AmScope 120 Series Binocular Compound Microscope User Manual

: June 13, 2024
: AmScope

Table of Contents

AmScope 120 Series Binocular Compound Microscope
Product Information
Product Usage Instructions
Before Use
Parts
- Definition of Parts
Getting Started
Operation
Specifications
Technical Parameters
Troubleshooting
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

AmScope 120 Series Binocular Compound Microscope

Product Information

The 120 Series microscope is a precision instrument designed for various scientific and educational applications. It is manufactured by AmScope and comes with a user-friendly interface and advanced features to enhance your microscopy experience. The microscope is available in two models: B120 and T120, each with its own unique specifications and capabilities.

Parts

B120: This model includes a base and condenser, along with other essential parts.
T120: This model includes additional parts and accessories for advanced functionality.

Getting Started

Before using the microscope, it is important to assemble it correctly:

Refer to the assembly instructions provided in the user manual.
Ensure careful handling during transportation to avoid any damage.

Operation

To operate the microscope:

Familiarize yourself with the various parts of the microscope described in the user manual.
Place the microscope indoors in a dry and clean place with temperatures between 32-100 degrees F (0-40 degrees C) and maximum relative humidity of 85%.
Avoid exposing the microscope to direct sunlight or high heat.

Product Usage Instructions

Safety Precautions

Always handle the microscope with care to avoid impact or abrupt movement during transportation. Do not shake the package.
Keep the microscope indoors in a dry and clean place with temperatures between 32-100 degrees F (0-40 degrees C) and maximum relative humidity of 85%.

Note: Failure to follow these safety precautions may result in damage to the microscope or compromise its performance.

For more comprehensive instructions, technical parameters, troubleshooting guidance, and information on common issues, please refer to the complete user manual available at www.iScopeCorp.com. If you require further assistance or have any questions, feel free to contact us at info@amscope.com.

Before Use

Introduction

Congratulations on the purchase of your new AmScope microscope!
This manual is designed for the B120 series microscope.
Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the features and functions of your new mi- croscope.
If you’d like more information on microscopes, parts, or accessories, please visit our website at: www.iScopeCorp.com
We highly recommend you study this manual thoroughly before operating the microscope and that you keep it on hand for future reference.
If you have additional questions or need assistance, please send us an email at: info@amscope.com

Safety Precautions

As the microscope is a precision instrument, always handle it with care, avoiding impact or abrupt movement during transportation. Do not shake the package.
Do not place the microscope in direct sunlight or in high heat. Keep it indoors in a dry and clean place with temperatures between 32-100 degrees F (0-40 degrees C), and in maximum relative humidity of 85%.
Avoid touching the lenses on the objectives and the eyepieces so that oil and dirt from your fingerprints do not obstruct your view.
Before turning the power on, make sure that the power supply voltage is consistent with the voltage of your microscope.

Parts

B120

T120

Base & Condenser

Definition of Parts

Base Lens
Directs the light source towards the slide
Coarse Focusing Knob
Used to initially bring the slide into the sight and focus
Condenser & Iris Diaphragm
Controls the amount of light that hits the slide
Condenser Screw
Screws the condenser in place, securing it to the mechanical stage
Dimmer
Controls the amount of light that escapes from the base lens
Diopter
Allows the focus to be perfected for both eyes, independent of each other
Fine Focusing Knob
Used to refine focus to clear image
Limit Stop Screw
Limits the upward movement of the mechanical stage in order to avoid damaging the slide and objective
Mechanical Stage
Mechanically moves the slide along an X and Y axis for optimal positioning
Nosepiece
Houses the objective lenses
Rotating Siedentopf Head
Adjusts eyepieces to fit the distance between the user’s eyes for added comfort
Tension Knob
Adjusts the tension of the focusing knobs

Getting Started

Assembly

First, take the styrofoam container out of the cardboard carton and lay it on its side, paying attention to which side is labeled up. Remove the tape and open the container carefully so as to avoid dropping and damaging the optical items. Check carefully to ensure that all parts and accessories are intact.
Check the packing list to ensure that you’re received all items:
- One Siedentopf Microscope Head (Binocular or Trinocular)
- One Microscope Base
- Four DIN Standard Objectives (4x, 10x, 40x, 100x)
- 10x Widefield Eyepieces
- 16x Widefield Eyepieces (for -A models only)
- 20x Widefield Eyepieces (for -B models only)
- Blue Color Filters
- One Bottle of Immersion Oil
- One Spare Fuse
- One Dust Cover
- One Blue Color Filter
  Note: LED models do not have a spare bulb, as the LED bulbs do not need replacing.
Remove the microscope body from the box and remove the plastic protective covering. The body of the micro- scope is composed of the base, the stage, the arm, the nosepiece, and the head.
Remove the eyetube caps and drop the desired eyepieces into the eyepiece ocular tubes. Be sure to avoid touching the lens to ensure no artifacts appear in your image.
Screw the objectives into the microscope nosepiece from the lowest magnification to the highest, again avoid- ing touching the lenses.
Plug in the microscope and turn it on. If no light emerges from the light source, adjust the dimmer knob on the side of the base.

Operation

Setting Up

Adjust the microscope head so that it is in a comfortable position for observation.
With both eyes open, look into the eyepieces. Adjust the interpupillary distance by holding the eyeubes and ro- tating the eyepiece tubes either towards or away from each other until only one circle of light is seen by both eyes (mounted on the Siedentopf head).
Place the specimen to be studied on a glass slide (or use a prepared slide). Place it on the stage, holding it snugly in place with the metal slide holders (clips) of the mechanical stage.
Using the mechanical stage controls (vertical pillar with dual knobs under the right side of the stage), center the specimen over the stage opening, lining it up with the light and the objective lens.
To adjust the illumination, slowly turn the dimmer on the right side of the base until the desired intensity of light is achieved.

Focusing

Turn the nosepiece to choose an objective. It is easiest to use the lowest magnification first (4x objective) to lo- cate and focus on the specimen. As you move up in magnification you may need to refocus the image a little each time.
When using the 100x objective, a drop of immersion oil should be placed between the cover slip and the objec- tive to minimize distortion caused by air. Always be sure to wipe the oil off of the objective with either lens cleaning paper or a nonabrasive, lint free cloth.
Being focusing by first looking with one eye through the eyepiece without the diopter. Close your other eye. Use the coarse focusing knob to adjust the height of the stage until the sample comes into clear focus.
Note: You may loosen the limit-stop (located rear of the stage as a vertical thumb screw) in order to give yourself the full range of motion for fine tuning the focus.
Once the image is clear in your field of view, you will want to use the fine focusing knob to tune it for best results.
Note: Please be careful when moving the mechanical stage if you need to re-center the sample, or if moving the stage very close to the objectives. The limit stop is designed to prevent impact between objective and slide, so when it is off you will be able to damage the microscope. For safety, when using the 40x and 100x objectives, engage the limit stop once you have it close or in contact with the objective (if using oil contact is required) to prevent addi- tional movement and damage.

Adjusting the Condenser & Diaphragm

Using the condenser-adjustment knob (left of unit, under the stage), you can change the distance between the light condenser and the stage. This allows you to control the concentration of the light hitting your slide.
By changing the aperture (hole size) of the iris diaphragm, you can adjust the background brightness. Adjust the aperture of the iris diaphragm using the iris adjustment slider located directly under the stage.
If you want to use a color filter, swivel the filter holder out, towards you. You can now place the desired color filter into the circular opening. Slide the filter holder back to original position before observation.
Note: The filter holder is placed in from the factory in a manner in which it swings out and hits the arm of the microscope (backwards). If this happens, simply grip the condenser assembly and rotate it. It may take a small amount of force to rotate it, but after doing so, you will be able to swing the filter holder out towards the front of the unit for easier operation.

Attaching a Camera
If you have also purchased a camera for this unit, all you need to do is remove the eyepiece from the ocular tube and slide the camera (with reduction lens installed) into the vacant tube.

Setting the Stage’s Limit-Stop

Unlock the limit-stop on the rear stage (unscrew the lower bolt in the assembly).
Adjust the limit-stop to the desired maximum height.
Lock the stop-limit (screw in the bottom bolt in the assembly). This will allow you to limit the movement of the stage from the bottom of the range up to the point that it is set at.

Adjusting Focusing Tension

To adjust the tension of the focusing knobs, first locate the black ridged tension knob on the inside of the coarse focusing knob.
To decrease tension, rotate the adjustment forward, towards the stage (counterclockwise). To increase, rotate away from the stage (clockwise).
Note: If your stage is slipping down after setting the focus, you need to increase the tension.

Maintenance/Precautions

All glass surfaces must be kept clean. Fine dust on the optical surface should be blown off using a hand blower or gently wiped off with a soft lens paper tissue/nonabrasive lint free cloth.
Carefully wipe off oil or fingerprints on the lens surfaces using tissue moistened with a small amount of lens cleaner (we recommend Sparkle brand optical cleaner).
Do not use Sparkle to clean other elements of the microscope. Use a neutral detergent on any plastic or painted surfaces.
Do not assemble or disassemble the microscope’s electrical components yourself without advisement from one of our technicians. Doing so will void your warranty unless by advisement of one of our technicians to do so.
After use, cover the microscope with the provided dust cover.
Keep your AmScope microscope in a dry, clean location in order to prevent rust or other damages.

Specifications

B120 Series Specifications

Parts	Specifications	B120A	B120B	B120C

WF Eyepiece

| WF10X/18mm| x| x| x
WF10X/18mm w/ Pointer| | |
WF10X/18mm w/ Reticle| | |
WF16X/13mm| x| |
WF20X/10mm| | x|
WF25X| | | x

Plan Eyepiece

| P5X| | |
P10X| | |
P16X| | |

DIN Achromatic Objectives

| 4X/0.10| x| x| x
10X/0.25| x| x| x
40X(spring)/0.65| x| x| x
60X(spring)/0.85| | |
100X(spring, oil)/1.25| x| x| x

Plan Objectives

| 4X| | |
10X| | |
40X(spring)| | |
100X(spring, oil)| | |
45 Degree Viewing Head| Binocular Sliding, 360 Degree Swiveling| | |
Trinocular Sliding, 360 Degree Swiveling| | |
30 Degree Viewing Head| Binocular Sliding, 360 Degree Swiveling| x| x| x
Trinocular Sliding, 360 Degree Swiveling| | |
Focusing Nosepiece| Coaxial Focusing System| x| x| x
Quadruple Nosepiece| x| x| x
Stage| 128mm x 127mm Mechanical Stage| x| x| x
Movement Range: 70mm x 30mm| x| x| x
Condenser| Abbe, NA= 1.25| x| x| x
Diaphragm| Iris Diaphragm| x| x| x
Illumination| Halogen Light w/ Dimmer| | |
LED Light w/ Dimmer| x| x| x

Lamp

| 6V/20W| | |
6V/30W| | |
LED| x| x| x
Filter| Blue| x| x| x

T120 Series Specifications

Parts	Specifications	T120A	T120B	T120C

WF Eyepiece

| WF10X/18mm| x| x| x
WF10X/18mm w/ Pointer| | |
WF10X/18mm w/ Reticle| | |
WF16X/13mm| x| |
WF20X/10mm| | x|
WF25X| | | x

Plan Eyepiece

| P5X| | |
P10X| | |
P16X| | |

DIN Achromatic Objectives

| 4X/0.10| x| x| x
10X/0.25| x| x| x
40X(spring)/0.65| x| x| x
60X(spring)/0.85| | |
100X(spring, oil)/1.25| x| x| x

Plan Objectives

| 4X| | |
10X| | |
40X(spring)| | |
100X(spring, oil)| | |
45 Degree Viewing Head| Binocular Sliding, 360 Degree Swiveling| | |
Trinocular Sliding, 360 Degree Swiveling| | |
30 Degree Viewing Head| Binocular Sliding, 360 Degree Swiveling| | |
Trinocular Sliding, 360 Degree Swiveling| x| x| x
Focusing Nosepiece| Coaxial Focusing System| x| x| x
Quadruple Nosepiece| x| x| x
Stage| 128mm x 127mm Mechanical Stage| x| x| x
Movement Range: 70mm x 30mm| x| x| x
Condenser| Abbe, NA= 1.25| x| x| x
Diaphragm| Iris Diaphragm| x| x| x
Illumination| Halogen Light w/ Dimmer| | |
LED Light w/ Dimmer| x| x| x

Lamp

| 6V/20W| | |
6V/30W| | |
LED| x| x| x
Filter| Blue| x| x| x

Optional Accessories

Parts	Description	Model #	Purpose
Eyepiece	5X	EP5X23	For obtaining 20x, 50x, 200x, and 500x magnifica-

Objectives

Type| Magnification| Numerical Aperture (N.A.)| Medium| Parfocal Distance (mm)| Magnification Marks (Color Ring)
---|---|---|---|---|---
DIN Achromatic Objective (195mm)| 4X| A2X| Air| 45| Red
10X| A5X| Air| 45| Yellow
40X| A20x| Air| 45| Light Blue
60X| A60X| Air| 45| Deep Blue
100X| A100X| Cedar Oil| 45| White
Plan Objective (195mm)| Plan 4X| PA4X| Air| 45| Red
Plan 10X| PA10X| Air| 45| Yellow
Plan 40X| PA40X| Air| 45| Light Blue
Plan 100X| PA100X| Cedar Oil| 45| White

Eyepieces

Type	Widefield Eyepiece Medium	Plan Eyepiece
Magnification	10X	15X
Field of View	Φ18	Φ13

Technical Parameters

Electrical System
There are two options for electrical systems for this series of microscope. The light source is dependent on which model you have, but can either be a 6V/20W halogen, a 6V/30W halogen, or an LED system.

220V~240V power supply: 220V~240V ±10%, 50Hz
This electrical system is CE and GS certified
100V~120V power supply: 100V~120V ±10%, 60Hz
This electrical system is UL certified.
All units come standard as 110V units unless an upgrade to a 220V system is requested. Upgrade fee is dependent on which unit is purchased.

Parameters

Magnification| -AModel: 40x-1600x

-BModel: 40x-2000x

---|---
Field of View| Φ0.8mm~Φ4.5mm
Mechanical Tube Length| 165mm
Object to Primary Image Distance| 195mm
Fine Focusing Sensitivity| 0.002mm

Technical Terms & Concepts

Total Magnification
Total magnification of a microscope is calculated by the magnification of the objective multiplied by the magnification of the eyepieces.

-Ex: (10x Eyepieces) x (4x Objective) = 40x Total Magnification

Field of View
Linear field of view of the eyepiece divided by the magnification of the objective

Numerical Aperture (N.A)
Calculated by n Sin α (max), the Numerical Aperture (N.A) is an important parameter that marks the features of the objective and condenser’s image quality and resolution. The “n” is a refractive index of the medium (air or immersion cedar oil) between the objective lens and the specimen. The “α” is 1/2 of the angle between the aperture on the objective and path of light. The larger the N.A, the higher the resolution of the objective (and better quality of the image) is.

Object to Primary Image Distance
The distance between the object plane and the primary image plane. The conjugate distance is fixed.

Mechanical Tube Length
The distance between the objective shoulder and the ocular shoulder

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Symptom	Cause	Remedy

OPTICAL ISSUES
One side of the field of view is darker| The nosepiece if misaligned| Turn the nosepiece until it clicks into place
Stains or dust has accumulated on the condenser, objective, eyepieces, or base lens| Clean all lenses with lens cleaner or a lint free non- abrasive cloth
Obstructions are observed in the field of view| Stains, dust, or dirt has accumulated on the speci- men| Clean the slide or use a new specimen if sample is destroyed
Stains, dust, or dirt have accumulated on the lens| Clean the lens
UnclearImage| There is no cover slip on the slide| Add a cover slip. The objectives are designed for use with a 0.17mm cover slip, so it is a requirement to use one for proper images.
The cover slip is not standard sized| Replace the cover slip with the appropriate 0.17mm thickness slip
The immersion oil has accumulated on the dry objective| Thoroughly clean the objective lens with lens clean- er or a lint free nonabrasive cloth
No immersion oil is used with the 100x objective| Use immersion oil for better clarity and resolution
Air bubble in the immersion oil| Pop the air bubble
Used wrong oil| Use standard cedarwood oil
The aperture is no open to an appropriate diam- eter| Adjust the aperture to have the light just larger than the size of the condenser
Stain or dust has accumulated on the lens in the inlet of the head| Clean the lens with lens cleaner or a nonabrasive lint free cloth, as well as spray with compressed air
The condenser is not in the right position| Adjust condenser height to the top of the travel range, then adjust down to focus image
One side of the field of view is dark or the image moves while focusing| The specimen slide is not fixed| Secure the slide to the stage with clips
The nosepiece is not in the right position| Turn the nosepiece until it clicks into place
The field of view is not bright enough| The iris diaphragm is not big enough| Adjust the iris diaphragm to allow the light to be just larger than the condenser
The condenser is not in the right position| Adjust condenser height to the top of the travel range, then adjust down to focus image
Stains, dust, or dirt has accumulated on the con- denser, objective, eyepieces, or base lens| Thoroughly clean tall lenses with lens cleaner or a lint free nonabrasive cloth
Symptom| Cause| Remedy
---|---|---
OPTICAL ISSUES
The color of the image is not accurate| The brightness adjustment knob is not in the right position| Adjust the brightness knob to a higher or lower setting for color clarity
No filter is used or filter is in use| Remove color filter if natural light is desired, or insert desired filter
(Trinocular Only)

I cannot see anything in the camera / Image is black

| The trinocular port shutter of the microscope is not open| Slide the silver metal pin out on the head of the microscope to allow light to reach the trinocular port
MECHANICAL ISSUES
The objective touches the cover slip| The cover slip is not standard sized| Replace the cover slip with the appropriate 0.17mm thickness slip
The limit-stop is set too high or not engaged| Be careful to avoid contact between objective and the slide when the limit stop is up (unless using the 100x objective with oil). To reengage, focus the sample, then lock the limit stop into place at the stage height to set max height at a safe but usable distance.
Unable to move the slide smoothly| The slide is not secured correctly| Adjust the slide to use the stage clips and secure the sample
The mechanical stage is not properly secured| Tighten the mechanical stage screws to better secure the stage
Focus knob does not turn| The tension knob is too tight| Loosen it by adjusting the tension ring inside the coarse focus knob counterclockwise (close to the arm of the microscope on the left of the microscope)
Stage declines by itself| The tension knob is too lose| Tighten it by adjusting the tension ring inside the coarse focus knob clockwise (close to the arm of the microscope on the left of the microscope)
The coarse focusing knob won’t raise the stage| Limit- stop is engaged| Disengage the limit stop (move up) on the read of the stage of the microscope inside the coarse focusing knob
The fine focusing knob won’t raise the stage| Limit-stop is engaged| Disengage the limit stop (move up) on the read of the stage of the microscope inside the coarse focusing knob
ELECTRICAL ISSUES
The bulb/light source flickers| The bulb is close to burning out| The unit’s LED bulb should not burn out. The bulb is not the issue. Please contact customer service for warranty repair infor- mation.
The microscope does not light up| The microscope is unplugged| Insert the plug into the wall socket to achieve electrical illumina- tion
The bulb burned out| The unit’s LED bulb should not burn out. The bulb is not the issue. Please contact customer service for warranty repair infor- mation.
The fuse burned out| Replace with fuse on the bottom of the microscope
The fuse burns out fre- quently| The voltage is too high| Use the correct power supply (110v if 110v unit, 220v if 220v unit), or get a voltage adapter to convert to the proper electrical system
The bulb burns out fre- quently| The voltage is too high| Use the correct power supply (110v if 110v unit, 220v if 220v unit), or get a voltage adapter to convert to the proper electrical system