The Basic Microscope Kit is an introductory Do-It-Yourself microscope made from affordable and easy to find parts. It's based on [the Hackteria microscope](https://publiclab.org/notes/partsandcrafts/10-26-2017/making-a-hackteria-microscope), the OpenFlexure Microscope, and @maxliboiron's work at http://CivicLaboratory.nl ( #13503 ), among other sources. (above image by @partsandcrafts) ## Goals This project was started as a collaboration between Public Lab and [Parts & Crafts](http://partsandcrafts.org). The goals of the project are: 1. offer a very easy starting point for DIY microscopy 2. act as a stepping-stone to more advanced DIY microscopes 3. be as affordable and simple as possible while still providing great microscopic images 4. be good enough to view 2-5 micron size particles (see [sample images below](#Sample+images)) ##About the parts ### General parts list * a lens (objective) * a [Raspberry Pi](/tag/raspberry-pi) * a [Raspberry Pi camera](/pi-camera) * a light source * a rigid stage to connect these all together ###Example parts list for building a Basic Microscope: * [Raspberry Pi camera](https://www.amazon.com/SainSmart-Camera-Module-Webcam-Raspberry/dp/B00FGKYHXA/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1516378086&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=raspberry+pi+camera&psc=1) * [Raspberry Pi Zero W](https://www.amazon.com/CanaKit-Raspberry-Wireless-Starter-Official/dp/B06XJQV162/) * [a micro SD card](https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-MicroSDHC-SDSDQM-B35A-Without-Adapter/dp/B004ZIENBA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8) * [a USB light](https://www.amazon.com/I-MU-Flexible-Gooseneck-Brightness-Gray-White/dp/B071Y3P8ZC/) * [a lens (objective x40)](http://www.amscope.com/40x-achromatic-microscope-objective.html) * [a hackteria microscope stage](https://publiclab.org/notes/partsandcrafts/01-22-2018/building-the-microscope-stage) (with modifications from Parts and Crafts!) * [a 3D printed objective adapter](https://github.com/rwb27/openflexure_microscope/blob/master/stl/optics_picam2_rms.stl) * the bolts to hold it together Extras to help you get started: * [Microscope slides](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008JFRP1K/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) * [A microscope stage calibration slide](http://www.amscope.com/microscope-stage-calibration-slide-for-usb-camera-0-01mm-stage-micrometer.html) * [Microscope Immersion Oil](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007PD4IZS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A35BV4NHHC5J5C&psc=1) * Rubberbands * A magnet **** ## Getting started Start with the [Overview activity, here](/notes/partsandcrafts/11-26-2017/building-a-raspberry-pi-microscope). Then see [the activities below](#Activities) for each step in detail. _Basic Prototyping Kit now available for sale in the [Public Lab store](https://publiclab.myshopify.com/collections/under-development/products/basic-microscope-prototyping-kit-preorder?variant=7861722578972)!_ **** ## Questions [questions:basic-microscope]  ## Activities [activities:basic-microscope] ## Challenges We're working to refine and improve DIY spectrometry on a number of fronts; here, take a look at the leading challenges we're hoping to solve, and post your own. For now, we're using the Q&A feature, so just click "Ask a question" to post your own challenge. [questions:basic-microscope-challenge] **** ## People Folks involved in getting this project started include: [people:group:partsandcrafts] **** ## Sample images [](/system/images/photos/000/022/598/original/sample_1.jpg) [](/system/images/photos/000/022/597/original/sample_3.jpg) ...
| Author | Comment | Last activity | Moderation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| stevie | "Out of the two posted above, when we were testing them out, I had a preference for this one . It's currently unavailable, but perhaps they could be..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| warren | "Also, I'd really like to give this a try as a more contained way to mount the lens -- although surely with some potential rigidity issues too... " | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| warren | "hi, @dusjagr!! Still digging through all the great work on Hackteria -- have you used this design with a Raspberry Pi? @partsandcrafts @bmela @kgr..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| Bronwen | "How does the Cell Phone flashlight compare to the LED? Have the folks who have been using the microscope found that there are benefits to brighter ..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| warren | "Just as a price reference, Thingiverse offers a kind of crowdsourced printing service and various services seem to offer about $12 as a quote for t..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| warren | "There seems to be a small piece that sits under the camera too! http://partsandcrafts.org/pi_microscope/picam2_lens_gripper.stl That would be ama..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| warren | "And brainstorming low-cost options at https://publiclab.org/questions/warren/12-08-2017/how-cheaply-can-i-get-all-the-parts-of-the-basic-microscope..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| warren | "I'm not sure if these stay on when you click them, but we can probably find a similar product that does. I also wonder if we could put a diffuser i..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| warren | "Here's a really cheap $1.50 keychain light that we could tape to something: https://www.amazon.com/Favorict-Colorful-Flashlight-Keychain-Batteries..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "There is one part at Thingiverse. Is that the only one you need printed? The part at Thingiverse has a flat horizontal lower surface which could ca..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| warren | "I posted this on Thingiverse too! https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2820427 " | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| stevie | "This post walks through collecting a sample, and some examples. They also reference this resource for collecting dust samples: http://www.funsci.co..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| stevie | "This post has a lot of information about lighting for this project - some buying options and also a build option https://publiclab.org/notes/partsa..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| kgradow1 | "We've been working with these to take initial photos: https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-PS25W-Microscope-Biological-Education/dp/B009YLNJ4A/ref=sr_1_..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| dcanprdn | "Just search microscope slides at https://www.carolina.com/ or https://www.wardsci.com/ or https://www.flinnsci.com " | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| warren | "Note these prior questions related to this one: https://publiclab.org/notes/mathew/10-07-2016/sizing-images-at-portland-science-hackday And this,..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| warren | "This blog is by someone who works for an energy company, helping to mine frac sand, and publishes a book called "Finding Frac Sand" -- yikes. The ..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| warren | "TXSharon posted this note about photographs of sand dust from a sandbox: http://www.texassharon.com/2012/07/31/take-this-nice-fracking-sand-for-yo..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| warren | "@DavidMack posted on sticky pads a while back on the #particle-sensing page: Essentially tape, sticky pads have the advantage of capturing a recor..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| stevie | "Here's what I think the parts list would look like with links to what we're testing out: https://publiclab.org/wiki/basic-microscope#Example+parts+..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| stevie | "Hi! I think the kit would only need one of those lights, I'm not sure what the rest of the kit would need from that list. perhaps some of them (imm..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| asnow | "For @stevie @partsandcrafts Which parts listed in the spreadsheet Jeff linked are essential to a prototyping kit? 16GB SD card - would a smaller si..." | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| stevie | "Has anyone tried these? or have other ideas that could work? " | Read more » | over 6 years ago | |||
| stevie | "I've been looking into these two lights (here and here), and also heard that a cell phone could work with a holder like this. " | Read more » | over 6 years ago |