Microtome having an auto-rocking mode

A microtome for cutting thin sections, comprising:

• a sample holder (12) for receiving a sample to be microtomed,
• a cutting unit (16) for cutting the sample,
• a drive unit (22) for producing a relative movement between the sample holder (12) and the cutting unit (16) for cutting the sample,
• a manually operable handwheel (32),
• an encoder (38) for detecting a rotational movement of the handwheel (32), and
• a control unit (40) which controls the drive unit (22) as a function of the rotational movement of the handwheel (32) detected by the encoder (38),
• wherein in a first operating mode, the control unit (40) controls the drive unit (22) such that the relative movement produced between the sample holder (12) and the cutting element (16) by the drive unit when the handwheel (32) is rotated through a full revolution has a maximum first stroke length;
• wherein in a second operating mode, the control unit (40) controls the drive unit (22) such that the relative movement produced between the sample holder (12) and the cutting element (16) by the drive unit when the handwheel (32) is rotated through a full revolution has a preset second stroke length shorter than the maximum first stroke length;
• and
• wherein the control unit (40) controls the drive unit (22) such that a full revolution of the handwheel (32) produces exactly one single reciprocating movement for cutting a thin section, regardless of the set operating mode and the set stroke length.