This is a Leica DM LM/P is a research-grade, highly modular system microscope. This specific instrument has been structurally modified and customized to act as the optical interface for a Renishaw Raman Spectroscopy System (inVia).

This microscope can operate as a  dual-light configuration (incident/transmitted) and variable analyzer, the rig is fully optimized for Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) and Polarized Raman Spectroscopy, allowing the user to study crystalline orientation, birefringence, and chemical phase composition.

My goal was to find a incident light attachment to replace the Raman attachment. This way I would have an all-in one microscope.  At the moment, the microscope works well in transmittance mode but would need help operating in incident mode.

Component List

1. Stand, Stage & Chassis

• Microscope Mainframe: Leica DM LM/P chassis (Type DM LM/P / 11588800)
• Focus Mechanism: Integrated coarse and fine focus knobs ambidextrous.
• Mechanical Stage: Rectangular X/Y mechanical specimen stage equipped with a adjustable, spring-loaded specimen holder clip for precision sample translation.
• Main Controls: Integrated base toggle switches (including primary power) and variable brightness rheostat for illumination control. Can switch between incident and trans light source easily.

2. Renishaw Raman Coupling Hardware

• Custom Beam-Steering Housing: The orange and white custom enclosure bridging the microscope stand and the viewing head. Contains the internal mirror/beamsplitter logic to inject laser lines and separate Raman scatter.
• Renishaw Video Alignment Camera: A digital monitoring module with a rear-facing USB/Video interface plate, used for live on-screen sample targeting. The software is requirement to operate.

3. Optical Train & Viewing Elements

• Binocular Viewing Head
• Eyepieces: Twin Leica focusing eyepieces
• Objective Nosepiece: revolving nosepiece turret.
• Microscope Objectives:
• Leica N PLAN 5x / 0.12 - Low-power macro exploration objective.
• Leica N PLAN EPI 20x / 0.40 - Mid-power objective optimized for un-covered incident light material surfaces.
• Leica N PLAN 50x / 0.75 - High-power, high-numerical-aperture objective utilized to condense the laser excitation beam to a sub-micron point.

4. Polarization & Contrast Modules

• Leica 180° Rotatable Analyzer Slider: A linear analyzer slider featuring a fine mechanical graduation scale and manual locking thumb screw. Used to filter cross-polarization orientations for both optical contrast and polarized Raman analytics.

5. Illumination Paths

• Reflected Light (EPI) Axis: This is through the Raman module and I haven’t been using it.
• Transmitted Light (Transmittance) Port: Bottom-mounted illumination port located at the rear base of the microscope frame, designed to connect a 12V 100W halogen lamp housing for transparent sample viewing.

Known issues:
There are signs of wear on the housing (see photos).
The transmittance light housing frame has broken (see photo). I have been using it by just placing it in the right position.

Packaging:
To safely transport, the microscope was disassembled into 6 boxes. All boxes are compiled into one main box for shipping all together:
Main box: Contains the microscope stand (braced and foamed) and the other 5 boxes.
Box 1: Microscope head and eyepieces.
Box 2: Raman attachment.
Box 3: Stage.
Box 4: Light housing
Box 5: Light lens, polarizer, cable, additional microscope feet.