Virtual Laboratory Instrument Training Series

Web Site Design
by
Dr. Glen A. Stone
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
501 East Saint Joseph Street * Rapid City, SD 57701
(605)394-1284 * FAX (605)394-3369

© 2002 - Dr. Glen A. Stone - SDSM&T

Instrument: LECO Image Analysis System/Microscope Set-up

The Olympus VANOX-T Optical Microscope exam must be passed before LECO Analysis System can be used. Unsupervised use of this Instrument and the Olympus VANOX-T Optical Microscope requires passing an instrument usage Quiz

Instrument Location: MI 125

Table of Contents
Quick Links to Web Page Topics
  1. Vocabulary
  2. Instrument Users
  3. Faculty Mentors
  4. Safety!
  5. Report Injuries
  6. Prevent Damage
  7. Maintenance
  8. Instrument Operation
  9. Quantitative Metallography
  10. Laboratory Handouts Prepared to Aid Student Learning
    1. Link to Sophomore Laboratory Microstructure Illustration Laboratory (MET 231)
    2. Link to Sophomore Laboratory Quantitative Metallography Handout (MET 231)
  11. Quizzes and Surveys

Setting Binary Shading of Analysis Planes for Quantitative Image Analysis

  1.  Vocabulary associated with this instrument.

Interrogate the instrument by placing the curser over various regions of the instrument.
Pop-up boxes will appear.
Olympus Microscope Digital Monitor LECO Command Monitor Printer Servo Stage and Focus Controller Computer with LECO Interface Controllers

  2.  Who uses this instrument?

MET 231, MET 331, and MET 441/541 Lab Classes, CAMP, CAAN, AMP, and Researchers

  3.  Who are the responsible faculty?

Metallography Laboratory Mentor
Dr. Dana Medlin
Office: MI 104

  4.  Safety!

  • There are no safety issues of concern associated with the LECO Image Analysis System.
  • Students are not allowed to work alone in the lab. Undergraduate and graduate The professor in charge must supervise students until the microscope-driving test is passed. There must always be a lab partner present when any equipment is being used in this laboratory.
  • A logbook is maintained for the LECO Image Analysis System. All users must sign the logbook as well as record lab resources and a start and finish time.

  5.  Report Injuries

Report any injury, no matter how minor, to the person supervising the laboratory. If this person is not available find the department chair or the department secretary. If there is a major injury requiring medical attention:
call 0-911
The nearest phone is located in the main entrance stairwell.

  6.  Past Damage

 EXTRA-EXTRA Read All About It
Gorilla Syndrome strikes the Olympus Optical Microscope. Heavy handed operator rams 100x lens into sample cracking lens. Cost to the department: $3000.

Link to Proper Procedure to Ensure this Never Happens Again

  7.  Maintenance

  • Regular Scheduled Maintenance
    • The Microscope and Image Analysis System is Maintained by the Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Department.
  • Maintenance Expected of Student and Staff Users
    • Each student using the equipment must replace all tools and other resources used into their proper place for the next user. Make every effort to maintain a clean and efficient working space.

  8.  Instrument Operation Instructions

Quick Links to Instrument Operation Topics
  1. Turning the Instrument ON or OFF
  2. Microscope Setup for LECO Image Analysis and Digital Photography
  3. Placing Specimen in Microscope and Changing Objective and Projector Lenses
  4. Set-up Digital Focusing and Digital Stage Control
  5. Magnification Calibration

Turning the Microscope and Image Analysis System ON and OFF
  • All the component parts of the Microscope and LECO Image Analysis System are left ON and are connected to a main power strip. The power strip is located on the tabletop behind one of the monitors.
  • Turn the power to the system ON when starting, and OFF when finished by using the ON-OFF on the power strip.
  • If there is no power to the microscope make sure the green main power switch is ON, and also check that the gray illumination system power button is pushed in, and therefore set to Photo.
  • These are normally left ON because all power is controlled from a central power strip.
  • The light path pull knobs are always set for reflected light when using the servo-driven stage. The correct settings are provided on the photograph.
On-Off Switch
Depress Gray Switch for Photo Intensity
Pull Knob position is OUT for reflected light microscopy. With the automated servo-stage installed the transmitted light path is blocked. For transmitted light photography it is necessary to install the manual stage. Please see Dr. Medlin for help.
  • These switches are located on the right side near the back of the microscope housing.
    		•

    Microscope Setup for LECO Image Analysis and Digital Photography
    • Microscope pull knob positions for LECO image analysis and digital photography. The pull mirror and filter control knobs must be in the position shown in the three photographs below.
    The slide with the black round ball knob is out. The other knob (filter control) is IN on the left side of the microscope.
    The slide with the black round ball knob is out. The remaining knobs have the same position used in normal photography.
    The two Bright Field knobs are pulled OUT for LECO image analysis.
    Left Side of the Microscope
    Right Side of the Microscope
    Close-up View of Right Side of the Microscope

    Placing a Specimen in the Microscope and Changing Objective and Projector Lenses
    Placing the specimen into the viewing area of the microscope is critical with regard to eliminating damage to the lenses. Note the clearance between the lenses, as the lens magnification is increased is decreased.
    5x lens 10x lens 20x lens 50x lens
    It is required that the following procedure be followed to ensure no damage to the lenses.
    • Rotate the turret so the 5x objective lens is in place
    • Then place the metallographic specimen into the viewing field
    • Focus the specimen
    • Now if the turret is rotated to another lens, the lens will clear the top of the sample, and the specimen area are still focused.

    Attempting to place the sample in the viewing area for any of the higher magnification lenses, with the lens out of the focal plane can cause the next higher magnification lens to plow into the specimen when the turret rotation is activated. The probability of damaging the lens is very high.

    The 50x lens is already damaged with the lens mount pushed into the lens barrel. The lens still works, but the focal plane has shifted. When the turret is rotated from the 20x lens that is in focus to the 50x lens position, the image will not be in focus. Carefully refocus by rotating the fine focus counter-clock-wise.
    Video Illustration of Lens Turret Rotation
    Dial-up Modem
    LAN or Cable Modem
    Video Illustration of Setting Projector Lens
    Dial-up Modem
    LAN or Cable Modem

    Set-up Digital Focusing and Digital Stage Control
    • The paddle controller provides manual control of the x and y axis of the stage as well as the focus control. The computer can also control the digital servo driven stage and image focus. This control is optional and if used must be selected by the microscope/image analysis user. How to do this comes later in the lesson.
    Tilting the controller paddle to the left or to the right causes the servo to drive the stage either in the +X or –X direction. If the controller's paddle is moved forewords or backwards the servo drives the stage in the +Y or -Y direction.
    Video Illustration of Paddle
    Dial-up Modem Version
    LAN/Cable Modem Version
    		Composite Video Illustration of Paddle and Stage
    Dial-up Modem Version
    LAN/Cable Modem Version

    • Rotation of the controller paddle clockwise or counter clockwise causes the focusing servo to produce a corresponding rotation of the microscope fine focus knob.
    • This procedure allows the operator to focus the image while looking at the digital monitor.
    Video Illustration Showing
    how to
    Attach the Digital Servo to the Olympus Microscope
    and
    ↓ Composite of Digital Focus Control and CRT Image ↓
    		LAN or Cable Modem
    Dial Up Modem

    Magnification Calibration Table for LECO Digital CRT
    		The instrument to the left is used to calibrate the magnification. It is called a stage micrometer. The surface of a polished Stellite is engraved with 100 equally spaced lines in one millimeter.

    Magnification Chart for LECO Image Analysis Digital CRT
    Photographic Print Size is 4.6 x 5.0 inches
    Objective Lens Selection
    Projector
    X
    5
    10
    20
    50
    100
    TV
    		 70.3 143.6 285.9 716.1
    1432
    Bold magnification numbers were obtained by using the stage micrometer
    The 100x magnification number was estimated at 2-times the 50x lens.


      11.  Link to Quiz and Web Site Evaluation Form

    • If you are enrolled in MET 231, 331 or 441/541 the Username and Password is your student ID number.
    • If you are working on a CAMP, CAAN or AMP project and enrolled as an graduate or undergraduate student, contact Dr. Medlin via email. Your Password and Username will set as your student ID number.
    • If you are a visitor, email or contact Dr. Medlin directly. A temporary Username and Password will be provided.
    Unsupervised use of this equipment requires personal certification by Dr. Medlin or passage of the qualifying quiz with a grade of 100%