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General Category => Tips, Tricks, Techniques & Tools => Topic started by: mobilgas on March 26, 2010, 04:35:07 PM

Title: Microscope cover glass how it cut it??
Post by: mobilgas on March 26, 2010, 04:35:07 PM
Question Guy's,   bought some microscope glass today........ i was wondering how to cut it? and what to use....plain old glass cutter.   Craig
Title: Re: Microscope cover glass how it cut it??
Post by: Frederic Testard on March 26, 2010, 05:13:32 PM
 I have used a carbide scriber successfully. You scribe, you break along the line. Sometime, elsewhere... >:(
Title: Re: Microscope cover glass how it cut it??
Post by: lab-dad on March 26, 2010, 05:19:40 PM
The "regular" one wont work.
Like Fredric said you need a carbide scriber.
I got one from Clover House, I am sure you should be able to locate one.
May be one of the fellows "over there" can point you to a supplier?

BTW;
It takes very little pressure to scribe the glass.
I thought it would be difficult but it is very easy.
-Marty
Title: Re: Microscope cover glass how it cut it??
Post by: mobilgas on March 26, 2010, 06:53:20 PM
Marty & Frederic...  thanks for the info.... ;D ;D           Craig
Title: Re: Microscope cover glass how it cut it??
Post by: marc_reusser on March 26, 2010, 06:59:49 PM
I use the diamond tipped scriber from Micro-Mark....I have even used it to gut circles out of that stuff for headlights and gauge covers.


Marc
Title: Re: Microscope cover glass how it cut it??
Post by: james_coldicott on March 27, 2010, 04:26:07 AM
Hi Guys,

for those in the UK you can get a TCT scriber for £1.60 from Toolstation- link below. I've struggled with cutting microscope cover slides for years but these work great.

Happy glazing!

James

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Hand+Tools/Carpenters+Tools/TCT+Scriber+Glass+Cutter/d10/sd150/p46004 (http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Hand+Tools/Carpenters+Tools/TCT+Scriber+Glass+Cutter/d10/sd150/p46004)
Title: Re: Microscope cover glass how it cut it??
Post by: RoughboyModelworks on March 27, 2010, 08:43:59 AM
Craig:

The guys are right, a carbide or diamond tip scriber will work. Very little but consistent pressure is needed. In combination with a drafting circle template you can cut circles. That's how I cut headlight lenses, gauge faces & so on.

To hold the glass for cutting square or rectangular panes, I machined a scrap piece of 1/2" aluminum plate and squared all edges to each other. Then milled a recess in the top surface of the plate, square to the edges, large enough to hold the stock pieces of cover glass and just deep enough to allow the top surface of the glass to be flush with the top surface of the block, about .0065" for the stock I use. Then using the block in combination with a machinist's square it's a relatively simple matter to cut panes to size with the edges square to each other.

Paul
Title: Re: Microscope cover glass how it cut it??
Post by: JohnP on March 28, 2010, 06:48:34 PM
At one job I had as a research technician the eclectic scientist had a tip when cutting some thin glass. Drip a bit of water in the scribe line (or isopropyl) and it will cleave even better. Give it a try, it works.
Title: Re: Microscope cover glass how it cut it??
Post by: Chuck Doan on March 29, 2010, 12:16:11 PM
Work on a clean dark surface where tiny glass fragments will be easy to see. I always get some.
Title: Re: Microscope cover glass how it cut it??
Post by: mobilgas on March 29, 2010, 03:19:31 PM
Good tip's guy's.... ;D ;)   Thanks    Craig
Title: Re: Microscope cover glass how it cut it??
Post by: Tom Neeson on March 29, 2010, 06:05:21 PM
And get yourself one of these little suction cup jobbers from Micro Mark too. Works great!

http://www.micromark.com/MODEL-PAL-VACUUM-PICKUP-TOOL,7851.html

Tom