Free and open‐source automated 3‐D microscope

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2016 papers

Abstract

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, noninterchangeable 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 repeatability 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 3-9% of the closest proprietary commercial stages. This extreme affordability vastly improves accessibility for 3-D microscopy throughout the world.

Related Papers

• → Profile repeatability: A new method for evaluating repeatability of individual hormone response profiles(2018)18 cited
• → Influence of the Interaction Between Parts and Appraisers on the Results of Repeatability and Reproducibility Analysis(2012)6 cited
• → Short- and Long-Term Repeatability of Intrarenal Resistive Index in the Pig(2001)4 cited
• Repeatability of Cryogenic Multilayer Insulation(2017)
• → Destructive measurement instrument repeatability estimation using two item types with equal coefficient of variation(2022)