Optical Bench

© Brooke Clarke 2014
Fig 1
Optical Bench

Background
Description
Patents
Related
Links

Background

I got this for two reasons.  First, I want to connect my Nikon D300s camera to a microscope objective and this might provide parts.  Second, I'm curious what it was made to do.

Idea for new optical bench system based on the Picatinny Rail.

Description

Photos

Click photo to see larger version.  If your cursor is (+) click again for even larger image.

Fig 1
Optical
                  Bench
Fig 2 B & L cap
Optical
                  Bench
Fig 3 Focal Distance Note
Optical
                  Bench
Fig 4 2.1" dia lens
Optical
                  Bench
Fig 5 5X eyepiece and notch to clear rack.
Optical
                  Bench
Fig 6 Focus tube all the way down (148mm tube length). Objective has been split into 2 parts.
Optical
                  Bench

Fig 7 Focus tube fully extended (half of objective on tube)
(note cal marks <160 to >200 mm)
Optical
                  Bench
Fig 8 5X eyepiece, 4X objective & supplied objective.  New objective fits threads on tube.
Optical
                  Bench


Components

The bench is made from a couple of 1" x 1-1/4" "L" angle iron sections 18" long. On the bottom there's a couple of 4-1.2" long sections of 33/4" x 3/4" angle iron that makes a base.

The microscope had been mounted by drilling and tapping holes to hold the focusing rack.
The large diameter knurled nut at the top of the microscope has two notches so that it will clear the rack.
5X eyepiece. 93.71mm long main tube.
The distance from the tip of the objective to the subject is 8 mm when the eyepiece is all the way down on the tube and 6mm when the eyepiece is about to fall out.
There is a cross hair in the eyepiece.
108.79mm long when the eyepiece and objective are removed.
135.5mm long end of eyepiece tube to objective flange.
148mm end of eyepiece tube to bottom objective flange (after lens in tube).

The long screw sticking up can go into one of three holes around the tube.  It pinches the bushing that controls the tube extension (<160 to >200mm) and so locks the extension.

Next to the microscope there's a4-1/2" long bar at an angle that's held to the bench by a small machinist's clamp.

Next is a wooden "V" notch again held in place using a tapped hole in the bench.

At the far end is a 2.6" O.D. cylinder with a lens inside.  The cap says Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.
It has hand scratched: "10.33 (inches) back of mount to F".
Note the lens is near one end of the cylinder and if that end is facing away from the microscope (the way it was received) then 1-1/2" would be just to the right of the "V" block.

Patents

978299 Optical table, Max Jacobs, Dec 13, 1910, 351/245; 108/102; 108/25; 182/36 -  

Related

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Links

microscopy-uk
Compatibility of Microscope Components
MICSCAPE - Exploring the miniature world
Charles Krebs Photomicrography gallery of photos and articles

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page created 2 May 2014