The Sledge Microtome moves the specimen over a fixed blade.
      This allows the blade to be fastened at both ends making a very
stable cutting edge. If a freezing technique is to be used, moving a dry
ice slurry or the refrigeration connections back and forth will lead to
problems.

The sliding microtome moves the blade over the specimen.
      This minimizes the stress on the refrigeration lines of a freezing
stage or sloshing of a dry ice slurry and being able to angle the blade
(not clearance) makes the blade appear sharper when cutting your specimen.
Most paraffin specimens are limited in size to two  inches  square as the
blade will want to dive into the block causing a growing thickness as the
cut progresses.
      If you have further questions, please feel free to phone me at
1-800-248-0123.

Don Birgerson
Leica Microsystems
Technical Applications Center

T