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Just to spell out something that may be obvious. Any rotating specimen stage
can be hugely improved by enlarging the hole in the central bearing, with an
oversized retaining disk between the enlarged hole and the head of the
retaining screw. Having rotated the stage to select your specimen, you can
then jiggle it around in any direction, as far as the enlarged central hole
allows. Being able to 'explore' each specimen rather than just swing it to
left or right makes an enormous difference to the experience. 

I'm sure most people here know about this, but hopefully it was worth
mentioning for the sake of anyone planning a rotating specimen stage with a
'neatly engineered' central bearing with no sideways movement. This is just
one example of a relatively tiny interactive-design feature that can easily
double visitor engagement time. Its all about degrees of freedom.


Promoting public engagement with science
through a contagious delight in phenomena
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Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.
Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime.
*
Ian Russell 

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