Zeiss Axio Imager User Manual

Axio Imager Upright Microscope
Operating Manual

Zeiss Axio Imager Specifications

General

Type	Upright Microscope
Illumination	Halogen or LED
Objective Lenses	Plan-Apochromat, Plan-Neofluar
Stage	Manual or motorized stages available
Focus	Motorized or manual focus drive
Software	ZEN (Zeiss Efficient Navigation)
Contrast Methods	Brightfield, Darkfield, Phase Contrast, DIC, Fluorescence
Objective Turret	Manual or motorized
Observation Tubes	Binocular or trinocular

Summary

1 Introduction

1.1 Notes on Instrument Safety

Essential safety precautions and warnings for operating the microscope.

2 Instrument Description

2.1 Name and Intended Use

2.3 Equipment and Compatibility Table

Table detailing component compatibility across various Axio Imager stand models.

2.5 Objectives

3 Start-up

3.1 Unpacking and Installing the Microscope

Instructions for unpacking, checking components, and setting up the microscope.

3.2 Attaching or Changing Binocular Tube or Phototube

Procedure for attaching or replacing the binocular tube or phototube on the microscope.

3.3 Mounting the Tube Lens Turret

3.5 Setting the Interpupillary Distance on the Binocular Tube

3.7 Fitting Components to the Camera Port of the Binocular Phototube

3.8 Screwing in Objectives

Step-by-step guide for correctly screwing objectives into the objective nosepiece.

3.9 Attaching or Changing the Condenser

Procedure for attaching or replacing the microscope condenser.

3.10 Replacing the DIC Prism on the Universal Condenser

Detailed instructions for replacing the DIC prism in the universal condenser.

3.11 Inserting Reflector Turret, Compensator Mount 6x20 or 4-Position Modulator Turret

3.12 Changing the DIC Prism of the Modulator Turret

3.13 Changing the Stage Carrier

3.18 Equipping 2-Position Filter Wheels 2x, Discrete

3.18.2 Filter Wheel, 2-Position, Motorized

3.19 Installing and Removing P&C Reflector Modules

Procedure for installing and removing P&C reflector modules.

3.19.1 Installing a Module

3.19.2 Removing a Module

3.20 Changing the Filter Set in the Reflector Module FL P&C

3.21 Changing the Beam Splitter in the Reflector Module FL P&C

3.22 Activating/Deactivating the High-Performance Focus

How to enable or disable the high-performance focus feature for stage protection.

3.23 Mounting the TFT Display to the Motorized Stand

Instructions for mounting the TFT display onto the motorized stand.

3.24 Attaching the TFT Display to the Docking Station

3.25 Installing the Focus Linear Sensor

3.27 Connecting to Power

Instructions for connecting the microscope to a power source for operation.

3.27.1 Manual Stand

3.27.2 Motorized Stand

3.28 HAL 100 Halogen Illuminator

3.28.1 Attaching the HAL 100 Halogen Illuminator

3.28.2 Separate Power Supply of the HAL 100 Halogen Illuminator in Reflected Light

3.28.3 Adjusting the HAL 100 Halogen Illuminator

Detailed steps for coarse and fine adjustment of the HAL 100 halogen illuminator.

3.28.4 Replacing the HAL 100 Halogen Lamp

Instructions for safely replacing the HAL 100 halogen lamp, including cool-down.

3.29 Installing the LED Illuminator for Transmitted Light

3.30 Attachment Lamp VIS-LED for Transmitted Light

3.30.1 Installing the Attachment Lamp VIS-LED

3.30.2 Adjusting the Attachment Lamp VIS-LED

3.31 HBO 100 Illuminator

3.31.1 Inserting the HBO 103 W/2 Mercury Vapor Short-Arc Lamp

3.31.2 Attaching the HBO 100 Illuminator

3.31.3 Aligning the HBO 100 Illuminator

Instructions for aligning the HBO 100 illuminator for optimal performance.

3.31.4 Installing the Switching Mirror for Two Illuminators (Manual or Motorized)

3.32 Electrical Connections on the Rear Side of the Microscope

3.33 Changing the Mechanical Stage

3.33.1 Fixed Mechanical Stage 75x50 R

3.33.2 Rotary Mechanical Stage 75x50/240° R

3.34 Rotary Stage Pol

3.34.3 Centering Rotary Stage Pol

3.34.4 Centering Objectives

3.35 Installing Polarizer D, Fixed

4 Operation

4.1 Coded Axio Imager Operation and Function Controls

Overview of the operation and function controls for the coded Axio Imager (manual version).

4.2 Axio Imager Operation and Function Controls (Motorized Version)

Detailed description of operation and function controls specific to the motorized Axio Imager.

4.3 Switching Microscope and HAL 100 Illuminator On/Off

Procedure for powering the microscope and the HAL 100 illuminator on and off.

4.4 Switching the HBO 100 On/Off

4.5 Binocular Phototube 30°/25 mot. with Two Camera Ports (2TV Tube mot.)

4.6 Mechanical Stage 75x50 mot. CAN

4.6.1 Assembling Mechanical Stage 75x50 mot. CAN

4.6.2 Connecting Mechanical Stage 75x50 mot. CAN

4.7 Functions of the Light Manager

Overview of the Light Manager's operating modes (OFF, CLASSIC, SMART) and functions.

4.7.2 Light Manager Mode: CLASSIC

4.7.3 Light Manager Mode: SMART

Using the Light Manager in SMART mode for automatic brightness calculation and optimization.

4.7.4 Light Manager of the Coded Microscope

4.7.5 Light Manager and Dazzle Protection Control on Manual Stands

4.7.6 Light Manager of Motorized Microscope

Light Manager functions for motorized microscopes, controlled via the TFT display.

4.8 Operating the Motorized Microscope via the Touchscreen of the TFT Display

Comprehensive guide to operating the motorized microscope using the TFT touchscreen interface.

4.8.1 Screen Layout

4.8.1.3 Control Area

4.8.2 Menu Structure

4.8.5 Microscope Page

4.8.5.1 Revolver Page

4.8.5.2 Light Page

4.8.5.3 Automatic Operation Page

4.8.5.4 XYZ Page

Controlling stage movement (XY) and focusing (Z), including position saving and measurement.

4.8.6 Settings Page

Accessing configuration settings for microscope components, extras, and general information.

4.8.6.1 Components Page

4.8.6.2 Extras Page

4.8.7 User Page

4.8.7.1 User Selection Page

4.8.7.2 User Configuration Page

4.8.7.3 Admin Page

4.9 Illumination and Contrast Methods

Guides for setting up various illumination techniques and contrast methods for microscopy.

4.9.1 Setting Transmitted-light Brightfield According to Köhler

Detailed procedure for setting up Köhler illumination for transmitted-light brightfield microscopy.

4.9.2 Setting Transmitted-light Darkfield

Instructions for setting up transmitted-light darkfield microscopy for enhanced contrast.

4.9.3 Setting Transmitted-light Phase Contrast

Procedure for setting up transmitted-light phase contrast microscopy for unstained specimens.

4.9.4 Setting Transmitted-light Differential Interference Contrast (DIC)

Steps for setting up transmitted-light DIC and C-DIC microscopy for 3D contrast.

4.9.5 Setting Transmitted-light Polarization for Orthoscopic Observation – Determining the Optical Character of Crystals

Performing transmitted-light polarization for orthoscopic viewing and identifying crystal properties.

4.9.5.1 Detecting Birefringence

4.9.5.2 Determining the Vibration Direction nγ

4.9.5.3 Measuring Path Differences

4.9.5.4 Transmitted-light Circular Polarization Contrast

Setting up transmitted-light circular polarization contrast microscopy for consistent specimen appearance.

4.9.6 Setting Transmitted-light Polarization for Conoscopic Observation – Determining the Optical Character of Crystals

Performing transmitted-light polarization for conoscopic observation to identify crystal optical character.

4.9.7 Setting Reflected-light Brightfield

Procedure for setting up reflected-light brightfield microscopy for opaque samples.

4.9.8 Setting Reflected-light Darkfield

Instructions for setting up reflected-light darkfield microscopy for specimens with surface deviations.

4.9.9 Setting Reflected-light DIC and Reflected-light C-DIC

Steps for setting up reflected-light DIC and C-DIC microscopy for high-contrast phase specimens.

4.9.10 Setting Reflected-light TIC

Procedure for setting up reflected-light TIC technique for object structure analysis and measurement.

4.9.11 Setting Epi-fluorescence

Instructions for setting up epi-fluorescence microscopy for high-contrast fluorescent images.

4.9.12 Setting Reflected-light Polarization – Detection of Bireflection and Reflection Pleochroism

Detecting bireflection and pleochroism in specimens using reflected-light polarization.

5 Care, Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Service

5.1 Instrument Care

Guidelines for cleaning optical surfaces and protecting the instrument from environmental factors.

5.2 Instrument Maintenance

Procedures for performing routine instrument maintenance and checks.

5.2.1 Performing Checks

5.2.2 Changing Fuses on the Manual Stand

Step-by-step guide for safely replacing fuses on the manual stand.

5.2.3 Changing Fuses on the VP232-2 CAN Power Supply

Procedure for changing fuses on the VP232-2 CAN power supply unit.

5.3 Troubleshooting

Common problems encountered during operation and their recommended solutions.