Free and Open Source Automated 3-D Microscope
Joshua Pearce
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Abstract
Open-source technology not only has facilitated the expansion of the greater research community, but by lowering costs it has encouraged innovation and customizable design. The field of automated microscopy has continued to be a challenge in accessibility due the expense and inflexible, non-interchangeable stages. This paper presents a low-cost, open source microscope 3-D stage. A RepRap 3-D printer was converted to an optical microscope equipped with a customized, 3-D printed holder for a USB microscope. Precision measurements were determined to have an average error of 10 μm at the maximum speed and 27 μm at the minimum recorded speed. Accuracy tests yielded an error of 0.15%. The machine is a true 3-D stage and thus able to operate with USB microscopes or conventional desktop microscopes. It is larger than all commercial alternatives, and is thus capable of high depth images over unprecedented areas and complex geometries. The repeatibility is below 2-D microscope stages, but testing shows that it is adequate for the majority of scientific applications. The open source microscope stage costs less than 3% to 9% of the closest proprietary commercial stages. This extreme affordability vastly improves accessibility for 3-D microscopy throughout the world.
Key takeaways
- Finally, the open source 3-D microscope is compared to proprietary commercial tools and the results are presented and discussed.
- Automated microscope stages allow for examination of multiple specimens by facilitating stage movement in the x, y and z directions.
- For use in microscopy, a small USB microscope can be mounted as a mobile tool or a heavy microscope can be mounted as a stationary tool.
- The microscope measured a length of 101.64 mm, yielding an error of 0.15%.
- Few research groups, particularly in the developing world can afford more than $10,000 for an automated microscope stage.
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