[Histonet] AO Blade holder

[Swain, Frances L]

Hi David:   When I used an AO with a disposable blade holder.  I had to test a blank paraffin block to get the blade the right tightness.  There was no set tension that I can remember.  What I would do it tighten the blade holder until the disposable blade was held securely.  Test the knife with the blank block.  If the blade was too tight I would loosen the lever and back the screws off 1/4 turn.  Tighten it back up and test it again.  I would continue doing this until I got the right tension.  It really sounds complicated but it really isn't  just make sure that the springs are good and the lever is clean.  Once you get it set you are good to go until you clean your holder and then you have to go through the procedure again.   This is the best that I can remember.

Frances L. Swain HT(ASCP) A. A. S.
Special Procedures Technician
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Center for Orthopaedic Research
Barton Research Building 2R28
4301 West Markham Street
Little Rock AR 72205
(501) 686-8739 PHONE
(501) 686-8987 FAX
swainfrancesl <@t> uams.edu email

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of David Waugh
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 2:08 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] AO Blade holder



> I have a question regarding a AO disposable blade holder (Cat# 824).  
> This link should show a picture of a similar one www.usedmicroscopes.com/images/AO820Microtome.jpg
>
> The blade is tightened with a lever on the right that rotates a d- 
> shaped cam. Two screws are used the set the tension that the cam  
> places on the blade, once set, the cam will tighten and loosen the  
> blade. The back of the holder is concave, and the front part convex,  
> so that when tightened, the blade will bow. I have not been able to  
> find any documentation on how tight the blade should be. It sounds  
> like most holders have flat surfaces that clamp the blade, which I  
> would think would have very different tightness requirements. Any  
> ideas from someone who uses this type of holder on how the two  
> screws should be set? Thanks, David
>
> Kent State University
> Department of Geology
> Kent, Ohio 44242
> dwaugh <@t> kent.edu
>


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