The advance system is mechanical, and follows the well- established, proven principles of previous “Porter-Blum.” The specimen is advanced to a fixed knife. Glass or diamond knives may be used. Specimens, round or flat embeddings, are held securely in adjustable holders situated at the end of a cantilever arm. Advance, and hence thickness of sections, is determined by two controls — an upper pivot control and a panel-mounted thickness dial. Movement of the knife stage assembly is universal, with coarse and fine forward and reverse adjustment, and micrometer lateral adjustment. Orientation scales are provided for additional convenience. Precision trimming of specimens prior to sectioning may be performed right on the MT-2.