Abstract: A cooling chamber 10 for a microtome 1 is disclosed. A knife 2 having a cutting edge 16 is arranged in the cooling chamber 10 opposite a sample holder 4 having a sample 4a retained therein. The microtome 1 further possesses a stereomicroscope 12 having an optical system 14, the optical system 14 defining an optical axis 11. The region of the sample 4a and of the cutting edge 16 of the knife 2 is observable with the stereomicroscope 12. There is mounted in the cooling chamber 10 an illumination system 20 that emits light 20a and is directed onto a surface 2a of the knife 2 in such a way that the light 20a reflects from the surface 2a parallel to the optical axis 11.

Abstract: In microtomes or ultramicrotomes, it is necessary to preset the specimen (14) onto the knife (16). In order to facilitate and automate this presetting operation, which is intended to guarantee the fastest and most accurate possible positioning of the knife (16) relative to the specimen (14), the spacing (13) between the trimmed surface (15) of the specimen (14) and the specimen holder (22) is ascertained and is transferred to the microtome or ultramicrotome (10). The spacing (13) is preferably ascertained in the trimming device (12).