Flooring Composite Under the Microscope

Using the MT7100 metallurgical microscope, a resin (with fiberglass in it) used to attach flooring materials was examined at both 500x and 1000x magnification. A 5 mega pixel microscope camera was used to capture the images.

Floor composite, 500x magnification.

Floor composite, 500x magnification.

1000x magnification.

Fiber Optic Cables under the Microscope

Microscope World had a customer that splices and connects fiber optic cables, and they needed to view these parts under a metallurgical microscope. Both the 20x and 50x objectives were used (for 200x and 500x total magnification). The fiber optic cables were viewed with standard brightfield, and with the addition of a green filter.

200x magnification viewed with brightfield.

200x magnification viewed with green filter.

500x magnification viewed with brightfield.

500x magnification viewed with green filter.

Lumencor Light Engines

Microscope World is proud to offer Lumencor light engines for bioanalysis. Lumencor products are made in the USA and the optical excitation subsystems are designed for an array of bioanalytical instruments including fluorescence microscopes. The company has developed innovative, powerful, pure, stable, durable and cost-effective lighting solutions.

Lumencor Light Engine

Discrete outputs are available through the UV-Vis-NIR spectrum from a proprietary mix of independently controllable solid state sources. Lumencor’s products provide more power than an arc lamp with the durability, stability, speed and flexibility of a solid state solution.

The Lumencor light engines are available as a simple light engine package, a computer controllable light engine package, and a computer controllable light engine package with 7 bandwidths.

Microscope Camera Software Multi-Focus

Microscope World carries a line of cameras that include Advanced Panasis Software. One of the features of this microscope software includes the ability to capture two microscopy images and combine them. The manual multi-focus imaging (extended depth of focus tool) allows the combination of several unfocused images into one sharp image. This process is very helpful when the subject height is greater than the available depth of focus, resulting in an image that is partially out of focus. Multiple images captured in sequence from top to bottom are combined into a composite in-focus image.

The microscope cameras that include this advanced software include:

• DK2.1P 2mp Camera (1/3.2" CMOS Micron/Aptina sensor)
• DK3.1P 3.2mp Camera (1/2" CMOS Micron/Aptina sensor)
• DK5.1P 5mp Camera (1/2.5" CMOS Micron/Aptina sensor)
• DCC1.4P 1.4mp Camera (1/1.8" CCD Sony ICX 412 AQF sensor)
• DCC2.1P 2.1mp Camera (1/1.8" CCD Sony ICX 412 AQF sensor)
• DCC3.1P 3.1mp Camera (1/1.8" CCD Sony ICX 412 AQF sensor)
• DCC 5.1P 5.1mp Camera (1/1.8" CCD Sony ICX 412 AQF sensor)

Below image #1 and #2 were combined in the bottom composite image using the microscope camera software. Images were captured using a Huvitz Stereo Microscope.

Circuit Image #1

Circuit Image #2

Combined composite circuit image.

Kids Digital Microscope Images

The MW1-LD2 kids digital microscope is the perfect hand-held microscope for kids of all ages. The microscope simply plugs into the USB port on a computer and allows you to view a live image, capture and save images, capture video and edit images.

MW1-LD2 Kids Digital Microscope

The images below of a screw were captured using the MW1-LD2 microscope. The microscope can be held by hand, or with the included stand. Magnification is increased simply by holding the microscope closer to the object.

Microscope Camera Comparison

In order to compare three microscope cameras, Microscope World used the same microscope system and objective lenses to capture all images. The images below were captured using a metallurgical microscope with a 20x, 50x and 100x objective lens. The three microscope cameras used for comparison are shown below and include:

• 1.3 mega pixel camera (Moticam 1SP with a 1/3" CMOS chip)
• 3.2 mega pixel camera (DCM3.1 with a 1/2" CMOS chip)
• 5 mega pixel camera (DMC5.1 with a 1/2.5" CMOS chip)

DCM3.1 & DCM5.1 Microscope Cameras

Moticam 1SP Microscope Camera

All images were captured using the HRM300 metallurgical microscope system.

1.3mp Moticam 1SP camera, 20x objective.

3.2mp DCM3.1 camera, 20x objective.

5mp DCM5.1 camera, 20x objective.

The clarity of the images when using the 20x objective (which is producing about 200x total magnification based on the c-mount adapter used), do not vary greatly.

1.3mp Moticam 1SP camera, 50x objective.

3.2mp DCM3.1 camera, 50x objective.

5mp DCM5.1 camera, 50x objective.

As the magnification increases to 50x (about 500x magnification total), the image sensor size becomes more important as far as light is concerned. Notice that the 1.3mp camera starts to look a bit darker than the 3.2mp and 5mp microscope camera images.

1.3mp Moticam 1SP camera, 100x objective.

3.2mp DCM3.1 camera, 100x objective.

5mp DCM5.1 camera, 100x objective.

When using the 100x objective (about 1000x total magnification), the 1.3mp camera produces the darkest image, with less color. The details on this image are still fairly clear. However, the details on the 3.2 and 5mp camera images are a bit more crisp.

Glass Beads under Microscope

Owen's Corning manufactures glass beads and they recently needed to measure air bubbles found in some beads.

Microscope World used the HSZ6T-TBL track stand stereo zoom microscope to view the beads. The DCM5.1 5 megapixel microscope camera was used to capture images and the included software was utilized for measuring the air bubbles.

The bead before it was placed under the stereo microscope.

80x magnification (the 2x auxiliary lens was used) with an air bubble that measures 40um.

80x magnification (the 2x auxiliary lens was used) with an air bubble that measures 50um.

 80x magnification (the 2x auxiliary lens was used) with an air bubble that measures 75um.

 40x magnification with an air bubble that measures 145um.

 40x magnification with an air bubble that measures 240um.

If you have a manufactured sample you would like Microscope World to examine under the microscope please contact us.

Water Silk Algae

Spirogyra is a green algae often referred to as water silk - the less appealing name is "pond scum". Spirogyra is found in fresh water and each cell has two layers - the outer wall is composed of pectin that actually dissolves in water and makes it slimy. The inner wall is composed of cellulose. Chloroplasts are embedded in the cytoplasm and can be seen in the spiral, ribbon-shaped pattern in the image below.

Spirogyra captured at 800x under the microscope.

Pond scum image courtesy J. Jamieson

Image: Australian Biological Resources Study

Spirogyra is a popular green algae to view under a biological microscope due to its ease of sample gathering and its interesting and beautiful spiral patterns.

Green Algae Oedogonium under the Microscope

When scooped up from a pond or still water source Oedogonium will adhere to your hand, rather than slip through your fingers.

Photo: D. Patterson

Oedogonium is a filamentous green algae with filaments that are only one cell thick. This type of algae is occasionally free-floating, but is often attached to other aquatic plants.

Photo: Curits Clark

Oedogonium thrives in fresh water that is not disturbed.

Photo: D. Patterson

When Oedogonium is viewed under a biological microscope, the single cell filaments are more visible. If this algae becomes out of control in fresh water environments the water is often treated with copper to limit its growth and keep it from invasively overtaking the pond.

Zoology Student Science Project

Different animals and creatures habitat different areas of the country. You don't need to travel anywhere for this science project - simply start in your own back yard! Then, if you ever travel somewhere for a vacation, you can repeat this science experiment in a new area and compare your findings.

This project is made to classify animals into different groups. How many different groups of animals and creatures are located near your home? Your backyard may be more bio-diverse than you think!

Materials Required:
Microscope for viewing samples
Pen and paper to record findings
Optional - microscope camera to capture images.

The goal of the project is to observe things that move - animals both large and small. If you are able to pick up the smaller insects, take them home to view them under the microscope. Some good locations for observation include:

• Parks
• Your back yard at home
• A creek or pond
• Wooded areas
• The desert
• A garden

Note the time of day you performed your experiment (some animals only come out at night - they are referred to as nocturnal).

 Antennae captured under the microscope at 100x magnification.

In your notebook jot down the following:
Habitat (were you in the grass, digging in the soil, was the animal up in a tree?)
Animal (earthworm, squirrel, ant, snail, etc.)
Draw a sketch or capture an image under the microscope.
What Phyla does this animal belong to? (You may need help from a teacher or a book to determine this - below you will find a few examples to help you.)

• Arthropods = ants, grasshoppers, spiders
• Annelids = earthworms
• Molluscs = snails & slugs
• Chordates = birds & squirrels
• Echinoderms = starfish
• Porifera = sea sponge

Record your findings and share with your class. What category above do you fall into? Which Phylum did you find the most animals for?