3D printed research grade microscope?

[Arvydas Matiukas]

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Hello Microscopists,

did you see this article claiming $18 cost of 3D printed lab/research grade microscope:
https://phys.org/news/2020-05-laboratory-grade-microscope-us18.html

To obtain research quality images you need quality optical parts that roughly cost few hundreds USD.
Or I missed something? In the photo only 3D printed frame is shown.

Best regards,
Arvydas

Director of Microscopy Core
SUNY Upstate Medical University

[Craig Brideau]

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From the text:
"An OpenFlexure microscope can be constructed for as little as £15 or US$18
(this would cover the cost of the printed plastic, a camera and some
fastening hardware). A top-end version would cost a couple of hundred
pounds to produce, and would include a microscope objective and an embedded
Raspberry Pi computer."

There is no mention of the optics, and looking at the 3D render they are
using a standard microscope objective, and what appears to be an achromat
as a tube lens. You might be able to get those for $50 approx if you get
surplus and education grade optics.

Craig

On Mon, May 4, 2020 at 7:21 PM Arvydas Matiukas <[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.
> *****
>
> Hello Microscopists,
>
> did you see this article claiming $18 cost of 3D printed lab/research
> grade microscope:
> https://phys.org/news/2020-05-laboratory-grade-microscope-us18.html
>
> To obtain research quality images you need quality optical parts that
> roughly cost few hundreds USD.
> Or I missed something? In the photo only 3D printed frame is shown.
>
> Best regards,
> Arvydas
>
> Director of Microscopy Core
> SUNY Upstate Medical University
>

[Julian Smith III]

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Yes-building a couple.
JSIII

On 5/4/20 9:14 PM, Arvydas Matiukas 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.
> *****
>
> Hello Microscopists,
>
> did you see this article claiming $18 cost of 3D printed lab/research grade microscope:
> https://phys.org/news/2020-05-laboratory-grade-microscope-us18.html
>
> To obtain research quality images you need quality optical parts that roughly cost few hundreds USD.
> Or I missed something? In the photo only 3D printed frame is shown.
>
> Best regards,
> Arvydas
>
> Director of Microscopy Core
> SUNY Upstate Medical University
>
> CAUTION: This message originated from an external source

--
Julian P.S. Smith III
Director, Winthrop Microscopy Facility
Dept. of Biology
Winthrop University
349 Columbia Ave
Rock Hill, SCÊ 29733

803-323-2111 x6427 (vox)
803-323-3448 (fax)
803-524-2347 (cell)
Research Website www.birdnest.org/smithj
Personal Website www.rociada-east.net