Public Lab Wiki documentation


Microscopes

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A microscope is an optical instrument that can be used for magnification. It's often made up of multiple parts, including:

  • optics (lens, focus, calibration)
  • a camera
  • a lighting system
  • a moving stage to hold slides

Community Microscope Kit

We’ve developed a microscope kit you can build yourself - the result of many teams’ work coming together!

Read more about the Community Microscope!

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 2 years ago 4
Would it be possible to make our own microscopic scale rulers (micrometers) using optical discs (DVDs?) @warren almost 3 years ago 6
Looking for a simple DIY microscope stage design with parallel plates @warren almost 4 years ago 3
What do respirable silica particles (frac sand pollution) look like? @warren almost 4 years ago 5
What is "immersion oil" for microscopes? @warren almost 4 years ago 8
Where can you get the stage for the basic microscope? @stevie almost 4 years ago 0
How could the new basic microscope project be used in building towards advocacy outcomes? @stevie over 3 years ago 0
A Massdrop microscope sale (just 23 hours left) @amirberAgain about 4 years ago 0
Could the Raspberry Pi Microscope be used for looking at microplastics found in ocean water? @stevie over 3 years ago 5
Where can microscope lenses (objectives) be bought? @warren about 4 years ago 14
What are some ways to collect dust or particulate samples for analysis? @warren about 4 years ago 4
How do DIY microscopes compare (cost, ease of use, resolution) to commercial options? @warren over 4 years ago 3
Has anyone used a RasPi camera in a DIY microscope? @bmela over 4 years ago 2
How does the EPA measure things, especially the size of dust particles? @kgradow1 over 4 years ago 3
How long does it take to build the hackteria microscope? (is it easy?) @kgradow1 over 4 years ago 3
Is it possible to accurately size inhalable and respirable particles using a DIY microscope? @gretchengehrke over 4 years ago 4
Is it possible to discern jagged from rounded particles using a DIY microscope? @gretchengehrke over 4 years ago 4
How big are silica particles, in microns? @warren over 4 years ago 2
How big are smoke particles, in microns? @warren over 4 years ago 4
What is the best low-cost or DIY microscope to use with a group? @gretchengehrke over 4 years ago 2
Have you had any experience utilizing low cost portable microscopes? @gilbert over 4 years ago 3
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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 »
Add a high-quality webcam to your Community Microscope kit using LEGO - - @warren - - 0 replications: Try it »
Building a Basic Microscope Stage - - @partsandcrafts - - 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 »
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Add an activity  or request an activity guide you don't see listed

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 about 2 years ago 3
driver usb camera community microscope @francesco49 about 2 years ago 4
Build a low-magnification "dissection microscope" for microplastics @warren over 2 years ago 4
Oct 4: MicroBrews meet-up at AS220 Food, Providence @warren over 2 years ago 2
Would it be possible to make our own microscopic scale rulers (micrometers) using optical discs (DVDs?) @warren almost 3 years ago 6
Add a high-quality webcam to your Community Microscope kit using LEGO @warren almost 3 years ago 11
Ideas for a DIY + Maker class for 6th graders @Kmckeown over 3 years ago 3
Set up Cam interface on RPi zero w with Pi Cam 2 @lach_myers over 3 years ago 2
Kickstarting the Community Microscope Kit! @Bronwen over 3 years ago 0
Microscope Webcam Conversion @Bronwen over 2 years ago 12
Lensless holograpic microscope @amirberAgain over 3 years ago 0
Prepare an SD card for a Raspberry Pi camera from scratch @warren almost 3 years ago 7
Hand-cut or lasercut a simple DIY microscope stage @warren almost 4 years ago 2
Looking for a simple DIY microscope stage design with parallel plates @warren almost 4 years ago 3
How to Make a Simple Smartphone Microscope #citizenscience #science #DIY #3dprinting @zengirl2 almost 4 years ago 4
What do respirable silica particles (frac sand pollution) look like? @warren almost 4 years ago 5
Particle Visualization Event in Hixton, WI @gretchengehrke almost 4 years ago 4
What is "immersion oil" for microscopes? @warren almost 4 years ago 8
Attaching a Raspberry Pi Camera to a Microscope Objective Lens @partsandcrafts over 1 year ago 15
Building a Basic Microscope Stage @partsandcrafts over 1 year ago 3
A Massdrop microscope sale (just 23 hours left) @amirberAgain about 4 years ago 0
Fluorescence microscope - automatically detect airborne pathogens in confined space? @vwaterson about 4 years ago 7
How can we set up a Raspberry Pi camera as an ethernet USB device to avoid using WiFi @warren about 4 years ago 5
Could the Raspberry Pi Microscope be used for looking at microplastics found in ocean water? @stevie over 3 years ago 5
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