (mainly in Nigeria and West Africa)
- Eurotech DN-117M (mainly in Peru)
- Biocare DN-117M (mainly in Peru)
- Viresa N-117M (mainly in Mexico)
- Eurolab DN-117M
- Nexcope N-117M
- Novel N-117M
This is certainly not a complete list – many sellers give the microscopes they sell their own names (just like Delta Optical in Poland). The best way to check whether this microscope part fits your microscope is to compare the appearance of your microscope with the microscope from which this microscope part was removed (https://www.microscopeparts.eu/microscope/optical-n-117m-388).
The N-117M model has a binocular or trinocular head, while the DN-117M model has a built-in digital USB camera (hence the “D” at the beginning of the name, for “Digital”) – but the microscope body is identical, so the stage control handle is also the same in both models.
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.
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
