Cleaning objectives on the Olympus Fluorescent Microscope

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How to clean an objective:
 Turn off the microscope.
  1. Turn the nosepiece until the objective in question is at an angle proper for removal or cleaning (See Figure 1).
    1.   Figure 1.
  2. If you choose to remove the objective for cleaning, very carefully unscrew it from the nosepiece and gently place it on a Kim-wipe on a clean, flat surface.
  3. Whether the objective is still attached to the nosepiece or not, the next step is to cover a Q-tip in lens paper and soak the tip in either alcohol or lens cleaning solution. (Lens-cleaning solution can be found in a small, zippered bag on the shelf for the Olympus microscope in Dana) (See Figures 2 and 3).
    1. Figure 2.  Figure 3.
  4. Gently rub the glass on the objective—the part that is adjacent to the sample when viewing- with the wet Q-tip. Do NOT touch the inside of the objective where it attaches to the microscope.
  5. When you feel that you have sufficiently cleaned the dirt or oil from the objective, acquire lens-cleaning paper It can be found in small booklets of white, translucent paper.
  6. Pull the paper flush against the tip of the objective that was just cleaned. Press one finger against the tip, sandwiching the lens paper between your finger and the objective lens.
  7. Drag the paper slowly and gently over the objective in one direction for the length of the paper. Be careful not to touch the lens directly with your finger (See Figure 4).
    1.  Fiigure 4.
  8. Repeat this process three or four times until the lens is completely clean and dry. You can view the tip of the objective under a stereomicroscope in order to be sure that it is completely clean.
  9. If you have removed the objective for cleaning, very carefully screw it back into the nosepiece of the microscope in the same position where you found it.
    1. This can be a finicky process, and be cautious to insure that it is screwed in properly and securely without jamming it into the hole in the nosepiece.
  10. Clean up the used lens paper/Kimwipe/Q-tip and put away all other materials.

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