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Refer to
[Figure 1] for the parts identification and their locations.
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Carefully
remove the microscope from the carrying case. Try not to move the focus
dial. When packed at the factory your microscope was pre-focused and
aligned.
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Plug the A.C.
adapter into a 110-120V.A.C. outlet, and the D.C. connector into the rear of
the microscope. In the event that A.C. power is not available, you may use
the 9v battery adapter supplied with any 9v battery.
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Carefully
loosen the two thumbscrews that hold down the connector mount, one to two
turns, to allow the mount to tilt slightly when required. Try not to move the
connector mount, as this will disturb the alignment.
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Take out one of
the glass reference flats. Using a soft cotton cloth or lens tissue,
carefully wipe clean both sides of the flat. Wipe both sides at the same
time, by covering both sides with the cloth and wiping between your thumb and
index finger. By applying pressure on both sides at the same time you can
avoid breaking the thin glass flat.
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Carefully slide
the glass reference flat in between the connector mount and the top of the
stage. First lay the glass reference flat on the center of the stage in front
of the connector mount. Then align the glass reference flat with the top of
the stage. Gently slide the glass reference flat under the connector mount
until the glass reference flat no longer protrudes in front of the stage, but
is not flush.
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Turn on the
ON/OFF switch to the on position by sliding your finger upward along the
ON/OFF switch. The indicator on the front of the microscope should glow blue,
and blue light should light up the connector aperture.
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Gently and
carefully insert the connector to be inspected into the connector aperture,
stop when you feel the slightest resistance. Be careful not to push hard and
break the fragile glass reference flat.
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The Zoom
Eyepiece should be set to 10x magnification. This can be accomplished by
grasping and turning the large (11/2in.X1/2in.) knurled black collar
counterclockwise.
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Look into the
eyepiece and attempt to focus by turning the focus dial slowly in both
directions.
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Carefully
insert the connector to be examined into the 2.5mm. bore in the center of the
connector mount. It should slide in with little resistance. Stop inserting
when the connector touches the glass reference flat.
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If the fiber
cannot be seen, try rotating the connector slowly, this can help you locate
the center of rotation and thus find the fiber. If you still cannot find the
fiber gently push the connector mount to the rear of the microscope, this will
insure that the mount is properly seated against the two rear locating screws.
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In the event
that you cannot obtain an image, you must pre-focus the microscope. This is
done by first removing the connector, then removing the glass reference flat.
Take out another reference flat and make a small mark on the top surface with
a marker. If necessary you can scratch the top surface of the reference flat
with sandpaper or other abrasive surface. Observe through the connector
aperture as you slide in the reference flat with the mark on the top surface,
position the mark in the center of the connector aperture by eye. Adjust the
focus dial until the mark on the top surface of the glass flat is in clear
focus. It may be necessary to move the flat to find the mark. When the top
surface of the reference flat is in focus, remove the marked flat and replace
with the clean on. Set the marked flat aside for future use in finding the
focus point.
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Re-insert the
connector to be inspected, stopping on the reference flat. Again, be careful
not to push too hard and break the fragile glass reference flat. Repeat step
#12 to locate the fiber image.
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If the fiber’s
center is not centered in the field of view, you will have to reposition the
connector mount. This can be accomplished by adjusting the position adjusting
screws using a 0.050in. hex key. There are two screws at the rear of the
connector mount for front to back positioning, and one screw on each side of
the connector mount for side-to-side positioning. Refer to figure 1 on page 9
for the location of the adjustment screws. The connector can then be found
by slowly repositioning the connector mount while observing through the
eyepiece. You will find it helpful to set the zoom eyepiece to 20X for more
accurate centering of the fiber in the field of view. Once the connector is
centered in the field of view, one of the side adjusting screws should be
backed out slightly (approximately 10°). This will allow the mount to tilt up
and down when necessary, while maintaining the side-to-side location.
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Once the image
is located in the center of your field of view and in focus, you are ready to
measure the radius of curvature, the apex offset, and fiber undercut or
protrusion.
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To illuminate
the fiber core when checking patch cords, simply insert the end of any 2.5mm
ferrule into the center of the blue power on indicator at the front of the
instrument. This will provide an easy reference to determine if any scratches
reside in the core area. If there is no connector on the other end, a bare
cleaved fiber may be inserted, but it must held in the center of the opening
for best results.
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When not in use
for long periods of time, it is advisable to return the unit to the carrying
case or cover with a suitable dust cover to prevent the buildup of dust on the
optics.
