FPPS 111 WOOD AND FIBER ANATOMY

MICROMETER

The quantitative measurement of the diameter and other fiber characteristics that
are important for various purposes. Microscopic measurements are accomplished with a
small scale mounted on the Eyepiece (Eyepiece micrometer).

Other types of micrometer:

1.) Glass disk - the simplest type of eyepiece micrometer consist of a glass disk
carrying a fine ruled scale placed at the diaphragm of the eyepiece. Since
both image and micrometer scale will be simultaneously in focus and
similarly magnified, the micrometer scale appears superimposed on the
image so that the dimension of the image can be measured.

2. Filar micrometer – the micrometer is permanently attached to the eyepiece.

With this type, fractions of scale divisions can be read by means of a
traveling crossline by a fine screw micrometer. Reading can be as accurate
as 1/100 of a scale division.

3. Screw drum micrometer/ screw micrometer eyepiece - using this type, first
one scale line is made to coincide with one side of the measured feature.
The micrometer reading using the screw drum is taken, then the scale line
nearest the other edge is moved by the micrometer screw until it coincides
with the other side of the feature. The screw drum reading is again read and
the difference between micrometer readings will give the fraction of the unit
scale.

4. Image Shearing eyepiece – inside the eyepiece tubes, there are system of
lenses, a prism, mirrors, beam splitter. Tow image can be viewed, green and
red coming from the same features. These should be adjusted in such a way
that they are side by sided with one another. The rotation of the screw drum
is then recorded.

5. Projection - Known magnification

6. By phototography

Types of eyepiece micrometer or graticules:

1. - for linear measurements of cells, number of cells

per unit distance or length.
 2. - for frequency measurement.

3. - for frequency measurements.

- known are of the particular circle.

4. - for angular measurements

- greater angle – less wettable
- smaller angle – more wettable
- wettability is the ease or difficulty in
glueing the piece.

5. - random dots, 25 dots

- for tissue percentage determination

MICROSCOPE CALIBRATION

The eyepiece micrometer, in itself cannot be used for direct measurements for it
measures the enlarge image of the specimen and not the specimen itself. It is therefore
essential to calibrate first the micrometer for absolute measurements before using. To
do this, tow items are needed besides the microscope. First, the eyepiece of ocular must
be fitted with an eyepiece micrometer or scale. If it is a binocular microscope,
mounting the eyepiece scale in one eyepiece will suffice. Second, a stage micrometer
must be available as the known or standard scale of dimension. This is in the form of a
microscope slide engraved or etched with a scale that is normally 2 mm in length and
divided into 1/100 mm segments. Thus the space between lines is 10 micrometers.

Calibration is simply determining the value or indicated dimension between the

graduations on the eyepiece micrometer for each objected lens on the microscope. It is
carried out by making one division line of the eyepiece coincide accurately with a
division line of the stage micrometer. The number of divisions of the two scales that
cover each other is counted and if no other set of lines coincides, the part of the last
division of eight micrometer is estimated as accurately as possible. Taking the value of
the ocular micrometer (Om) that directly overlapped with the value of the stage
micrometer (Sm), the calibration factor (CF) can be derived. This factor is actually a
measure of one small division in the micrometer. In equation form, CF is basically:

CF = Sm/Om x 10 μ

Eyepiece micrometer

0 1 2 3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Stage micrometer

CF = 5.5mm/22mm x 10 μ

= 2.5 μ