The AmScope ME300TZ-3M digital metallurgical trinocular microscope has a pair of 10x eyepieces, a forward-facing quadruple nosepiece with four DIN achromatic objectives, Brightfield episcopic halogen illumination, and a double-layer mechanical stage with a stage stop to protect slides and objectives from damage. The 3MP camera has a CMOS color sensor, a reduction lens, image capture and editing software, and USB 2.0 output to capture or display still or video images on a computer or projector. The trinocular viewing head has a 23mm vertical camera mount, a sliding binocular head to adjust interpupillary distance, a fixed 30-degree vertical inclination to reduce eye and neck strain, and a 360-degree rotation capability to enable sharing. The sliding head has a range of 55 to 75mm to accommodate individual eye differences, and bilateral dioptric adjustment to accommodate individual eye-strength differences. The forward-facing nosepiece has 4x, 10x, 40xS (spring), and 100xS (oil) DIN plan optical-glass objectives that combine with the eyepieces to provide color correction of magnified images. The 40xS objective is spring loaded to prevent slide damage when focusing. The 100xS spring-loaded oil-immersion objective uses oil between the specimen and the objective lens to provide increased resolution over a standard objective. Plan objectives provide improved focus over the entire range of the viewing field. A digital metallurgical microscope uses transmitted and reflected light to view opaque or metallurgical specimens, or larger specimens that cannot be viewed on a standard microscope stage, and is used where image capture, detailed records, or documentation is required.

The 3MP digital camera has a CMOS color sensor for displaying still microscopy images and streaming live videos to a computer or projector. The camera has 40x magnification and a 0.5x reduction lens that ensures that the display has a similar field of view as the microscope eyepiece. The camera can be mounted in a C-Mount or any 23mm eye tube. The camera includes image capture and editing software that provides still image and live video capture and editing capability, including measurement functions. The software supports JPG, TIF, GIF, PSD, WMF, and BMP file formats and is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8; Mac OS X; and Linux. Camera drivers are compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8; Mac OS X; and Linux. The software includes Windows APIs for native C/C++, C#, DirectShow, Twain, and LabVIEW that enable custom application development. The camera has a USB 2.0 data port (cable included).

The microscope has reflected episcopic (upper) illumination that reflects light off the specimen for enhanced visibility of opaque specimens. The episcopic illumination system has independent filter holders for yellow, blue, green, and frosted filters (included). The iris diaphragm has separate aperture and alignment controls to provide precision lighting control. The 20W halogen light source provides bright light in a concentrated path and has a rheostat to control light intensity. The double-layer mechanical stage, with 1mm stage divisions and 0.1mm vernier graduations, locks the slide into place and provides precise slide manipulation along the X- and Y-axis to allow coordinates to be recorded, enabling the viewer to return to a specific location on the slide. A stage stop prevents the stage from coming into contact with the slide and objectives. The stage is 5-1/8 x 4-13/16 inches (130 x 122mm) and has a traveling range of 1-3/16 x 2-3/4 inches (30 x 70mm). Graduated coaxial coarse and fine focus has a focusing range of 1-9/16" (40mm). Focus knob tension control prevents the stage from drifting out of focus. The microscope has a mechanical tube length of 6-5/16" (160mm). The enamel-coated cast-steel body is durable and resistant to stains and corrosion.

Microscopes are instruments used to enhance the resolution of an object or image. Types include compound, stereo, or digital. Compound microscopes use a compound optical system with an objective lens and an eyepiece. Stereo microscopes show object depth in a three-dimensional image. Digital microscopes are used to display an image on a monitor, rather than looking through a lens. Microscopes can have monocular (one), binocular (two), or trinocular (three) eyepieces, with varying magnification abilities. Magnification ability refers to the size of an image. Resolution, also known as resolvant power, refers to the clarity of the image. The interaction between field of view (FOV), numerical aperture (NA), and working distance (WD) determines resolution. Microscopes can control magnification through a fixed focus, or through a range of adjustments. They can also utilize LED, fluorescent, and mirror light sources to help control viewing capabilities. Microscopes are widely used in education, lab research, biology, metallurgy, engineering, chemistry, manufacturing, and in the medical, forensic science, and veterinary industries.

United Scope manufactures microscopy equipment and accessories under the brand name AmScope. The company, founded in 1996, is headquartered in Irvine, CA.

What's in the Box?

• AmScope ME300TZ-3M microscope with mechanical stage
• WF10x eyepieces, 23mm, one pair
• 4x DIN plan objective, 20mm
• 10x DIN plan objective, 20mm
• 40xS DIN plan objective, 20mm
• 100xS (oil) DIN plan objective, 20mm
• Epi-illumination system
• (4) Color filters: yellow, blue, green, and frosted
• 3MP digital camera (MU300)
• 0.5x reduction lens
• USB 2.0 cable
• Software CD
• Immersion oil
• Instructions