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2024-12-20 to 2025-01-02: Reduced Holiday Operations

Dear Birck Research Community,

The Purdue winter recess begins effective Friday afternoon December 20th and concludes Thursday morning, January 2. The university is officially closed during this time. As we have done in past years, the Birck Nanotechnology Center will remain available for research but will be unstaffed and hazardous gasses will be unavailable. Lab work may otherwise proceed, though any fume hood work must be done with someone else present in the same laboratory or cleanroom bay (the "buddy" system). Click the link above to get more detail about equipment conditions and rules.


Refer to the Material and Process Compatibility page for information on materials compatible with this tool.
Equipment Status: Set as UP, PROBLEM, or DOWN, and report the issue date (MM/DD) and a brief description. Italicized fields will be filled in by BNC Staff in response to issues. See Problem Reporting Guide for more info.

StatusUP
Issue Date and Description


Estimated Fix Date and Comment

Responding Staff


iLab Name: Olympus Microscope
iLab Kiosk: BRK Characterization Core
FIC: Shared
Owner: Bill Rowe
Location: BRK 2100
Maximum Wafer Size: 

Overview

General Description

The Olympus BX-60 Microscope can be used for sample inspection in reflection mode. Image capture is obtained though an Insight (18.2 Color Mosaic) CCD camera and "Spot Advanced" software.

Specifications

  • Reflection Mode Light Source: 100Watt halogen
  • Cube Assemblies: Bright-Field (BF), Dark-Field (DF), and Differential Interference Contrast (DIC).
  • Objectives: 5X, 20X, 50X
  • Stage Travel: 76 x 76 x 52 mm

Tool Overview

Nomenclature / Identification



Controls

*The above illustration shows the microscope with the U-RLBC mirror cube housing for the brightfield/darkfield vertical illuminator.  In the case of Birck's microscope, U-URBC is used and the cube selector knob is replaced by a turret.

*Not all controls are available on the Birck microscope.

Eye Piece

  1. Interpupillary distance adjustment
    1. While looking through the eyepieces, adjust for binocular vision until the left and right fields of view coincide completely.  You should see one clear image when properly adjusted, out of adjustment and you will see double images.
  2. Diopter Adjustment
    1. Looking through the right eyepiece (2) with your right eye, rotate the course and fine adjustment knobs to bring the specimen into focus.
    2. Looking through the left eyepiece with your left eye, turn the diopter adjustment ring (1) to focus on the specimen.
  3. Eye Shades
    1. Since you will be using safety glasses of some sort, use with the eye shades in their normal folded down position. This will prevent the eyeglasses from being scratched.

BF/DF Light Path Selection

  1. Select the cube according to the observation purpose (1).
    1. Bright Field
    2. Dark Field


Filters

Pushing or pulling filters will place them into or out of the observation path.

  2. Filter Slider

  3. Analyzer Slider

  4. Polarizer Slider


Intensity Ratio Selector

Push or pull the intensity ratio selector to select the desired light path.

Light Path Selector SymbolIntensity RatioApplication
Pushed in
100% for binocular eyepiecesObservation of dark specimens
Middle position
20% for binocular eyepieces, 80% for TV/photographyObservation of bright specimens, photography, Tv observation
Pulled out
100% for TV/photographyPhotography, TV observation

Field Iris

The field iris is used to restrict the diameter of the beam of light entering the objective and thus excludes stray light from the observation path improving image contrast.  The diameter of the field iris should be adjusted for each objective power to the extent that is just circumscribes the field of view.

The field iris diaphragm knob (2) and the field iris centering knob (3) are used to adjust the field iris size and position in relation to the observation path.


Aperture Iris

The aperture iris diaphragm determines the numerical aperture of the illumination system. Matching the numerical aperture of the illumination system with that of the objective provides better image resolution and contrast, and also increases the depth of focus.

The aperture iris diaphragm knob (2) and the aperture iris centering knob (3) are used to adjust the aperture iris size and position in relation to the observation path.

Revolving Nosepiece

The revolving nosepiece allows the user to easily swap objective lenses into the observation path.  Grasp the knurled ring and rotate the nosepiece clockwise or counterclockwise until you feel the detent snap into position.

If the objective is not located at a detent with objective installed, then the observation path will be blocked and the user will only see black.

Do not attempt to rotate the nosepiece by grasping the object lense assembly directly.  This can damage the objective lense.

Illumination Controls

  1. Light Intensity Adjustment Slider
  2. Light Intensity / Voltage Indicator
    1. For photomicrography the intensity should at approximately the level indicated by the camera symbol ()
    2. The numbers to the right indicate the approximate voltage of the light.
  3. Transmitted / Reflected light selector switch.

Focus Knob

  1. Course adjustment knob tension adjustment (1).
    1. Typically, the coarse adjustment knob tension is preadjusted for easy use.
    2. If adjusted, turning in the direction of the arrow will increase tension and vise versa.
    3. If the stage drops by itself when the knob is released, or the microscope quickly loses focus after adjustment the tension is set too low, rotate the ring in the direction of the arrow to correct.
  2. Coarse adjustment knob
    1. The larger knob is course stage adjustment and is used to quickly move the stage up and down for sample focusing.
  3. Fine adjustment knob
    1. The small knob farthest from the microscope base is the fine adjustment knob, and is used to move the stage vertically in small increments to facilitate fine focus of the sample.

XY Axis Knob

  1. Y axis translation knob is the top knob and rotation will cause the stage to translate toward and away from you when looking in the eyepiece.
  2. X axis translation knob is the bottom knob and rotation will cause the stage to translate left and right when looking in the eyepiece.
  3. Y axis lock (3) is used to lock the y axis, and only allow translation in the x direction.

Sample Requirements and Preparation


Standard Operating Procedure

General Observation Procedure for Reflected Mode Microscopy

Set the cube selector turret to BF for bright field.

Disengage the filter slider (2), analyzer slider (3), and polarizer slider (4) from the light path.

Press the transmitted / reflected light selector switch (3) to select the reflected light mode.

Make sure light intensity preset button (1) is OFF.

Press the main switch to "I" (ON) and adjust the light intensity with the light intensity slider. 

Using the coarse focus adjustment knob (1), move the stage to the lowest position.  Place sample on the stage.

Note: Be sure that the surface of the specimen to be observed is perpendicular to the optical axis of the microscope.

Turn the revolving nosepiece to engage the 5X objective.  While looking through the eyepiece, use the coarse focus adjustment knob to raise the stage and bring the sample into focus. 

Adjust interpupillary distance as necessary for clear binocular vision.  

Looking only through the right eyepiece with your right eye, use the fine adjustment knob to bring the sample into final focus.

Looking only through the left eyepiece, use the diopter ring (1) to bring the left eyepiece into focus. This corrects the microscope observation paths for any differences between your left and right eye.  You should now see a clear image through both lenses.

Adjust the field iris as necessary to obtain appropriate illumination for the sample.

  1. Pull out the field iris diaphragm knob (2) to reduce the diameter of the diaphragm.
  2. Turn the two centering knobs (3) to adjust so that the image of the diaphragm is centered in the field of view.
  3. To check center, push the field iris knob (2) in to increase the diameter of the diaphragm until it touches the periphery of the field of view.  If the image is not centered, adjust as necessary.
  4. Further enlarge the field iris diaphragm diameter until its image just circumscribes the field of view.

Reflected light bright field observation - To obtain good image contrast, adjust the diameter of the illuminating beam in accordance with the objective in use.  Using the field iris diaphragm knob (2) on the vertical illuminator, adjust the diaphragm so that the field of view is circumscribed by the field iris diaphragm in order to exclude stray light.

Reflected light dark field observation - Always keep the field iris diaphragm knob (2) pushed in to leave the diaphragm open.


Adjust the aperture iris as necessary to obtain appropriate illumination for the sample.

  1. Remove the eyepieces to observe the diaphragm directly.
  2. Looking through the eyepiece sleeves, pull out the aperture iris diaphragm knob (2) to leave the diaphragm approximately 70% open.
  3. If necessary, center the diaphragm by manipulating the aperture iris diaphragm centering knobs (3).

Reflected light bright field observation - In general, a good image is obtained if the diaphragm is reduced down to 70-80% of the objective's numerical aperture.

Reflected light dark field observation - Generally, you will always keep the aperture iris diaphragm knob (2) pushed in to leave the diaphragm open.

Note: Depending on the specimen, an image with good contrast and little flare may sometimes be obtained by keeping the aperture iris diaphragm stopped down a little more.  Please experiment with this to see if it works with the particular specimen.

Engage the filters suitable for your observation

Usable FiltersApplications

U-DND

Glare shielding

Prevents the glare effect noticeable when switching from darkfield to brightfield.

U-LBD

Color temperature conversion filter

To convert the color temperature of the source to the color temperature of daylight.  Used for comfortable observation and when taking color photographs.

U-IF550

Green filter

To increase contrast during B&W observation. Used when taking B&W photographs.

U-ND25

Neutral density filter

To adjust illumination brightness.

(Transmission ratio 25%)

U-ND6

Neutral density filter

To adjust illumination brightness.

(Transmission ratio 6%)

Photomicrography
This microscope is equipped with a photomicrography tube and camera for observation and photography using the attached PC.


Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Question 1?
    1. Answer 1.


References

Olympus BX60 Instruction Manual


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