Leica

Motor-Focus
System
User manual
Manuel d’utilisation
Gebrauchsanweisung
Manual de empleo
Contents

Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Safety concept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Assembly
The components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Use
Switching on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Acoustic signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 EN
Stops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Footswitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Handswitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The focusing position: Storing, travelling, cancelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Focusing with the PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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Description Safety concept
Purpose Before you try to set up and use the motor-focus system, read:
The purpose of the motor-focus system is to provide motor- • this user manual, and in particular the safety notes
driven coarse and fine focusing by means of a manual control, • the user manual for your stereomicroscope or macroscope,
a footswitch, or through a computer. Five exact focus settings including the notes about safety and care.
can be stored so that the instrument can travel to them directly.
The motor-focus system offers the following advantages over
manual focusing: Permitted uses
• Easy to use, even with heavy outfits The motor-focus system is intended for the motor-driven raising
• Ergonomically better and lowering of the LEICA MS5, MZ6, MZ8, MZ12, MZAPO and
MZ FLIII stereomicroscopes and of the LEICA M420 macroscope
• More flexibility for the user on Leica incident- and transmitted-light stands, and on the large
• Leaves the hands free swinging-arm stand, and it replaces the mechanical drive
• Saves time during repetitive tasks. housing. The motor-focus system consists of
• a column with motor-focus mechanism
For Leica stereomicroscopes • a transformer with a power cable
The modular design of the motor-focus system enables it to be • a manual control and/or a footswitch and/or a PC
fitted to the incident- and transmitted-light stands and large interface kit.
swinging-arm stand of the LEICA MS5, MZ6, MZ8, MZ12, MZAPO
and MZ FLIII stereomicroscopes and of the LEICA M420 Prohibited uses
macroscope.
The use of the motor-focus system in a different manner
from that described in this user manual can lead to injury,
User manual malfunction and damage.
The present user manual describes the design and use of • Do not fit different plugs.
the motor-focus system. There is a separate user manual for • Do not attempt to modify the motor-focus system.
the stereomicroscope or macroscope.
• Do not dismantle any part of the motor-focus system unless
instructions for doing so are given in the user manual.
For safety directions, and for detailed information about the • Do not allow the motor-focus system to be opened
stereomicroscope or macroscope and how to clean it, by unauthorized personnel.
and about its stands, illuminators and accessories, please
refer to the user manual for that instrument.
Place of use
The motor-focus system is intended for use only in closed rooms.

Responsibilities of person in charge of instrument

• Ensure that the motor-focus system is operated, maintained
and repaired only by authorized and trained personnel.
• Ensure that personnel who use the motor-focus
system have read and understood this user manual
and in particular all safety instructions.

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Safety regulations Power cable
• Inspect the power cable regularly for damage. If it is
Repairs and servicing defective, replace it immediately, because it can cause
the instrument and ancillary equipment to become
• Only Leica-trained service technicians, or technical electrically live, endangering personnel. Do not pull at
specialists assigned by the person in charge the power cable.
of the instrument, are permitted to carry out repairs.
• Position the power cable carefully and make sure that
• Only original Leica spare parts may be used. no-one can become entangled in it or fall over it.
• Disconnect the power cable before opening the
transformer, otherwise there is a risk of injury through
electric shock. Cleaning
• Disconnect the power cable before you attempt to clean the
motor-focus system.
Precautions by the manufacturer
• Respect the warning signs relating to the handling of liquids.
• The motor-focus system is electromagnetically
compatible in accordance with the directive 89/336/EEC • Read and follow the notes about cleaning which are given in EN
and can be operated at the same time as other the user manual for the instrument.
electrical appliances.
• Low-voltage protection prevents electric shock if the Liquids
circuit inside the motor housing is touched. Be careful when handling liquids. If spilt on electrical
• Stops on the column, and end-switches on the motor appliances, they can:
housing, limit the upward and downward movement of the • cause the instruments and accessories to become
motor-focus system. The end-switches prevent it from electrically live, endangering personnel
attempting to travel further when it encounters the stops.
• cause damage to the equipment.

Legal requirements
Warning: Danger of crushing and other injuries
Adhere to general and local regulations relating to accident
When focusing, keep your fingers away from: prevention and environmental protection.
• the space between the motor housing and the lower stop
• the space between the objective and the object, the Conformity with European Community directive
surface of the stand, the stage insert and the stage.
The motor-focus system and its accessories are constructed in
Precautions by the manufacturer: The lower stop must be
accordance with the latest technologies and are provided with
adjusted individually in accordance with the characteristics
a statement of conformity with EC requirements.
of the object (see below).

Safety note
Always set the lower stop correctly in relation to the object
(see page 9). If it is set too low:
• the user’s hands might get crushed between the objective
and the object
• the object might get flattened or otherwise damaged
• the objective might get damaged.

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Overview

3
5

Components
Motor-focus system on incident- or transmitted-light stand
1 Stereomicroscope
2 Stand with column and motor-focus system
3 Transformer
4 Handswitch
7
5 Footswitch
6 Standard PC (not illustrated)

Motor-focus system on large swinging-arm stand

7 Inclinable carrier rod with motor focus

6
Assembly

2b 5
EN

3 1a

7 1b
8

2a

The components 4 Microscope carrier

1a 300mm-long column with motor-focus mechanism 5 Optics carrier
1b Inclinable carrier rod with motor focus 6 Transformer (not illustrated)
2a Incident- or transmitted-light stand 7 Handswitch
2b Large swinging-arm stand 8 Footswitch
3 Lower stop 9 PC interface kit (not illustrated)

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Assembly Connecting the motor focus

Incident- or transmitted-light stand

Column with motor-focus mechanism ➜ base of stand
 Using three Allen screws, secure the column to the
incident- or transmitted-light base (refer to user manual
for stereomicroscope or macroscope).
 Using the clamping screw, secure the lower stop to the
column, taking the position of the object into account
(see page 9).
1
Large swinging-arm stand
 Fit the inclinable carrier rod to the horizontal arm in 2
accordance with the user manual for the stereomicroscope
or macroscope. 3
 Using the clamping screw, secure the lower stop to the
carrier rod (see page 9).

Microscope carrier ➜ column with motor-focus mechanism

1 Connector for transformer
 Using an Allen screw, secure the microscope
carrier to the column of the stand (refer to user manual for 2 Connector for footswitch or for PC interface kit
stereomicroscope or macroscope). 3 Connector for manual control
 Fit the optics carrier, binocular tube and accessories
to the stereomicroscope or macroscope in accordance  Connect the transformer to the motor-focus mechanism.
with the user manual.
 Connect the power cable to the electricity supply.
 Connect the manual control and/or footswitch.
Transformer
 If appropriate, connect the PC interface kit instead
Respect the directions for safety on pages 4 and 5. of the footswitch.

Technical data
Type MST31
Input voltage 85 to 264 VAC
Input frequency 47 to 440 Hz
Input current max. 0.80 A at 115 VAC
max. 0.50 A at 230 VAC
Operating voltage 30V
Operating temperature +10°C to +40°C
Storage temperature –20°C to +55°C
Maximum mechanical loading 12 kg

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Use Safety measures for the stops
Read the warnings on page 5.
• The fixed stop (5) on the upper part of the column, and
5 the adjustable stop (6) beneath the motor housing, limit the
movement of the motor-focus system.
• In addition, there is an end-switch (7) on top of the motor
housing and another one beneath it. If, during focusing,
an end-switch touches the stop, there is a series of beeps
7 and the movement ceases.

4
Set the lower stop
• so that your hands have enough room between
the objective and the object, even when the motor-focus
system has reached the stop
EN
• so that during focusing the objective cannot press against
the object and damage either objective or object.
 Place the object beneath the objective.
 Look into the eyepiece and carefully bring the object into
6 focus using the manual control (see page 10), the footswitch
or the PC (see page 10).
8  Use the clamping screw (8) to secure the lower stop beneath
the motor housing.

Focusing Footswitch

Switching on and off

 Switch on the motor-focus system (switch 4).
• Confirmation by acoustic signal.

Acoustic signal
There is an acoustic signal when:
• the system is switched on (one short beep)
• there is a changeover between coarse and fine focusing (one
short beep)
• the focus position is stored (two short beeps)
• the focus position is cancelled (two short beeps, pause,
two long beeps) 16
• the stop is reached (series of beeps)
15
To switch off the acoustic signal
 When switching on the system, press switch 11 or 12 on the
manual control (see page 10), or activate the footswitch.
• To focus using the footswitch: Left-hand switch (15) = up;
right-hand switch (16) = down.
• To change between fast- and fine focusing: Press left-hand
and right-hand switches at the same time.
• Focus positions cannot be stored by means of the
footswitch.

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Handswitch Storing the focus position
• Focus positions can be stored only by means of the
manual control or the PC.
• A maximum of five focus positions can be stored.
11 12 • If a sixth focus position is stored, the one nearest to it will be
cancelled.
• Each focus position can be cancelled individually.
10
• The system will travel to each of the individual focus
positions in the sequence in which they were stored.
• Switching off the system cancels all of the stored
focus positions.
 Place the object beneath the objective.
 Set the lower stop (see page 9).
 Focus on the first point in the object.
 Press the black switch (12) for at least 1.5 seconds.
The storage is confirmed by two short beeps.
10 Rotary knob for focusing
 Focus on the second point in the object and store
11 Red switch for alternating between coarse and in the same way.
fine focusing
 Focus and store up to five points in the object.
12 Black switch for storing or cancelling up to five focus
positions and for travelling to the stored positions
Travel to the stored focus positions
Focusing with manual control  Briefly press the black switch (12).

Respect the safety notes on pages 4 and 5.

To cancel the focus positions
• Focus with the red rotary knob (10): Anticlockwise = down;
clockwise = up.  Keep the black switch (12) pressed until you hear two short
• Change between coarse (rapid) focusing and fine focusing by beeps, a pause, and two long beeps.
briefly pressing the red switch (11).
• When the system is first switched on, the rapid focusing Focusing with the PC
mode is active. • In addition to a standard PC with RS232 interface,
you need a PC interface kit from Leica.
• The individual functions and commands are described
in a separate user manual for the PC interface kit.

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