General Information Microtomes
The company microTec Laborgeräte GmbH produces Rotary Microtomes, i. e. basic equipments with freely selectable accessories for paraffin and plastic cut technology for routine and research as well as industrial applications.
microTec is a subsidiary of Ganter Werkzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH. microTec distributes products for the medicine technology.
A Microtome always consists of the knife holder basic unit with knife holder and clamped knife, the object clamp, the advanced mechanism and appropriate adjusting mechanism for the choice of the section thickness. The advance mechanism delivers the preparation in a defined cut size to the knife. The knife pulls through the preparation and by the wedge effect lifts off a filmy layer (=specimen cut).
With the Rotary Microtome the knife is horizontal and firm, the preparation is induced perpendicularly to it.
The reached cutting thickness depends on the material of the sample, on the analysis intent and on the pretreatment (adjustment, imbedding, histology technique).
The knives necessary in turn depend on the material of the sample, the analysis intent and pretreatment. Standard steel knives are used in certain grinding types. Nowadays these are often replaced by disposable blades.
