CONTROLLED COPY
Centre for Biological Engineering
Standard Operating Procedure
SOP194
Title: Use and maintenance of Leica RM2125 RTS rotary microtome.
Location:
H27
Version 001
Effective Date: 24.05.2021
Review 24.05.2023
Written by: Sotiria Toumpaniari
Reviewed by:
Approved by: C.Kavanagh
Page 6 of 11
5.3.6. Cutting (trimming) the specimen
5.3.6.1.
Coarse feed wheel (15)
The coarse feed serves for a fast horizontal forwards movement of the specimen – towards the
knife – and backwards – away from the knife.
The instrument can be used optionally with either clockwise rotation or counterclockwise
rotation for the coarse feed wheel (
15
).
To do so, use an Allen key with handle, No. 4 (included in the delivery package) to turn the
screw as shown in the detail picture.
1.
Red dot at
3 o'clock
: turning the coarse feed wheel c
ounterclockwise
(see curved arrow) means
the specimen advances.
Turning the coarse feed wheel
clockwise
means the specimen retracts (away from the knife).
2.
Red dot at
12 o'clock
: turning the coarse feed wheel
clockwise
(see curved arrow) means the
specimen advances.
Turning the coarse feed wheel
counterclockwise
means the specimen retracts (away from the
knife).
Note:
When the rear- or front-end position is reached, the coarse feed wheel will be difficult to rotate (if you
continue turning it at this point anyway, the torque limitation will be exceeded – this is not a malfunction!).
In the front-end position, no more feed motion takes place.
5.3.6.2.
Trimming the specimen with the coarse feed
1. Release the handwheel lock. To do so, pull the handle of the handwheel out to the right and use
the lever (19) to release the brake.
Brake engaged
Brake released
2. Bring the specimen closer to the knife by rotating the coarse feed wheel and trim it by
simultaneously rotating the handwheel (18) until the desired specimen plane is reached.
