Physitemp Instruments Erma Radial - Manual (Page 3)

8. Routine maintenance
9. Warranty information
1. Mounting the Microtome
Your Erma Microtome should be mounted on the edge of a sturdy bench, 1 ½” thick or
less, using the mounting clamp at the rear of the microtome.
2. Mounting the Object or Freezing Stage
The microtome is normally supplied fitted with the object clamp. This is used for
paraffin embedded specimens. The Tommy bar underneath the vise releases the pillar
attached to it enabling the user to rotate the vise to any convenient position or, by pulling
upwards, remove the complete vise assembly. The sliding arm should be pushed to the
rear to facilitate its removal. If a Sensortek thermoelectric freezing stage is being used
with the microtome the object clamp must be removed and the stage, supplied with its
own pillar, substituted. The water tubes and power cables should be led out at the rear of
the microtome and taken to a supply of cooling water and the power unit ass described in
the instruction manual supplied with the freezing stage.
3. Raising or lowering the Object Clamp or Freezing Stage
Pull the sliding arm toward the front of the microtome to release the ratchet mechanism.
Wind the handle on the bottom of the microtome in a clockwise direction to raise the
stage, counter-clockwise to lower it.
4. Adjustment of Cutting Thickness
Section thickness can be set in 5 micron steps by depressing the cutting adjustment lever
and moving to the left to reduce or to the right to increase cutting thickness. A range of 5
to 40 microns (10
- 6 meters) can be accommodated on this microtome.
5. Mounting the Knife
Lift the knife from the box and carefully remove the oiled paper wrapping. Clean the
knife with a grease solvent. Inspect the edge of the knife for nicks before installation.
(See section for instructions in care and sharpening of your knife). Unscrew the knife
clamping screws on the top of the sliding arm and insert the knife from the right side.
Retighten the screws to retain the knife. The cutting angle is set by loosening screw A
with a Tommy bar and setting the cutting angle to the gauge. Cutting angles are
adjustable from cutting angle to the gauge. Cutting angles are adjustable from 0 to 10
.
Retighten screw A after setting preferred angle of cut.
6. Operation