You can modify a webcam to serve as both a camera and lens with the basic microscope kit. The steps (as demonstrated above) are as follows.

To assemble your microscope stage, see this activity.

Different versions

These are the instructions for the basic Intro Community Microscope Kit, but below in the comments, you can read how to build the Plus and Super versions, as well as how to do this with the Raspberry Pi camera ( #pi-camera).

If you have the higher-resolution webcam board, see these instructions.

Step by step

Carefully unscrew the case. If you are using a webcam different that the one above (currently included with some versions of our microscope kit), be aware that you may need to examine the case to determine the best way to access the inside. If your camera's case is snapped together you may need to pry (or even snap) some connections.

Lift off the top of the case and unscrew the lens.

More recently, we've been shipping cameras that are a bit better mounted, and on these you have to remove a couple more screws. Remove the outer screws on the back of the circuit board (marked with Os), NOT the inner ones that hold the lens on (marked with Xs):

Apply double stick foam tape to the underside of the board and place back into the bottom half of the case. Be advised that the soldering where the wires attach to the board is very delicate, and be careful not to pull or twist the cord too much as you are handling it.

Note: for the newer cameras, you can skip this step, since you'll be able to easily screw the circuit board back onto the camera case with the second set of screws.

Replace the top half of the case and screw the two halves back together.

Attach foam tape to the bottom of the case (don't peel the paper off the back until you are ready to place it on the microscope stage.

Attach another layer of foam tape to the opening on the top, with a hole cut or punched so the camera's sensor is not blocked.

Center your lens (wide side down) over the hole and press down. If your camera is plugged in to your computer you should just see light: if your screen shows dark spaces you may have an issue with your tape or lens being off-center.

Now you're ready to center your camera and lens on your platform! Read on here: https://publiclab.org/n/16310

Connect your camera

On a laptop, use Photo Booth for Macs, or you can go to http://infrgram.org/sandbox/ in most browsers to access your webcam.

If you are using the objective lenses (instead of the webcam lens) assemble as per the images below.

Note: We recommend saving the webcam's lens so that you can use both options as you explore different ways to use your microscope.

If you have an Android phone, you can use this app to connect to a webcam directly if you have an OTG USB adaptor; scan this QR code to get the app: