GUIDELINES FOR RMMC SERVICE LEVELS
Please Note: These Service Levels are intended to provide a listing of associated aspects, rather than serve as a selection by the customer (unless they have performed complete reconditioning or overhaul of the instrument before). In our 45+ years of microscope maintenance and the teaching of same, we’ve rarely encountered instruments that have been properly maintained. Most have had irregular encounters with “blow & go” work that, in the long-term, promotes premature replacement. In the short-term, it typically promotes hobbled performance – both optically and mechanically. All this can be avoided by proper routine maintenance. We typically encourage customers who are using our services the first time to fund Level IV or Level III to establish a “baseline” for continued maintenance – this brings the instrument back into as close to original condition as possible. Thereafter, routine maintenance is typically on a Level I basis for years to come.
Non-Stereo Compound Systems
Level I
- External cleaning of objectives
- Internal optical check of objectives
- Disassembly of eyepieces with internal/external optical cleaning
- External cleaning of microscope
- External cleaning binocular optics
- Performance check to include: parfocality, parcentration, focusing system response, stage tracking, and head alignment
Level II
- All services of Level I
- Cleaning and relubrication of nosepiece, if necessary
- Cleaning and relubrication of slider assemblies
- Cleaning of illuminator and collector
- Cleaning and relubrication of both field and aperture diaphragms, if necessary
- Stage disassembly, cleaning, and relubrication
Level III
- All services of Level II
- Service to coarse focusing mechanism
Level IV
- All services of Level III
- Service to fine focusing mechanism
- Service to viewing head assembly
Note: This service level involves a total reconditioning of the microscope system.
Stereo Microscope Systems
Level I
- Topical cleaning of system
- Cleaning of eyepieces — external and internal
- External cleaning of objective lenses
- Optical alignment check with minor realignments, if necessary
- Performance check to include: parfocality, parcentration, focusing system response, mag changer operation, and head alignment
Level II
- All services of Level I
- Focusing system service
- Major realignments/recollimation, as required
Level III
- All services of Level II
- Service to interior optics (full zoom train, if present)
- Cleaning and relubrication of diopter collars/focusing eyepieces
Level IV
- All services of Level III
- Service to porro prisms/mirror cage assemblies and I.P.D. movement
This service level involves a total reconditioning of the microscope system.
