Swift Optical M3602-4 Basic Monocular Compound Microscope, WF10x Eyepiece, 40x-1000x Magnification, Brightfield, LED Illumination, Abbe Condenser, Iris Diaphragm, Mechanical Stage, 110V

The Swift Optical M3602-4 Basic Monocular Compound Microscope has a 10x widefield eyepiece, a reverse-mounted nosepiece with four DIN achromatic objectives that are parcentered and parfocal, LED illumination, a 1.25 NA Abbe condenser with iris diaphragm, separate coarse and fine focus, and a mechanical stage. The monocular viewing head has a fixed inclination to reduce eye and neck strain. A reverse-mounted nosepiece keeps objectives out of the way to prevent damage and contamination, and to enable more secure slide handling. Achromatic objectives provide color correction of magnified images. Parcentered and parfocal objectives ensure that the image stays centered and focused when the magnification is changed. The 40xR objective is retractable and spring-loaded to prevent damage to the slide or objective when focusing. A basic compound microscope is used in classroom, home school, and hobbyist settings for inspection and dissection of specimens when two-dimensional images are desired.

The microscope has lower (diascopic) Brightfield illumination that transmits light up through the specimen for enhanced visibility of translucent and transparent objects. Brightfield (BF) illumination allows the specimen to absorb light, resulting in a dark image on a light background. The LED light source provides bright, cool light for working with temperature-sensitive or live specimens, and a rheostat controls the amount of light emanating from the lamp. The mechanical stage locks the slide into place and provides precise slide manipulation along the X- and Y-axes. The Abbe condenser can be adjusted to control the distance of the light from the stage and has an iris diaphragm to optimize the amount of light illuminating the specimen. The condenser is controlled using a spiral mechanism. Separate coarse and fine focus knobs speed focusing. A slip clutch prevents excess pressure from damaging the slides or objectives, a stage stop prevents the stage or specimen from coming into contact with the objectives, and a focus tension control prevents stage drift. The built-in handle allows the microscope to be safely transported.

W is width, the horizontal distance from left to right; D is depth, the horizontal distance from front to back.

Microscopes are instruments used to enhance the resolution of an object or image. Types include compound, stereo, or digital. Compound microscopes use a compound optical system with an objective lens and an eyepiece. Stereo microscopes show object depth in a three-dimensional image. Digital microscopes are used to display an image on a monitor, rather than looking through a lens. Microscopes can have monocular (one), binocular (two), or trinocular (three) eyepieces, with varying magnification abilities. Magnification ability refers to the size of an image. Resolution, also known as resolvant power, refers to the clarity of the image. The interaction between field of view (FOV), numerical aperture (NA), and working distance (WD) determines resolution. Microscopes can control magnification through a fixed focus, or through a range of adjustments. They can also utilize LED, fluorescent, and mirror light sources to help control viewing capabilities. Microscopes are widely used in education, lab research, biology, metallurgy, engineering, chemistry, manufacturing, and in the medical, forensic science, and veterinary industries.

Swift Optical Instruments manufactures microscopes and weather instruments. The company, founded in 1959, is headquartered in Schertz, TX.

What's in the Box?

• Swift Optical M3602-4 Basic Monocular Compound Microscope WF10x eyepiece, 18mm
• 4x DIN achromatic objective
• 10x DIN achromatic objective
• 40xR (retractable) DIN achromatic objective
• 100xR (retractable) DIN achromatic objective
• Dust cover
• Instructions