This is description of this part:
Side-mounted, movable vernier scale (a ruler with a 10 mm graduation) for the PZO SK14 microscope stage, used in PZO Biolar microscopes and similar instruments.
A PZO SK14 microscope stage has four rulers (vernier scales): two on top for the transverse movement and two on the side for the longitudinal movement. Each pair consists of a long scale with numbered graduations and a short one (10 mm) without numbers. What I offer here is the short (10 mm) vernier scale, mounted on the side of the stage and used to read the position during the longitudinal movement (that is, when the whole stage surface moves back and forth).
Basic parameters of this vernier scale:
Material: tinned brass
Mounting: from below the stage, on two screws and two stabilising pins
Shape: rounded
Scale: 10 mm (11 lines, the first one marked with a dot)
Movable: yes - this scale moves together with the lower, movable stage surface.
Please note: SK14 is a stage model made by PZO (SK = Stolik Krzyzowy, that is cross stage). The model marking (the engraving "SK14") is on the stage itself. This stage was most often fitted to PZO Biolar microscopes, which carry no model name at all. As a result "SK14" is the only marking found on the microscope, and many people - wrongly - use the name "PZO SK14" for the whole microscope. That is a mistake: PZO SK14 is a stage model, not a microscope model.
The fact that this vernier scale is screwed to the PZO SK14 microscope stage from below with just two screws makes it fail fairly often.
Here are some problems that replacing this part will solve:
- when the side scale simply got lost during servicing of the stage and is missing
- when pressure from above has bent this graduation so badly that it can no longer be used. This happens often, because it is made of very soft brass and is held by only two point fixings
- when that soft brass snaps after being bent and straightened again
- when years of rubbing have worn the scale away so it is no longer readable
The SK14 microscope stage this vernier scale came from was fitted to a PZO Biolar B microscope. The same stage model was, however, also used in other Biolar models and in other microscopes made by this manufacturer, for example:
- PZO Biolar DIC
- PZO Biolar B2
- PZO Biolar GF
- PZO Biolar FL
- PZO MB 30 / MB 30S / MB 30 FL
- PZO Studar
This element is not a repair part for the microscope. It is a part of the microscope stage - and the stage can be used with any compatible PZO microscope.
The gallery holds detailed photos of this graduation (the ruler with the scale). Every photo has a yellow ruler with a millimetre scale placed next to the part. The last photo shows the whole PZO SK14 microscope stage, with an arrow marking which element is meant and where it sits on the stage, so that this part can be identified beyond doubt. The same photo also shows very clearly how this scale is mounted.
What is this part needed for?
- as a repair part, by replacing the whole damaged element
- if you have a microscope stage where this element still works but is in very poor condition
- if this scale got lost while cleaning or repairing the stage
- examples of damage are given in the description
