3D-Printing PSF Models as teaching aids.

[Ian Dobbie]

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Hi Everyone,

I have 3D printed some scale models of microscope PSFs as teaching
aids. They are tremendously useful as it helps novice mnicroscopists
understand the huge asymmetry between XY and Z in a standard widefield or
confocal microscope. I have also included 2D-STED, 3D-SIM and TIRF-SMLM
models for comparison between these techniques. The sizes are based on
the Schermelleh super resolution review
(http://jcb.rupress.org/content/190/2/165 - fig 2) but actually measured
iso-surfaces at 50% peak intensity are very similar.

The models are available online at tinkercad.

Red - https://www.tinkercad.com/things/8ePP4ZYbN1Y
Green - https://www.tinkercad.com/things/kkPADRfTXbp
Blue - https://www.tinkercad.com/things/g3OuosF9quD

Each set has widefield/confocal, 2D STED, 3D-SIM and TIRF-SMLM scaled to
the relevant size for that colour.

As a useful scale comparison I have a identically scaled 1 um microtubule -
https://www.tinkercad.com/things/itwPBE6fxTa

The models are all 200,000:1. A 1 um microtubule is 24nm in diameter and
contains about 2,500 monomers.

I printed the models in relevant colours in PLA on a Makerbot 2X. To
print them, I rotated the models so they were sideways on to the
baseplate and printed with rafts and supports. After printing I removed
the supports and cleaned the surfaces with a little sand paper.

Hope other people might find them useful.

Thanks,

Ian

[Gu, Tingting]

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Hi Ian,

Thank you very much for sharing.

Tingting

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 6, 2018, at 11:05 AM, Ian Dobbie <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I have 3D printed some scale models of microscope PSFs as teaching
> aids. They are tremendously useful as it helps novice mnicroscopists
> understand the huge asymmetry between XY and Z in a standard widefield or
> confocal microscope. I have also included 2D-STED, 3D-SIM and TIRF-SMLM
> models for comparison between these techniques. The sizes are based on
> the Schermelleh super resolution review
> (http://jcb.rupress.org/content/190/2/165 - fig 2) but actually measured
> iso-surfaces at 50% peak intensity are very similar.
>
> The models are available online at tinkercad.
>
> Red - https://www.tinkercad.com/things/8ePP4ZYbN1Y
> Green - https://www.tinkercad.com/things/kkPADRfTXbp
> Blue - https://www.tinkercad.com/things/g3OuosF9quD
>
> Each set has widefield/confocal, 2D STED, 3D-SIM and TIRF-SMLM scaled to
> the relevant size for that colour.
>
> As a useful scale comparison I have a identically scaled 1 um microtubule -
> https://www.tinkercad.com/things/itwPBE6fxTa
>
> The models are all 200,000:1. A 1 um microtubule is 24nm in diameter and
> contains about 2,500 monomers.
>
> I printed the models in relevant colours in PLA on a Makerbot 2X. To
> print them, I rotated the models so they were sideways on to the
> baseplate and printed with rafts and supports. After printing I removed
> the supports and cleaned the surfaces with a little sand paper.
>
> Hope other people might find them useful.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ian