Microscope

1. When preparing your own slides, do not place the specimen between two slides. You must use a cover slip (a cover slip is not a slide).
2. You must use cover glass to focus on objects at the 40X objective. The 40X objective cannot focus on a specimen that is under a slide. Cover glass is a paper-thin (1-inch by 1-inch) piece of glass or plastic that is placed over specimens.
3. When viewing professionally made prepared slides, make sure the specimen is face up (cover glass on top) when viewing. Once again, the 40X objective cannot focus on a specimen that is under a slide.
4. Clean the bottom of the objective with lens paper and a little rubbing alcohol. Sometimes when using the 40X objective, the objective can come in contact with substances on the slides. Objects may look blurry if they are not clean.
5. If that does not solve the problem, the stage may be set too low. The stage stop is a screw behind the mechanical stage, under the arm of the microscope. This is a factory set screw that is used to prevent the slide on the stage from hitting the 40X or higher objective. Since we are dealing with fractions of millimeters on this screw it may be set too low by the factory. You can loosen the nut around the screw, and then loosen the screw a little. Do not worry about where it should be set since the 40X objective can push inside itself and still not damage the objective. However, anything more than 1/4 inch is discouraged.

Your microscope has a flourescent bulb to help keep the base cool during extended use. It is normal for these types of bulbs to blink or flicker for several seconds every time the microscope is turned on. Sometimes it may take as long as 10 or more seconds to even START to turn on.

1. Be aware that it can take up to ten seconds for the microscope to even begin to turn on.

2. Ensure that your microscope is plugged in properly, and that you do not need to flip a light switch for this plug to receive power.

3. If you have recently replaced your bulb, or opened the bottom of your microscope by unscrewing the four screw at the bottom, you may have detached the ground wire. This is a ring-shaped wire that goes around one of the four screws on the base. If unattached, the microscope may not work properly.

1. If the head is loose and slightly wobbles, go ahead and tighten the three screws around the head. They should tighten the head down as they are looking through the eyepiece to make sure that the prism is lining up with the eye tube.

2. If the eye tube is loose, you may be able to to turn the tube, to tighten it back into place. If you cannot tighten the tube by screwing it back in place, then it will have to be serviced by C&A scientific.

1. Ensure to open the disc diaphragm completely. This is under the condenser.

2. Ensure the objectives have clicked into place, and are lined up properly.

3. If this does not solve the problem, please make sure that your head piece and eye tube are not loose.

Simple answer: Yes!

Check out Sonlight's Variable Voltage Microscope which is the "international" version of the Sonlight Ultra Microscope!