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
52
4-2 HOW TO AVOID MALFUNCTIONS
Specimen preparation:
• When preparing specimens, be sure that a
suitable embedding medium, fixation,
dehydration and infiltration time are chosen.
Specimen temperature:
• Sectioning is carried out at ambient
temperature (excluding frozen sections).
• If the temperature is too high, the paraffin
softens. Therefore, avoid heating paraffin
specimens by direct exposure to sunlight or
other near sources of heat.
Tightening the clamping screws:
• Tighten all clamping screws and clamping
levers on the knife carrier, specimen holder
and specimen orientation.
Selection of the knife:
• Carefully select the required knife material and
profile.
Adjustment of the knife:
• Take care to adjust the proper clearance angle
of the knife: 5 - 7° for glass knives. For
diamond knives ask the knife manufacturer.
• Select a clearance angle adjustment of 5 - 15°
according to the facet angle. Typically, adjust
an angle of 10 - 12 °.
• Take care to adjust knife height.
Cutting speed:
Take care to select proper cutting speed.
• General Rule: The harder the material, the
slower the cutting speed!
Trimming:
• Take care in bringing knife and specimen
together.