Adapters for Zeiss Axioskop and Examiner Microscopes

Overview
Microscope Dovetails
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Zeiss Axioskop and Examiner Ports

Zeiss Axio Observer Microscope

Features

Extends Versatility of Thorlabs' Construction Systems to Zeiss Axioskop and Examiner Microscopes
Provides Compatibility with SM1 Lens Tubes, SM2 Lens Tubes, and 30 mm and 60 mm Cage Systems
Designed for Lamphouse, Trinocular, Eyepiece, and Condenser Ports
Contact Tech Support about Custom Adapters, Including for Other Microscopes

Lamphouse Port Adapters
These adapters provide compatibility between Zeiss Axioskop and Examiner microscope lamphouse ports and our SM1 (Ø1") lens tubes, 30 mm cage assemblies, or SM2 (Ø2") lens tubes.

Trinocular Adapters
The LCPZ2 adapter is designed for the trinocular port of a Zeiss Axioskop microscope, providing a secure connection for custom widefield viewing and image detection setups.

The SM2Z1 adapter replaces the lens element on an eyepiece of the trinoculars, allowing custom image detection or viewing setups to be attached to the microscope.

Condenser Adapter
The LCPZ1 adapter connects to the condenser holder of a Zeiss Axioskop microscope, allowing the attachment of DIY setups that condition incoming light for trans-illumination.

Note: Thorlabs does not guarantee compatibility with other industry-standard microscopes not mentioned on this wepage.

Adapters for Industry Standard Microscopes
Olympus BX and IX
Nikon Eclipse Ti (Inverted)
Upright Nikon Eclipse
Leica DMI
Zeiss Axioskop and Examiner

Thorlabs Dovetail Reference^a
Type	Shape	Outer Dimension	Angle
95 mm	Linear	95 mm	45°
D1N	Circular	Ø2.018"	60°
D2N^b	Circular	Ø1.50"	90°
D2NB^b	Circular	Ø1.50"	90°
D3N	Circular	Ø45 mm	70°
D5N	Circular	Ø1.58"	90°
D6N	Circular	Ø1.90"	90°
D7N	Circular	Ø2.05"	90°
D1T	Circular	Ø1.50"	60°
D3T	Circular	Ø1.65"	90°
D1Y	Circular	Ø107 mm	60°
D2Y	Circular	Ø2.32"	50°
D3Y	Circular	Ø1.75"	90°
D4Y	Circular	Ø56 mm	60°
D5Y	Circular	Ø46 mm	60°
D6Y	Circular	Ø41.9 mm	45°
D1Z	Circular	Ø54 mm	60°
D2Z	Circular	Ø57 mm	60°
D3Z	Circular	Ø54 mm	45°

These dovetail designations are specific to Thorlabs products and are not used by other microscope manufacturers.
D2N and D2NB dovetails have the same outer diameter and angle, as defined by the drawings below. The D2N designation does not specify a height. The D2NB designation specifies a dovetail height of 0.40" (10.2 mm).

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This photo shows the male D1N dovetail on the trinoculars next to the female D1N dovetail on the epi-illumination arm.

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This photo shows the male 95 mm dovetail on the microscope body and the female 95 mm dovetail on the CSA1002 Fixed Arm.

Introduction to Microscope Dovetails

Dovetails are used for mechanical mating and optical port alignment of microscope components. Components are connected by inserting one dovetail into another, then tightening one or more locking setscrews on the female dovetail. Dovetails come in two shapes: linear and circular. Linear dovetails allow the mating components to slide before being locked down, providing flexible positioning options while limiting unneeded degrees of freedom. Circular dovetails align optical ports on different components, maintaining a single optical axis with minimal user intervention.

Thorlabs manufactures many components which use dovetails to mate with our own components or those of other manufacturers. To make it easier to identify dovetail compatibility, we have developed a set of dovetail designations. The naming convention of these designations is used only by Thorlabs and not other microscope manufacturers. The table to the right lists all the dovetails Thorlabs makes, along with their key dimensions.

In the case of Thorlabs’ Cerna^® microscopes, different dovetail types are used on different sections of the microscope to ensure that only compatible components can be mated. For example, our WFA2002 Epi-Illuminator Module has a male D1N dovetail that mates with the female D1N dovetail on the microscope body's epi-illumination arm, while the CSS2001 XY Microscopy Stage has a female D1Y dovetail that mates with the male D1Y dovetail on the CSA1051 Mounting Arm.

To learn which dovetail type(s) are on a particular component, consult its mechanical drawing, available by clicking on the red Docs icon () below. For adapters with a female dovetail, the drawing also indicates the size of the hex key needed for the locking setscrew(s). It is important to note that mechanical compatibility does not ensure optical compatibility. Information on optical compatibility is available from Thorlabs' web presentations.

For customers interested in machining their own dovetails, the table to the right gives the outer diameter and angle (as defined by the drawings below) of each Thorlabs dovetail designation. However, the dovetail's height must be determined by the user, and for circular dovetails, the user must also determine the inner diameter and bore diameter. These quantities can vary for dovetails of the same type. One can use the intended mating part to verify compatibility.

In order to reduce wear and simplify connections, dovetails are often machined with chamfers, recesses, and other mechanical features. Some examples of these variations are shown by the drawings below.

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Two examples of how circular male dovetails can be manufactured.

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Two examples of how circular female dovetails can be manufactured.

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Lamphouse Port Adapters for Zeiss Axioskop and Examiner Microscopes

These adapters allow a collimated trans-illumination source to be attached to the lamphouse port of a Zeiss Axioskop or Examiner microscope. For instance, the LED4A4 and SM2A16 are directly compatible with Thorlabs' Solis™ LEDs. Each adapter uses a male D3Z dovetail to connect to the port. They are offered with either black or silver anodization to match the surface finish of various devices, such as our 4-Wavelength LED Source. See the table below for adapter compatibility with Thorlabs’ SM thread and cage system standards.

Item #	SM1A23	SM2A10	LED4A4	SM2A16
Click Image to Enlarge
Microscope Connection	Male D3Z Dovetail^a
SM Threading	Internal SM1 (1.035"-40)	Internal SM2 (2.035"-40)	External SM2 (2.035"-40)	External SM2 (2.035"-40)
Cage Compatibility	30 mm Cage (4-40 Through Tap, 4 Places)	-	-	-
Anodization	Black	Black	Silver	Black

This dovetail designation is specific to Thorlabs products; see the Microscope Dovetails tab for details.

Trinocular Port Adapter for Zeiss Axioskop Microscopes

Item #	LCPZ2
Click Image to Enlarge
Microscope Connection	Male D2Z Dovetail^a
SM Threading	Internal SM2 (2.035"-40)
Cage Compatibility	60 mm Cage (Ø6 mm Bore, 4 Places)

This dovetail designation is specific to Thorlabs products; see the Microscope Dovetails tab for details.

SM2Z2 Adapter Attached to Zeiss Axio Observer Trinocular Port

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SM2Z1 Adapter Attached to Exposed Trinocular Port

The LCPZ2 Trinocular Port Adapter allows custom widefield viewing setups to be attached to a Zeiss Axioskop microscope. This adapter utilizes a male D2Z dovetail adapter to connect to the trinocular port of the microscope; see the Microscope Dovetails tab for details. This adapter can only be attached by first removing the microscope's trinoculars (see image to the right).

This adapter features internal SM2 threading for Ø2" lens tubes; one SM2RR retaining ring is included to secure a Ø2" flat optic up to 0.3" (7.6 mm) thick against the internal lip of the adapter. The adapter lip limits the clear aperture to Ø1.58". Through holes with side-located locking 8-32 setscrews (5/64" [2 mm] hex) can be used to attach Ø6 mm cage rods for 60 mm cage systems.

Eyepiece Port Adapter for Zeiss Axioskop and Examiner Microscopes

Item #	SM2Z1
Click Image to Enlarge
Microscope Connection	Ø1.18" Eyepiece Tube
SM Threading	Internal SM1 (1.035"-40) External SM2 (2.035"-40)
Cage Compatibility	30 mm Cage (4-40 Through Tap, 4 Places)

SM2N2 Adapter Attached to Trinocular Eyepieces

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Two SM2Z1 adapters replace the lens elements of the trinocular eyepieces.

The SM2Z1 Eyepiece Port Adapter allows custom-built optical detection systems to attach to the eyepieces on the trinoculars of a Zeiss Axioskop or Examiner Microscope. This adapter replaces the lens element on the eyepiece that sets the image plane focus at the the back of the eyes (see image to the right). Because of the drop-in nature of the adapter, take care the attached system does not overbalance the 40 g eyepiece adapter when it is inside the trinoculars.

This adapter features 1.33" (33.7 mm) of internal SM1 threading for Ø1" lens tubes or optics, external SM2 threading for Ø2" lens tubes, and 4-40 tapped through holes on 30 mm centers for compatibility with a 30 mm cage system. The adapter includes two 0.08” thick SM1RR retaining rings to secure an optic inside the adapter.

Condenser Port Adapter for Zeiss Axioskop Microscopes

Item #	LCPZ1
Click Image to Enlarge
Microscope Connection	Male D1Z Dovetail^a
SM Threading	Internal SM2 (2.035"-40)
Cage Compatibility	60 mm Cage (Ø6 mm Bore, 4 Places)

This dovetail designation is specific to Thorlabs products; see the Microscope Dovetails tab for details.

SM2Z1 Adapter attached to Zeiss Axio Condenser

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SM2Z1 Adapter Attached to Condenser Holder of Zeiss Axio Observer

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One side of the LCPZ1 adapter has internal SM2 threads.

The LCPZ1 Condenser Port Adapter allows custom condenser configurations to be attached to a Zeiss Axioskop microscope. The adapter utilizes a male D1Z dovetail to connect to the condenser holder of the microscope; see the Microscope Dovetails tab for details.

This adapter features internal SM2 threads for Ø2" lens tubes, achromatic doublets, or other optics; one SM2RR retaining ring is included to secure a Ø2" flat optic up to 0.3" (7.6 mm) thick against the internal lip of the adapter, such as a filter or iris. The adapter lip limits the clear aperture to Ø1.58". Through holes with side-located locking 8-32 setscrews (5/64" [2 mm] hex) can be used to attach Ø6 mm cage rods for 60 mm cage systems.

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