Olympus SZX16 and SZX2-FOF Z-Axis & Zoom Drive Installation Procedure

The procedure below outlines the steps necessary to install the ASI Microscope Focus Controller Drive onto the Olympus SZX2-FOF and SZX16 microscope.

To perform the following steps you will need the following tools:

Flat & Phillips screw drivers & a pair of Pliers 1.5mm, 2.5 mm, 3mm, 1/16 and 7/64 inch hex wrenches The hex wrenches are provided by ASI.

The procedure has 6 parts:

1. Removing the left fine & coarse focus knob
2. Installing the base plate & motor drive assembly
3. Aligning the motor drive assembly
4. Installing the motor drive cover plate & fine focus knob
5. Connecting the cables to the controller

Remove the left fine focus knob from the microscope as follows:

Figure 1 remove the rubber boot off of the end of the left fine focus knob

Figure 1 remove the rubber boot off of the end of the left fine focus knob

Pry the rubber boot of the end of the left fine focus knob (ffk), on some scopes a screwdriver may be needed to pry the knob off as it may be glued on.

Figure 2 Location of Allen head screw to remove with 2.5 mm Allen wrench

Figure 2 Location of Allen head screw to remove with 2.5 mm Allen wrench

Figure 2 shows the location of the 3x 8 mm screw that must be removed / loosened to remove the ffk. Use the 2.5 mm Allen wrench to remove the screw while holding, or turning, the right fine focus knob.

Figure 4. The focus assembly will rise up, or fall depending upon the load, when the ffk is removed.

Figure 5. Check and make certain that the two spring washers remained inside of the coarse focus knob as shown & are not stuck to the inside of the ffk. If they are stuck to the ffk remove them and place them inside of the coarse focus knob as shown.

Figure 5. Check and make certain that the two spring washers remained inside of the coarse focus knob as shown & are not stuck to the inside of the ffk. If they are stuck to the ffk remove them and place them inside of the coarse focus knob as shown.

Unscrew the screw that secures the ffk & remove the knob as shown in figure 5. The focus assembly will rise up, or fall depending upon the load, when the ffk is removed as shown in figure 4. Insure that the spring washers remained inside of the coarse focus knob as shown in figure 5. If they are stuck to the ffk remove them and place them inside of the coarse focus knob as shown. Store the ffk & 2.5 mm screw that retained it, as they are not needed with the ASI Z-drive.

Figure 6. Use a cross blade screwdriver to loosen the three Philip head screws and remove the coarse focus knob as shown.

Figure 6. Use a cross blade screwdriver to loosen the three Philip head screws and remove the coarse focus knob as shown.

Use a cross blade screwdriver to loosen the three Philip head screws and remove the coarse focus knob as shown in figure 6

Locate the motor drive & zoom components as shown in figure 10. Use the 7/64 “mm Allen wrench to loosen & remove the horizontal adjustment screw as shown I figure 11. Loosen the vertical adjustment to screws & drive shaft clamp as shown in figures 12 & 13.

Figure 10. The motor drive assembly components

Figure 11. Loosen & remove the horizontal adjustment screw

Figure 12. Loosening the vertical adjustment screws

Figure 13. Loosening the drive shaft clamp

Figure 14. The two 3 x 45 screws that secure the base plate to the microscope.

Locate the two 3 x 45 mm screws that secure the base plate to the microscope & the 3 mm Allen wrench.

Figure 15a

Figure 15b

Figure 15c

Remove the microscope body from the stand and lay it on its side as shown in figure 15. Use the two 3 x 45 mm screws to install the drive assembly spacer block as shown. Use the 2.5 mm Allen wrench to securely tighten the two screws.

Figure 16a

Figure 16b

Figure 16c

Locate the Z-axis drive & the two 6/32 x ½ inch screws that are used to secure the Z-drive to the drive assembly spacer block as shown in figure 16. Use the 7/64” Allen wrench to tighten the screws to secure the Z-drive to the drive assembly spacer block.

After installing the Z-drive install the microscope back on to the stand.

Figure 18a

Figure 18b

Figure 18c

Figure 18d

Figure 18e

Figure 18f

Install the brass clutch plate, and Z-axis drive as shown in figures 17 & 18. The Z-drive adjustment bar has a tab that fits into the grove on the Z-drive base plate. The drive is secured to the base plate with the horizontal adjustment screw that was removed in figure # 11. Please note that it is important that the brass clutch plate compresses the two wave washers as shown before using the 7/64” Allen wrench to secure the drive shaft clamp. Please also note that the drive shaft clamp must be securely tightened to prevent slippage.

Figure 19a

Figure 19b

Use the 7/64 “ Allen wrench to secure the vertical & horizontal adjustment screws. These three screws should just be lightly tightened, and may need to be loosened to obtain the proper alignment as outlined below.

Check the alignment by noting the drag while turning the right fine focus knob. No noticeable drag should be felt at any point with in the full 360 degrees of rotation. If any noticeable drag is felt loosen the Vertical & Horizontal adjustment screws and reposition the drive to a point where no drag is felt. Then hold the drive in place and loosely tighten Vertical & Horizontal adjustment screws.

As shown in the above photos locate the ASI drive cover and install it over the drive as shown. Use the supplied 4/40 button head screws and the 1/16 inch Allen wrench to secure the cover to the drive. After securing the cover install the original Olympus focus knob that was remover in figures 1 & 2 as shown above.

Figure 27. Use the 1/16” Allen wrench to install the drive cover as shown.

Figure 27. Use the 1/16” Allen wrench to install the drive cover as shown.

Figure 28a

Figure 28b Install left focus knob as shown above. Make certain that one of the two setscrews from the knob mate with the flat on the drive shaft as shown. Use the 1/16” Allen wrench to tighten both set screws.

Install the drive cover and left focus knob as shown in figure 28

1. Install the drive cable from the motor drive assembly to the controller connector labeled “
2. Install the dual foot switches to the controller connector labeled “ Foot Switches”
3. Install the single foot switch to the BNC connector on the controller.
4. Install the RS232 serial cable from the com port on your computer to the controller connector labeled “Serial In”
5. Install the power connector & plug the power pack in to AC power.