Open-source technology not only has facilitated the expansion of the greater research community, but by lowering costs it has encouraged innovation and customizable design. The field of automated microscopy has continued to be a challenge in accessibility due the expense and inflexible, non-interchangeable stages. This paper presents a low-cost, open source microscope 3-D stage. A RepRap 3-D printer was converted to an optical microscope equipped with a customized, 3-D printed holder for a USB microscope. Precision measurements were determined to have an average error of 10 μm at the maximum speed and 27 μm at the minimum recorded speed. Accuracy tests yielded an error of 0.15%. The machine is a true 3-D stage and thus able to operate with USB microscopes or conventional desktop microscopes. It is larger than all commercial alternatives, and is thus capable of high depth images over unprecedented areas and complex geometries. The repeatibility is below 2-D microscope stages, but testing shows that it is adequate for the majority of scientific applications. The open source microscope stage costs less than 3% to 9% of the closest proprietary commercial stages. This extreme affordability vastly improves accessibility for 3-D microscopy throughout the world.
Pearce, J. (2019). Free and Open Source Automated 3-D Microscope. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/free-and-open-source-automated-3-d-microscope
Pearce, Joshua "Free and Open Source Automated 3-D Microscope" Afribary. Afribary, 15 Apr. 2019, https://afribary.com/works/free-and-open-source-automated-3-d-microscope. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Pearce, Joshua . "Free and Open Source Automated 3-D Microscope". Afribary, Afribary, 15 Apr. 2019. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/free-and-open-source-automated-3-d-microscope >.
Pearce, Joshua . "Free and Open Source Automated 3-D Microscope" Afribary (2019). Accessed December 21, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/free-and-open-source-automated-3-d-microscope