A boom stand microscope has different applications in a number of fields today. Learning the proper use of this type of microscope is necessary so that it can be used to its full potential.

Using boom stand microscopes is basically the same as using any other type of microscope. The only notable difference between this microscope and the traditional ones, as far as appearance is concerned, would be the microscope’s body. A boom stand microscope has a sturdy metal rod for a body, which in turn is connected to a flat base.

Boom microscopes are commonly used in industrial plants. In electronic manufacturing companies, its main application is for circuit board inspection, repair, and soldering. It can also be used to repair watches, clocks, mobile phones, and jewelry. Boom microscopes can also used for engraving.

To properly use a boom stand microscope, these are some pointers to follow:

1. Carry the microscope with one hand on the base and the other on the vertical metal rod. Never carry the boom stand microscope through its binocular lens or the structure that supports it. Always go for the body. And the body of a boom stand microscope is composed of the metal rod and the base from which it is connected.

2. Connect the devices properly – power cord and external imaging device, if any. A boom stand microscope needs to be connected to a power cord for its lighting system to work. Also, try to place the microscope on a flat surface very near the power outlet. Make sure the cord doesn’t dangle carelessly on its side. Should you or anything get caught in it, the microscope could fall down. Most boom stand microscopes have an additional port for a camera or an imaging device to be connected. Follow the manual on how you are supposed to do this.

3. Configure the microscope using a low power lens first. If your boom stand microscope is a compound type of a microscope, you should configure it using the 10x objective first. This lens, if used with an eye piece that works on a 10x magnification mode, should be able to provide 100x total magnification power. Calibrate the microscope using this objective. Only professionals should use the high power objective of the boom stand microscope when calibrating. And even they should do it with extreme caution.

4. Focus on your specimen. Depending upon the type of your boom stand microscope, you can possibly move the microscope’s body toward your specimen. There are boom stand microscopes with articulating arms or bodies. Boom stand microscopes don’t have stages. Either you provide for one or don’t use a stage entirely. Just focus on your specimen and use it.

5. Look through the eye piece and adjust the focus accordingly. There are fine tuning and coarse tuning focus knobs on a boom stand microscope. Look through the eye piece and adjust the knobs until you get the best image. Make sure that the objective lenses don’t touch your specimen as you adjust. If that happens, the lens might get damaged. Repairs can be costly.

6. Move either the arm of the microscope or the specimen so that the part you would like to view is in the dead center of the microscope’s image field. A boom stand microscope is a very flexible device. Its arms can be moved in such a way the body moves along with it. If you can’t possibly move your specimen, move the microscope instead. That way, you will be able to get a good view of your specimen.

7. Don’t touch the lenses. The lenses are very delicate optical devices. A small mark coming from your fingers could produce blurry and dim images. If you need to physically adjust anything, do so without touching the lenses. If that can’t be done, use the special lens papers- the same ones you use for cleaning them.

8.  Cover the microscope when not in use. If you are not to use the microscope for a few hours, put a plastic cover over it. It if its not going to be used for an extended period of time, like a few days or so, put it back on its original package and into the lab cabinet. Doing these would prevent dusts from going through. Dusts are a microscope’s number one enemy.

These are the proper ways of using boom stand microscopes. Make sure that you do as requested in each point. They would ensure that your microscope is not only used correctly all the time but are well taken cared of as well.