Typical Z-Drive Installation and
Alignment Instructions

• small knife or flat blade screwdriver
• 2.5mm Allen wrench (provided)
• 3.0mm Allen wrench (provided)
• 1/16" Allen wrench (provided)
• 5/64" Allen wrench (provided)
• 3/32" Allen wrench (provided)
• 7/64" Allen wrench (provided)

The procedure has three parts:

1. Removing the Left Fine-Focus Knob
2. Installing and Aligning the Motor Drive Assembly and Baseplate
3. Installing the Motor Drive Cover Plate and Fine-Focus Knob

Part 1: Removing the Left Fine-Focus Knob:

Note:  the terms "left" and "right" refer to the sides of the microscope as viewed from the front.

1. Remove the rubber boot from the end of the left fine-focus knob. Then use a knife or small pointed instrument to carefully pry out the 20mm black disk that covers the end of the knob.



2. Remove the left fine-focus knob by first removing its securing screw using the 2.5mm Allen wrench, then pulling the knob off of the fine-focus shaft. It will be necessary to securely hold the left and right fine-focus knob while removing the screw to prevent the shaft from turning.
   
   After the knob is removed, note whether there is a small silver spring washer attached to it; if so, remove the washer from the focus knob and place it on to the brass assembly located within the coarse focus knob.

Part 2:  Installing and Aligning the Motor Drive Assembly and Baseplate:

The ASI motor drive attaches to a silver horizontal adjustment bar that is attached to the base plate. The motor drive slides within two lips on either side of the horizontal adjustment bar so that it can slide along the vertical axis, and is secured to the adjustment bar via two 4/40 vertical adjustment screws. The adjustment bar is secured to the baseplate with a 4x12mm horizontal adjustment screw. The horizontal and vertical adjustments allow the drive to be correctly positioned so that the drive shaft on the ASI motor drive can be slid over the fine-focus shaft of the microscope.

Figure 1:  Baseplate Clamp Assembly	a: Horizontal Adj Screw	b: Vertical Adj Screws
	Figure 2:  Adjustment Bars

Figure 3:  Brass Clutch Plate	Figure 4:  ASI Z-Drive Installed

1. Locate the baseplate, the motor drive, the brass clutch plate, adjustment bar, and the Allen wrenches. Use the 3/32" Allen wrench to remove the black & silver clamp assembly from the right side of the baseplate (see Figure 1). Use the 3.0mm Allen wrench to loosen the screw securing the adjustment bar to the left side of the baseplate, if it is attached, and remove the adjustment bar (see Figure 2a).



2. Slide the baseplate assembly completely under the microscope until the small stop plate located on the baseplate is completely against the side of the microscope. This stop plate should be parallel with the bottom of the microscope. Position the base plate so that it is under the focus assembly.
   
   Locate the adjustment bar, the motor drive, and the brass clutch plate. Remove the vertical adjustment screws, 4/40 x 1/4 hex screws, which are located at the rear of the ASI fine-focus motor drive (see Figure 2b). Use the 7/64" Allen wrench to loosen the clamp that is located on the ASI drive shaft. This clamp is located at the end of the drive shaft as it protrudes from the black encoder cover (see Figure 3). Once the clamp is loose, slide it back towards the encoder and slide the brass clutch plate onto the ASI drive shaft. The clutch plate should slide onto the drive shaft with the milled out portion pointing away from the encoder.
   
   While holding the right fine-focus knob, align the ASI drive shaft with the microscope's fine-focus shaft, and slide the ASI drive shaft over the microscope's fine-focus shaft. If you do not hold the right fine-focus knob, the microscope's fine focus shaft may be pressed over towards the right of the microscope. If this happens, simply push the right fine focus knob in towards the microscope, pushing the shaft back. Once the drive has been installed, it should be attached to the adjustment bar as shown in Figure 2b.



3. Locate the adjustment bar. Rotate the fine-focus motor drive so that the rear of the drive aligns with the keys on the outside edges of the adjustment bar – the lip on the bottom of the adjustment bar mates with the groove in the baseplate. Align the holes on the adjustment bar to those on the drive and the baseplate, and screw in the vertical and horizontal adjustment screws (see Figures 2a & 2b) to secure the drive to the adjustment bar, and the adjustment bar to the base plate. Leave the screws loose enough so that the drive can slide up and down and the adjustment bar can slide back and forth within the baseplate.



4. Once the drive has been attached to the adjustment bar, the clamp and clutch should be secured. While holding the right fine-focus knob, push the clamp on the ASI focus shaft in towards the microscope so that the brass clutch plate is firmly pressed up against the silver spring washer locate on the microscope's brass assembly. Use the 7/64" Allen wrench to securely tighten the clamp. Note:  The clamp must be securely tightened or the drive and clutch may slip.



5. Slide the motor drive slightly up & down and forward & backward while turning the right fine-focus knob until it is positioned where minimum drag is felt on the right focus knob. Secure the motor drive into this position by tightening the horizontal and vertical adjustment screws.



6. Reattach the clamp assembly to the right side of the baseplate (see Figure 1). (This clamp assembly was removed in Step 1). Once the assembly has been reattached, use the 5/64" Allen wrench to tighten the set screw located in the middle of the clamp assembly. Tightening this set screw will cause the silver bar to press against the side of the microscope. Insure that the set screw is securely tightened to hold the baseplate assembly in place.



7. Recheck the alignment by noting the amount drag while rotating the right fine focus knob. No noticeable drag should be felt. If any drag is felt other than the slight drag of the gears, loosen the vertical and horizontal adjustment screws with the 3.0mm Allen wrench, and move the drive in the x,y, and z axis to a point where no drag is felt. Then tighten the vertical and horizontal adjustment screws. Note:  there should be no point throughout the 360° rotation of the fine-focus knob where an increase in drag is felt. If drag is felt, repeat the above steps.

Part 3:  Installing the Motor Drive Cover Plate and Fine-Focus Knob:

1. Locate the motor drive cover. Position it over the motor drive assembly and secure in place using the three small 4/40 screws and 1/16" Allen wrench provided. Do not tighten the screws at this time.



2. Slide the microscope fine-focus knob over the shaft extension and press it on all the way. Secure the knob to the shaft with the original 3x8mm socket head screw. Use the 2.5mm Allen wrench to tighten the screw while holding the right fine-focus knob. Check to insure the left fine focus knob does not rub against the cover. If it does, adjust the cover and secure it by tightening its screws.



3. Reinstall the black disk and rubber boot that where removed in Part 1, Step 1.

This completes the procedure for installing the ASI motor drive on to the Olympus IX 70 Microscope (see Figure 4).