DIY microscopy

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Revision as of 19:44, 11 July 2009 by 80.218.101.163 (talk) (more about microscopy)
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DIY microscopy

Introduction

To use a simple usb webcam as a microscope, only a few modifications are needed.

Diy microscope steps.jpg

In short, a small hack to the optics of a standard webcam with an adjustable focus-lens, allows to create video data, with a magnification of around 100 to 400x (depending on the model) at a working distance of a few mm. The highest magnifications can be achieved by inverting (putting upside down) the lens. Addition of good lighting by the use of leds allows to create images using a bright-field method (shine through the stuff) or dark field method (look at the reflections and scattering).

dark-field image sequence (4 sec) of an amoebae recorded on a modified webcam
bright-field image sequence (4 sec) of an amoebae recorded on a modified webcam

Video Examples

Movie recorded with modified webcams: Hackteria in Berlin

Instructions

Hacking the webcam

Step1:

Step1: get a standard webcam, make sure u got the right drivers for your OS

Step2

Step2: break it open. of course take care not to destroy anything

Step3

Step2: break it open. of course take care not to destroy anything

Step4

Step2: break it open. of course take care not to destroy anything

Step5

Step2: break it open. of course take care not to destroy anything

Step6

Step2: break it open. of course take care not to destroy anything

Step7

Step2: break it open. of course take care not to destroy anything

Further modifications

mounting the microscope

There are many ways to finally build the microscope itself. here are a few examples from the workshop hackteria & lab_hacking @ NK, Berlin.

Simple microscope setup

mounting

Fixed, massiv and stable setup

mounting

Silicone embedded setup

mounting

Tape and cardboard setup

mounting

Magnification and Field of View

See: fieldofview for more details.

after completing the hack with the lenses, the magnification can be increased upto a field of view of 0.7 mm.

InversedMagnification.jpg Nematode.jpg

more about microscopy

For more enlargement, you can not only invert the lense but also put some (iron) rings between the lense and the "webcam" and fix it with duct tape. The more rings you put between the more light you will need that you can see something. 5mm works without problems, the light from 1-2 LEDs will suffice to see the things.

For savers: A cheap solution is a standard logitech webcam, which can be bought for about 25.- SFr. --> videos(500x600), pics (3MPixel)