Public Lab Wiki documentation


Microscopes

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A microscope is an optical instrument that can be used for magnification. It's often paired with:

  • optics (focus + calibration)
  • a camera
  • a lighting system
  • a moving stage

Not all are necessary to view something microscopic!

Microscope projects

What kinds of microscope are available, both Do-It-Yourself ones and commercially available ones? We've posted this question here, and are keeping a comparison table below.

See and edit the full spreadsheet here

Questions

Questions can be either frequently asked questions, or "next step" challenges we're looking to solve.

Title Author Updated Likes Comments
driver usb camera community microscope @francesco49 about 5 years ago 4
Would it be possible to make our own microscopic scale rulers (micrometers) using optical discs (DVDs?) @warren over 5 years ago 6
Looking for a simple DIY microscope stage design with parallel plates @warren over 6 years ago 3
What do respirable silica particles (frac sand pollution) look like? @warren over 6 years ago 5
What is "immersion oil" for microscopes? @warren almost 7 years ago 8
Where can you get the stage for the basic microscope? @stevie almost 7 years ago 0
How could the new basic microscope project be used in building towards advocacy outcomes? @stevie over 6 years ago 0
A Massdrop microscope sale (just 23 hours left) @amirberAgain almost 7 years ago 0
Could the Raspberry Pi Microscope be used for looking at microplastics found in ocean water? @stevie over 6 years ago 5
Where can microscope lenses (objectives) be bought? @warren almost 7 years ago 14
What are some ways to collect dust or particulate samples for analysis? @warren almost 7 years ago 4
How do DIY microscopes compare (cost, ease of use, resolution) to commercial options? @warren about 7 years ago 3
Has anyone used a RasPi camera in a DIY microscope? @bmela about 7 years ago 2
How does the EPA measure things, especially the size of dust particles? @kgradow1 about 7 years ago 3
How long does it take to build the hackteria microscope? (is it easy?) @kgradow1 about 7 years ago 3
Is it possible to accurately size inhalable and respirable particles using a DIY microscope? @gretchengehrke about 7 years ago 4
Is it possible to discern jagged from rounded particles using a DIY microscope? @gretchengehrke about 7 years ago 4
How big are silica particles, in microns? @warren about 7 years ago 2
How big are smoke particles, in microns? @warren about 7 years ago 4
What is the best low-cost or DIY microscope to use with a group? @gretchengehrke over 7 years ago 2
Have you had any experience utilizing low cost portable microscopes? @gilbert over 7 years ago 3

Activities

Activities show how to use this project, step by step.

Purpose Category Status Author Time Difficulty Replications
Overview: Hackteria Remix: Building a Basic Microscope with Raspberry Pi - - @partsandcrafts - - 0 replications: Try it »
Imagining & testing Polarized Light Microscopy for Silica dust speciation - - @mathew - - 0 replications: Try it »
Making an OpenFlexure Microscope - - @mathew - - 0 replications: Try it »
Automating ImageJ for particle image analysis - - @SimonPyle - - 0 replications: Try it »
Microscope from Tablet Computer - complete @MicroscopesAreCool 3h - 1 replications: Try it »
Prepare an SD card for a Raspberry Pi camera from scratch - - @warren - - 1 replications: Try it »
Optical Imaging of Passive Particle Monitors - - @mathew - - 0 replications: Try it »
Making a Hackteria stage - - @partsandcrafts - - 1 replications: Try it »
Setting up the Raspberry Pi Camera for Wireless Streaming - - @partsandcrafts - - 0 replications: Try it »
Building a Basic Microscope Stage - - @partsandcrafts - - 0 replications: Try it »
Add a high-quality webcam to your Community Microscope kit using LEGO - - @warren - - 0 replications: Try it »
Automating Passive Particle Monitor Analysis - - @mathew - - 0 replications: Try it »
Hand-cut or lasercut a simple DIY microscope stage - - @warren - - 0 replications: Try it »
A Prototype Paper Stage for the Microscope - - @mimiss - - 0 replications: Try it »
Quick Build: Basic Microscope Kit with Raspberry Pi - - @partsandcrafts - - 0 replications: Try it »
OpenFlexure Microscope: high-resolution assembly - - @mathew - - 0 replications: Try it »
Calibrating a Microscope - - @mathew - - 0 replications: Try it »

Activities should include a materials list, costs and a step-by-step guide to construction with photos. Learn what makes a good activity here.

Updates

Title Author Updated Likes Comments
Replicating IBM's Lensless, Holographic, RPi Microscope? @wln215 almost 5 years ago 3
driver usb camera community microscope @francesco49 about 5 years ago 4
Build a low-magnification "dissection microscope" for microplastics @warren about 5 years ago 4
Oct 4: MicroBrews meet-up at AS220 Food, Providence @warren about 5 years ago 2
Would it be possible to make our own microscopic scale rulers (micrometers) using optical discs (DVDs?) @warren over 5 years ago 6
Add a high-quality webcam to your Community Microscope kit using LEGO @warren over 5 years ago 11
Ideas for a DIY + Maker class for 6th graders @Kmckeown over 6 years ago 3
Set up Cam interface on RPi zero w with Pi Cam 2 @lach_myers over 6 years ago 2
Kickstarting the Community Microscope Kit! @Bronwen over 6 years ago 0
Microscope Webcam Conversion @Bronwen about 5 years ago 12
Lensless holograpic microscope @amirberAgain over 6 years ago 0
Prepare an SD card for a Raspberry Pi camera from scratch @warren over 5 years ago 7
Hand-cut or lasercut a simple DIY microscope stage @warren over 6 years ago 2
Looking for a simple DIY microscope stage design with parallel plates @warren over 6 years ago 3
How to Make a Simple Smartphone Microscope #citizenscience #science #DIY #3dprinting @zengirl2 over 6 years ago 4
What do respirable silica particles (frac sand pollution) look like? @warren over 6 years ago 5
Particle Visualization Event in Hixton, WI @gretchengehrke almost 7 years ago 4
What is "immersion oil" for microscopes? @warren almost 7 years ago 8
Attaching a Raspberry Pi Camera to a Microscope Objective Lens @partsandcrafts over 4 years ago 15
Building a Basic Microscope Stage @partsandcrafts over 4 years ago 3
A Massdrop microscope sale (just 23 hours left) @amirberAgain almost 7 years ago 0
Fluorescence microscope - automatically detect airborne pathogens in confined space? @vwaterson almost 7 years ago 7
How can we set up a Raspberry Pi camera as an ethernet USB device to avoid using WiFi @warren almost 7 years ago 5
Could the Raspberry Pi Microscope be used for looking at microplastics found in ocean water? @stevie over 6 years ago 5

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