We used OpenBeam for beams and brackets. The main frame of the microscope can be decomposed into three different horizontal components that are stack together in a vertical fashion by four 300mm beams holding a Top frame and a Bottom frame. These two frames generate a Z axis where displacement of the Stage up and down the axis. This is controlled by a linear translation mechanism which moves along a couple of smooth rods, acting as linear rails. The Stage is pushed/pulled by a lead screw and a flexible shaft coupler and powered by a stepper motor.

 

OpenBeam

 

Beams			300 mm	270 mm	210 mm	150mm	135mm
Vertical				4x
	Frame
		Top	5x			2x	1x
Horizontal		Bottom	5x			4x
	Stage				5x
TOTAL			10x	4x	5x	6x	1x

 

To hold all the beams together we use Openbeam brackets on each of the three horizontal components: Top frame, Bottom frame, and Stage. The Stage, controls XY movement via two micro servos and a 3D printed gear mechanism from the PlotterBot.

 

Brackets	Nema-17 bracket	T-bracket	L-bracket	Shaft clamps
Top Frame		8x	8x	4x
Bottom Frame	1x	12x	6x	4x
Stage	1x	2x	8x
TOTAL	2x	22x	22x	8x

 

Beside beams and brackets from OpenBeam, we need lots of nuts & bolts as well as some custom made components for mechanical support which are not provided by OpenBeam.

 

Other mechanical components

Linear platform bearings: 2x   (Stage)

Shaft coupler: 1x

Adaptor for lead screw to nema bracket on stage (custom made)

Acrylic for (laser cutted) stage board (custom made)

 

Rods

Smooth rod: 2xLead screw + nut: 1x

Motors

Nema17 200 steps: 1x (Z axis)                                              Micro Servos 9g: 2x  (X,Y axes)

 

3D printed pieces

PlotterBot pieces: 6x  (use the OLD version of the Plotterbot with 2 instead of 3 servos)

Cambridge OpenLabToolsoptical clamp: 1x

Cambridge OpenLabToolsRaspiCAM holder: 1x

Optical tube (instead of the Edmund Optics metal tubes)

 

Optical components

Edmund C-mount-DIN optical system (tubes in case of not printing them)

Comar Optics Focal lens

Objectives from CNScopes (4x,10x)

 

Electronic components

Arduino UNO: 2x                    Easy Driver: 1x                            Raspberry Pi 3B: 1x

RaspiCAM: 1x                           Logical convertor:  3x               Joystick: 1x

i2c 16×2 LCD: 1x                      Breadboards: 3x + 3x                Cobbler Pi PIN cable: 1x

Push button: 2x                        resistors (for LEDs and for pull down the push buttons)

 

Illumination components

White LED: 1xPotentiometer: 1x

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