Summary

THIS IS NOT MY OWN DESIGN! I am sharing the files from Richard Bowman documented in the public domain in detail here on DocuBricks: http://docubricks.com/viewer.jsp?id=9134926926759813120#brick_909106319 here on github: https://github.com/rwb27/openflexure_microscope, here published: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4941068, and here on Waterscope: http://www.waterscope.org/.
Optomechanics is a crucial part of any microscope; when working at high magnification, it is absolutely crucial to keep the sample steady and to be able to bring it into focus precisely. Accurate motion control is extremely difficult using printed mechanical parts, as good linear motion typically equires tight tolerances and a smooth surface finish. This design for a 3D printed microscope stage uses plastic flexures, meaning its motion is free from friction and vibration. It achieves steps well below 100nm when driven with miniature stepper motors, and is stable to within a few microns over several days. This design aims to minimise both the amount of post-print assembly required, and the number of non-printed parts required - partly to make it as easy as possible to print, and partly to maximise stability; most of the microscope (including all the parts with flexures) prints as a single piece. The majority of the expense is in the Raspberry Pi and its camera module; the design requires only around 100g of plastic and a few nuts, bolts and other parts. The optics module (containing the camera and lens) can be easily swapped out or modified, for example to add epifluorescence or change the magnification.

I ran workshops based on the design, which is highly rewarding. A must try!

Post-Printing

Assembly needed

            <div><p>No post-printing treatment is required except assembly: <a rel="ugc nofollow" href="http://docubricks.com/viewer.jsp?id=9134926926759813120#bom">http://docubricks.com/viewer.jsp?id=9134926926759813120#bom</a></p></div>

How I Designed This

OpenSCAD parametric design

            <div><p>The design files can be found here: <a rel="ugc nofollow" href="https://github.com/rwb27/openflexure_microscope">https://github.com/rwb27/openflexure_microscope</a></p></div>