For young children, a stereo microscope is one of the most useful gifts you can provide them with to nurture their curiosity and creativity. Usually, it is of lower power than a compound microscope with magnification levels at approximately 10X 40X. And as children can study whole albeit small objects like flowers, insects and rocks as well as prepared slides under it, they will have fun with the device.
However, children being what they are, you will need to supervise their activities with the microscope. This will ensure their safety and prolong the life of the equipment.
Set Up
First and foremost, make sure that the microscope is placed on a flat surface, preferably a tabletop, with plenty of room for working purposes. It must be within easy reach of the person using it whilst still securely within the working area s perimeter. You don t want your expensive stereo microscope shattering at your feet, do you?
Second, ensure that you plug the microscope into the appropriate outlet. Just follow specification on this matter to avoid mishaps. Plus, make sure that excess cord is safely positioned think hidden such that no one will trip on it.
Third, use either the bottom lighting or top lighting of the stereo microscope to have the best view of the target. For opaque objects, use top lighting while transparent objects mounted on slides view best in bottom lighting.
Now that you have properly set up your microscope and work station, it s time to let your kids enjoy the show.
Use
When placing your specimen under the stereo microscope, use the stage clips when and where necessary. For example, specimens that curl up at the side can be studied better when it lies flat upon the stage.
However, if your specimen is considerably larger than the stage, it s a good idea to unclip the stage clips. This way, you have more room to work with the specimen under study.
When focusing, you can either turn the focus knob or turn the specimen. The trick is in making sure that the specimen is directly under the objective lens. Plus, be sure to focus as slowly as possible to avoid eye strain.
For small children, you have to supervise them by looking at the eyepiece once in a while. You have to guide them, too, in using the equipment as sudden turns can affect the device s future performance.
Maintenance
As soon as you are finished using the stereo microscope, you have to turn off the switch, remove the target/specimen, unplug the power cord, and then cover it with its dust cover. All these precautions are necessary to prevent the microscope from faster wear and tear.
And you don t use just about any cleaning solvent on your microscope either! For the body, use a soft dry cloth to wipe away the dust on the exterior while a non solvent cleaning solution is best for the lenses exterior side and a bulb type duster for its interior side.
In all these activities, keep in mind that a stereo microscope is a delicate and dear piece of equipment in more ways than one. As such, care must be exercised when using and maintaining it. This way, you and your children can enjoy many more adventures in the world of microscopy!
CanScope complete solution for all your microscopy needs.
Contact: 1 877 56SCOPE(72673) or info@CanScope.ca
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