Olympus BX51 Fluorescence Setup
Read the Edited Video Transcript for ‘Olympus BX51 Fluorescence Setup’
Hey, this is Chad with Munday Scientific, and today we’re going to talk about the Olympus BX-51 fluorescent microscope.
This particular unit is going out to a customer who first reached out after seeing our videos. She loved them, bought a couple of scopes from us already, and now she’s getting this one. I’ll walk you through the features of the scope and show you how to assemble and maintain it.
Essential Tool
The most important tool for these BX scopes is a 3 mm Allen wrench. It’s basically the tool that does everything.
- Right underneath the head is where you use it to remove or attach the head.
- The microscope will arrive fully disassembled, so you’ll need this tool during setup.
The head comes with two 10x eyepieces. We’ll include rubber eye guards to make them more comfortable. On the diopter tube, make sure the “0” lines up with the white dot. Bring your specimen into focus, and if you need correction for your eyesight, you can adjust it by rotating the diopter.
Fluorescent Filter Cubes
If you need to change the fluorescent filter cubes:
- Use the same 3 mm Allen wrench.
- Loosen the screw, slide in the filter cube, and then tighten it back down.
We also have a separate video that shows this process in detail.
The shutter is located nearby and simply opens and closes to block or allow light.
Nosepiece and Stage
This scope has a five-position nosepiece with fluoride objectives.
- To remove or replace objectives, lower the stage first.
- The stage is a right-handed coaxial control stage with a slide holder for smooth movement.
The condenser and substage assembly can also be removed by lowering the condenser. When the scope arrives, a piece of foam will be underneath it for protection—remove the foam before use.
The field diaphragm is included for setting up Köhler illumination.
Light Controls and Filters
The rheostat on the base controls the light. Neutral density filters are also built in to reduce light intensity when needed.
This scope uses a 12V, 100W halogen power supply, which can be very bright. The neutral density filters are helpful during brightfield work to improve contrast.
Changing the Halogen Bulb
The lamp house can be removed with the Allen wrench:
- Turn the locking screw counterclockwise.
- Disconnect the plug and pull it straight out.
- Loosen the flange screw holding the lamp house in place.
- Lift it off.
Inside, you’ll find the 12V, 100W Osram halogen bulb. To change it:
- Loosen the retaining screw.
- Press the prongs down and pull out the bulb.
- Insert the new bulb, being careful not to touch the glass with bare hands (use gloves or a Kimwipe).
- Tighten the retaining screw, reinstall the lamp house, and reconnect the plug.
We have a full tutorial video showing this process and explaining which bulbs are compatible.
Mercury Power Supply and Bulb
This microscope also comes with a 12V, 100W mercury power supply for fluorescence work.
- The power supply has a collector lens, which can be rotated to align the bulb filaments and spread the illumination evenly.
- These bulbs must be carefully aligned; instructions are printed on the power supply and we’ll include more details in the video description.
To change the mercury bulb:
- Ensure the lamp house is unplugged, off, and completely cooled.
- Loosen the two screws on the lamp housing.
- Lift the cover to access the bulb.
- Loosen the two retaining screws, replace the bulb, and tighten everything back down.
Alignment is done using the adjustment screws. You want to bring the real and mirror images of the filament nearly on top of each other, with a slight offset.
Important usage notes:
- Let the lamp warm up for at least 15 minutes after ignition to reach full brightness.
- Always let it burn for at least 15 minutes before turning it off.
- Wait 3 minutes before restarting after shutdown.
- If you’re stepping away briefly (e.g., for lunch), leave the lamp on and use the shutter instead of powering down.
Fluorescent Illuminator Assembly
Sometimes during shipping—especially for overseas orders—we remove the fluorescent illuminator for safety.
To reinstall it:
- Use a 4 mm Allen wrench (the 3 mm tool doesn’t work here).
- Remove the white caps that cover the screws.
- Loosen the screws while holding the illuminator securely with both hands.
- When reinstalling, align the triangular notch and push the illuminator back and to the left.
- Tighten the screws gradually in a crisscross pattern (like tightening the lugs on a car tire).
Olympus designed this so alignment is very close when done properly, thanks to that triangular preset notch.
Closing Notes
That covers the basics of the Olympus BX-51 fluorescent microscope. The same principles apply to other models like the BX-41, BX-43, and BX-53.
If you have any questions about this scope or others we sell or service:
To purchase this scope, parts, or accessories, visit microscopemarketplace.com.
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