Microscope Stages

Microscopy stages, specially in biological microscopes, are designed to allow optics to be positioned above, and below the sample. They would allow a right handed or left handed user to position the sample in either X or Y direction. The other hand usually controls the focusing or Z stage (below, center). There are stages designed for stereo microscopy (below) that are designed to position a solid sample at various angles or position the sample in X-Y plane. There are also stages for mineralogical microscopy (below, right) which offer fully graduated angular positioning.

A swivel stage for inspecting a sample (in this case, a gear) under a stereo microscope is the most effective method of sample evaluation.

Sample stage in Olympus BH2 allows close positioning of illumination condenser from below, as well as the microscope objective from above.

Leitz Precision Tilt Stage for Mineralogical Microscopy

Leitz worm gear mechanism for micro focusing translation