How To Use a Measuring Microscope

The article below explains the proper way of using measuring microscopes. It is going to be helpful for all the people who need to use this type of a microscope but don’t have any idea as to how to go about it. The step-by-step procedures can be found below.

Measuring microscopes have a number of uses. In fact, this microscope is an engineer’s best friend. Measuring microscopes allow engineers to accurately measure the dimensions, the diameter, and the sometimes, even the depth of the sample they are viewing.

Measuring microscopes are special types of microscopes that are equipped with measuring tools and devices. Oftentimes, its measuring devices can be as simple as a scaled or a graduated stage or eyepiece. However, its can also be as complex as a graticule, reticle, and digital tranducers. These tools for measurement are added to the microscope, depending upon the complexity of the device.

To properly use measuring microscopes, perform the following steps:

1. Calibrate the microscope according to manufacturer’s instructions
   By calibrating the microscope, you should make sure that it is properly focused with the right brightness and contrast. Attaining this may involve steps that vary from one type of a microscope to another. Better to check the manual and follow the instructions therein. Keep in mind that you should be using low power objectives when calibrating the microscope. Also, always make sure that you also have adequate lighting for the sample, especially if the measuring microscope to be used doesn’t have any built-in light source.


2. Be familiar with the microscope’s reticles and scales.
   The ocular scale or reticle is usually found in the eyepiece. The stage may be equipped with a micrometer stage. More often than not, these two are present together. Know the unit of measurement that these lines correspond to. Usually, they are in micrometers. Look through the eyepiece and adjust the microscope’s focus so as to make the lines as sharp as possible. You won’t make an accurate measurement if you can’t clearly see the lines of the measuring microscope.


3. Line up the ocular scale with the stage micrometer scale.
   The stage micrometer scales are merely lines without any number associated to it. The ocular scale, on the other hand, do have numbers associated with each division. The ocular scale is usually divided into 10 divisions with each of them have ten lines each. Each line represents one micrometer. The measurement provided by these ocular scales is constant. The size of the stage micrometer scale, on the other hand, varies according to the magnification power used.


4. Determine the magnification to be used.
   The magnification power, or in this case the objectives to be used, has to be determined because the scales on the stage has to be calibrated with it. On a regular 10x objective, the divisions on the micrometer stage is going to be 0.1 micrometer, provided that the ocular scale and the stage micrometer scale is aligned with each other as the previous step requires. When the 40x objective is used, the calibration may be 25 micrometer per line, again depending upon the actual measurement present on the reticle and the stage. The same principle applies in higher magnifications.


5. Place your prepared sample on the stage.
   Once the lines are visible and the measurement of the lines is determined, it is now time to put your sample on the stage. You can put the edge of the sample on the first line of the stage’s micrometer scale. This way, you can clearly make out its length on the microscope. All you have to do is to apply the proper way of measuring with the stage micrometer scales as stated above. The height of the sample can be measured by turning the ocular scale on the eyepiece.


6. Estimate the right measurement according to the limit of the microscope’s resolution.
   If what you are measuring is not something that needs to be fully accurate, there’s really no need to estimate. The value obtained by measuring through the microscope should be good enough. But if it happens that a mere change in the measurement is a big factor as far as the intensity of the research is concerned, then you have to take into consideration the error bracket associated with measuring with a microscope. For high quality microscope, the value obtained is merely 1 to 2 micrometers off. The value is higher for measuring microscopes of lower quality. Adjust your data as necessary.
   
   These are the basic steps that need to be done when using measuring microscopes. Of course, more complicated steps have to be performed for more complicated devices. Measuring microscopes are very functional microscopes, but only if they are used the right way.