Upgrade Your Olympus BX40 with a 6 or 7 Place Nosepiece: Step-by-Step Guide

At Munday Scientific and Microscope Marketplace, we’re all about helping you get the most out of your microscope. The Olympus BX40 is a rock-solid platform, but one of the best upgrades you can make is switching from the standard 5-position fixed nosepiece to a 6 or 7-position dovetail-style nosepiece. More positions mean more flexibility—so you can load all the objectives you need for your workflow.

This small modification gives you room for added magnifications, phase objectives, or other specialty lenses. Plus, dovetail-style nosepieces are easier to remove, maintain, and clean.

We’ve created a step-by-step video tutorial to walk you through the process, and here’s the breakdown below.

🔧 What You’ll Need:

• A 6- or 7-place dovetail nosepiece

• The BX40 dovetail adapter
  👉 Buy the adapter here

• Basic tools (hex key or screwdriver depending on your setup)

🛠 Step-by-Step Upgrade Instructions:

1. Lower the Stage

Start by lowering the stage completely to avoid bumping your objectives or damaging your sample.

2. Remove the Head and Eyepieces

Carefully lift off the binocular head and set aside the eyepieces in a safe place. This will give you full access to the nosepiece and body.

3. Remove Objectives from the Old Nosepiece

Unscrew and set aside your current objectives. Place them safely on a lens-clean cloth or padded surface to avoid scratching or contamination.

4. Unbolt the Old Nosepiece

Using the appropriate tool, unscrew the mounting bolts and remove the fixed 5-place nosepiece from the BX40 frame.

5. Add the Dovetail Adapter

Install the BX40 dovetail adapter, aligning the holes correctly and securing it tightly. This adapter converts the frame to accept dovetail-style nosepieces.

6. Slide in the New Nosepiece

Carefully insert the 6 or 7-place dovetail nosepiece into the adapter. It should click or slide into place snugly. Double-check that it’s locked and secure.

7. Screw on Your Objectives

Install your objectives in the new nosepiece, starting with lower magnifications and working up. Be sure to space them correctly to avoid cross-threading or overtightening.

8. Reinstall the Head and Eyepieces

Place the binocular head back on the frame and reinstall your eyepieces.

9. Bring Your Specimen into Focus and Test

Load a slide, adjust the focus, and rotate through each objective to ensure everything is working smoothly.

✅ Why Upgrade?

• More flexibility with 6 or 7 objective positions

• Faster switching between magnifications and contrast techniques

• Easier maintenance and cleaning access to objectives

• Dovetail style is removable and swappable for advanced users

🎥 Watch the Full Tutorial:

Want to see exactly how Chad Potts does it? Watch our video here:
👉 https://youtu.be/ySzIp5fK1qA

Have questions or need help finding the right nosepiece for your Olympus BX microscope?
📧 Email us at info@mundaymicroscope.com — we’re happy to help you upgrade with confidence.

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