Instruction manual

Thermo Scientific Rotary Microtome Microm HM 340 E

Microm International GmbH

part of Thermo Fisher Scientific

Otto-Hahn-Str. 1A

69190 Walldorf / Germany

387831 - English

2 INTRODUCTION

2-1 DESCRIPTION ROTARY MICROTOME HM 340 E

The Rotary Microtome HM 340 E from Thermo Fisher Scientific Microm International GmbH is a highly

efficient multi-purpose microtome which can be used for paraffin, hard- and semithin-sectioning techniques in

biology, medicine, industry and research.

The HM 340 E sets new ergonomical standards concerning operation and comfort. The instrument is

equipped with a section waste tray with integrated arm rest, which is built around and under the knife carrier

for direct collection of section waste.

This model can be equipped with all specimen clamps and knife carriers of the Rotary Microtome series. In

addition, the stereomicroscope or the large field magnifier can be adapted.

The HM 340 E will cut sections in a range from 0,5 µm up to 100 µm. For the protection of knife and

specimen, the instrument retracts the specimen at the end of the cut. If desired, the function <retraction> can

be turned off.

The motorized coarse feed system allows the continuous specimen forward and backward travel with three

different speed settings. This way, specimen and knife edge distance can be adjusted quickly.

A trimming function with defined steps from 5 µm to 500 µm permits the fine adjustment up to the first cuts

and results in larger section thicknesses when trimming.

The operating panel is installed on the left side of the microtome. It can be removed and used separately.

The selected section thickness, trimming thickness, section counter, sum of section thicknesses, remaining

travel to the front end position as well as the current date and time are indicated on the display of the

operating panel.

The knife carriers are designed so the knives can be easily clamped in place and adjusted.

In addition, the instrument is equipped with a hand wheel brake that locks in any position.

The manual rotary movement of the hand wheel of the Rotary Microtome HM 340 E is converted into a

vertical movement of the cylinder head which carries the specimen holder.

Sectioning is carried out by knives or blades, which must be adjusted and fixed on the knife carrier.

With the downward movement of the specimen, sectioning is carried out (cutting movement).

The upward return travel of the specimen is carried out by turning the hand wheel further in clockwise

direction. During this return travel, the specimen is drawn back to protect knife and specimen. If desired, the

function <retraction> can be turned off. The selected section thickness is delivered at the upper reversal

point of the return travel.

The number of the sections made can be shown on the section counter on the display. After each downward

movement of the specimen holder, the number on the section counter increases by 1. The sum of the

sections carried out can also be seen on the display. For this, trimming values and sectioning values are

added up. Section counter and sum of section thicknesses can be reset to zero at any time by means of the

RESET-button.

Moreover, the remaining travel to the front end position can also be shown on the display. The remaining

travel, which is still available for sectioning, is shown in microns. If the specimen holder is in the back end

position, the display shows 28 000 µm. This number decreases, the further the specimen holder is moved

towards the front.

The fast freezing unit K-34 allows frozen sectioning with the specimen temperature as low as -45°C.