Assembly Instructions

by Richard Bowman and Julian Stirling

The Openflexure Community

Custom optics

Using the microscope for epi-florescence or epi-illumination

You will need to print a version of the optics module with "beamsplitter" in the name (all optics modules listed below).

You will also need to print:

These instruction need completing. For now please consult the OpenFlexure Delta Stage Instructions

Using an infinity corrected objective

The standard optics module is designed for a finite conjugate objective. If you wish to use an infinite conjugate objective print a version of the optics module with "infinity" in the name. See the list of available RMS optics modules below for alternative STLs.

If you are using an infinity corrected objective you will need the tall stand.

Using 35mm parfocal objectives

Since v7, the "sample riser" has been built into the microscope stage, so it is no longer possible to use objectives with a 35mm parfocal distance. It is possible to print a modified optics module that will fit these older microscope objectives, but this is not currently generated automatically. If you would like to generate one, you can visit the repository and follow the instructions in the README to build the OpenSCAD models. You then need to either open openscad/rms_optics_module.scad and use the "customiser" feature to set PARFOCAL_DISTANCE=35, or compile it from the command line with:

openscad -D 'OPTICS="rms_f50d13"' -D 'CAMERA="picamera_2"' -D BEAMSPLITTER=false -D PARFOCAL_DISTANCE=35 ./openscad/rms_optics_module.scad -o ./optics_picamera_2_rms_f50d13_35mm_parfocal.stl

If you are using Windows, you may need to escape the " quotation marks by replacing them with \".

Using a different camera

The recommended camera is the Raspberry Pi camera. The 3D printed parts work with both v1 and v2, but only v2 is supported by the standard software.

We have some limited support for USB cameras such as the M12 camera, Logitech C270 webcam, or the Arducam B0196 USB webcam. Using a USB camera often requires a teardown process that will void any warranty that came with your camera. Also, please note that the USB cameras are not supported in the standard software.

To use other cameras check the list of RMS optics modules and basic optics modules below. Full documentation isn't available for all custom configurations.

RMS optics modules

The standard OpenFlexure optics module is optics_picamera_2_rms_f50d13.stl. This uses:

This is by far the most well tested optics module

Other optics modules are available. We only regularly test the standard optics module. As the microscope design changes alternative objectives should update, but the updated versions may not have been printed and tested.

You can use our interactive optics module chooser or check the full list of possibilities below.

List of all available optics module STLs:

The infinity corrected optics modules are taller, and require a tall microscope stand (see "stands" section of customisation page).

*The C270 webcam needs to be dissembled before use. More details are provided on this procedure in the Assembly guide for the C270 basic optics module provided in the next section.

List of basic optics modules

The standard version of the basic optics module uses a Raspberry Pi camera v2 and a spacer for the lens to make it into a microscope with a field of view similar to a x20 microscope objective. The same principle can be used for other small camera modules with removeable lenses. Assembly is similar to the standard basic optics module, you will need to remove the camera lens and reverse it when it is put into the lens spacer. USB cameras are not supported in the standard software.

The basic optics modules contain two printed parts; a lens spacer (printed in black info) and camera platform: