This is description of this part:
Filter cassette with control panel for the microscope base of Zeiss Photomicroscope / Universal microscopes.
This is a cassette containing six filters installed inside the microscope base. It includes a mechanism that allows these filters to be inserted into or removed from the light path using control buttons. Since more than one filter can be placed in the light path at the same time, the mechanism also includes an additional (seventh) button that removes all filters from the light path simultaneously. Because of this seventh button, some descriptions incorrectly state that the microscope base contains seven filters.
The following filters are installed in this filter cassette:
- NCB filter (blue conversion filter that transforms yellow incandescent lamp light into naturally white light), Zeiss P/N 46 78 50 (yellow stripe on the push button)
- VG 9 green filter, Zeiss P/N 46 78 05 (green stripe on the push button)
- two neutral density filters 0.5, Zeiss P/N 46 78 40 (light grey stripes on the push button)
- neutral density filter 0.12, Zeiss P/N 46 78 41 (grey stripe on the push button)
- neutral density filter 0.03, Zeiss P/N 46 78 42 (dark grey stripe on the push button)
Combinations of the neutral density filters provide stepwise light transmission values ranging from 1.5% to 100%.
Each of these filters can be removed from its holder, resulting in a standard 32 mm round microscope filter that can also be used in microscopes made by other manufacturers. In addition, any other 32 mm round filter can be installed in this filter cassette, allowing the filter set of the microscope to be configured freely.
This filter cassette with its complete control mechanism fits all versions of Carl Zeiss Photomicroscope microscopes (also known as Zeiss PM or Zeiss Phomi) as well as Zeiss Universal microscopes. However, there are also some less common variants of the Zeiss Universal that do not include this filter mechanism inside the microscope base. Importantly, the Carl Zeiss Ultraphot microscope does not use this component.
The last photographs in the gallery indicate with an arrow exactly which component is being offered and where it is located inside the microscope. This allows unambiguous identification of the part.
What is this part needed for?
- as a service replacement part by exchanging the complete damaged module
- when the filter cassette itself still works but the filters are of very poor quality
- when any component of this assembly has been damaged, for example the spring-button mechanism, the plastic housing, or one of the filters has cracked or chipped
