Inside the Nikon LV150 Metallurgical Microscope
Read the Edited Video Transcript for ‘Inside the Nikon LV150 Metallurgical Microscope’
Hey, this is Chad with Munday Scientific and Microscope Marketplace. Today we’re going to talk about the Nikon LV150 microscope.
The LV150 is a materials or metallurgical microscope, which is a little different from the types of microscopes we usually cover. Because of that, we wanted to take some time to go over its features and show how it works.
This Nikon LV150 is an excellent microscope designed for brightfield and darkfield reflected-light applications, commonly used in materials science, metallurgy, and industrial inspection.
Tools Needed: Allen Wrenches
For this microscope, we’re using a set of Wera Allen wrenches, which are a staple in most microscope toolkits.
Unlike many Olympus microscopes that use a 3 mm Allen wrench, most Nikon microscopes—including the LV150—primarily use a 2 mm Allen wrench.
There is even a built-in storage slot on the back of the microscope to hold the Allen wrench so it’s always available.
Removing the Viewing Head
To remove the microscope head:
- Insert the 2 mm Allen wrench into the access hole on the back.
- Loosen the set screw.
- Hold the head securely while lifting it off the microscope.
Once loosened, the trinocular head lifts straight off.
This head provides a true 100/100 light split, meaning:
- 100% of the light goes to the eyepieces
- 100% of the light goes to the camera port
This allows simultaneous viewing through the eyepieces and camera without sacrificing brightness.
Camera Adapter
The microscope includes a Nikon LVTV camera adapter.
Inside the adapter is a removable insert that determines the camera configuration. In this case, the insert is labeled 7, which is typically used for 2/3″ camera sensors.
The insert can be removed and swapped depending on the camera system being used.
Once the insert is installed, the camera adapter can be locked into the trinocular port.
Eyepieces and Diopter Adjustment
The microscope includes two Nikon CFI eyepieces, each with:
- 10× magnification
- 22 mm field of view
- Diopter adjustment
The small notch mark on the eyepiece indicates the zero position, which is the recommended starting point.
When both eyepieces are aligned at zero, they provide a neutral baseline for users with normal vision. From there, each user can rotate the eyepieces slightly to match their individual eyesight.
Nikon eyepieces include alignment notches that click into place, allowing easy adjustment with one hand.
Analyzer and Polarizer
This microscope includes both an analyzer and a polarizer, which are useful for materials analysis.
The analyzer slides into this slot and has two click-stop positions:
- Inserted
- Removed
The polarizer also slides into position and can be rotated, allowing the user to adjust polarization angles for improved contrast.
If a DIC (Differential Interference Contrast) system is added later, these components would be used together to properly align and cross the polarizing elements.
Even without DIC, the rotatable polarizer and analyzer combination can produce excellent contrast for materials inspection.
Illumination and Filters
At the rear of the microscope is the lamp housing, which uses a 12V 50W halogen bulb.
The illumination system also includes filter controls, allowing users to insert different filters into the optical path.
These include:
- Neutral density filters to reduce brightness
- Daylight blue filters to adjust color temperature
By switching these filters in and out, users can fine-tune contrast, brightness, and color balance depending on their application.
Mechanical Stage
The microscope features a large two-axis mechanical stage designed for precise specimen movement.
The stage has recently been serviced and lubricated, so movement is extremely smooth.
Objectives and Nosepiece
Before removing the objectives or nosepiece, always lower the stage to prevent accidental contact with the lenses.
The nosepiece can be removed by:
- Inserting the 2 mm Allen wrench into the access hole.
- Holding the nosepiece while loosening the screw.
- Sliding the nosepiece downward to remove it.
This is a brightfield/darkfield nosepiece equipped with Nikon TU Plan Fluor Epi objectives.
The objective set includes:
- 5×
- 10×
- 20×
- 50×
Each objective is marked with a “D”, indicating it supports both brightfield and darkfield illumination.
This is very important—darkfield imaging requires darkfield-compatible objectives. Without them, the darkfield system will not function correctly.
Brightfield and Darkfield Illumination
The LV150 uses a reflected-light illumination system, meaning light travels from the lamp housing through the microscope and is reflected off the specimen.
This is ideal for opaque materials such as metals and industrial samples.
The illumination selector allows you to switch between:
- Brightfield mode (fully inserted)
- Darkfield mode (fully extended)
Focus Controls and Torque Adjustment
The microscope includes both coarse and fine focus controls.
There is also a torque adjustment knob, which allows you to control the resistance of the focus mechanism.
If the torque is set too low, the stage may begin to drift downward on its own, especially at higher magnifications like 20× or 50×.
Tightening the torque knob prevents this drift and stabilizes the focus.
Removing the Illuminator Assembly
When shipping the microscope, we remove both:
- The trinocular head
- The illumination column
The illumination column is secured by three bolts located at the top of the microscope frame.
Removing these bolts allows the entire illuminator assembly to lift off for safer transport.
Power and Light Controls
The main power switch is located at the back of the microscope.
Once the microscope is powered on, the rheostat knob controls the brightness of the illumination.
The power indicator light changes color:
- Orange when the microscope is off
- Green when the microscope is on
Changing the Bulb
Before replacing the bulb, always turn off and unplug the microscope.
To change the bulb:
- Remove the lamp housing cover using the Allen wrench.
- Open the lamp housing.
- Locate the 12V 50W halogen bulb.
- Press down the two retaining clips and lift the bulb out.
When installing a new bulb:
- Do not touch the glass with your fingers
- Use a tissue, wrapper, or lint-free wipe
Insert the bulb, release the retaining clips, and reassemble the lamp housing.
Final Thoughts
The Nikon LV150 is an outstanding materials microscope. It’s extremely versatile, easy to use, and capable of high-quality brightfield and darkfield imaging for industrial and materials science applications.
Contact Information
If you have questions about this microscope or any other microscopes we offer, feel free to contact us.
Phone: 919-775-5596
Website: microscopemarketplace.com
Email:
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