First build, high res V7 with IORodeo parts kit

Last year I was looking around for projects that use lasers and found Breaking Taps on YouTube who used the delta stage to build a CLSM. I found it intriguing and started printing parts for the V7.

Took a while and I finally ordered the parts from IORodeo to assemble the scope including their affordable 40x objective. The instructions are great. I took my time and had it built in a few hours. I couldn’t believe how well this went together with parts printed on an Ender 3.

I never have been into microscopy until this. Funny how looking for a fun electronics project using lasers led me to this project. I printed parts for a Delta Stage scope and now assembling parts to build it. I think I might build two of them. One with the LED array and one for epifluorescence. I may just build the LED array version and build my own fluorescence scope though.

I want to thank everyone that contributed to this project. I’m completely hooked on this hobby. I 3d printed a centrifuge and waiting on a motor. Looking at a few other interesting lab tools to make that I can print or build at home.

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Took some images. I have this slide of a pine stem that is particularly beautiful. Prettiest pine stem slide I have ever seen. Looks amazing at higher and lower magnification.

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Here is some laver. These slides are part of a student slide kit I bought off Amazon. Affordable for many slides. Most are more interesting at lower magnification. These were a couple of the more interesting specimens.

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I was surprised at the functionality of the software particularly the Z scan option.

I downloaded a free trial of Zerene Stacker and created this image from 22 scans of a honeybee leg. I’m not the greatest at image editing. I played with some setting and improved the contrast. I’m looking at other options for focus stacking. Not sure I want to pay if I can find something that works well.

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@Twodogstar that is a nice build.

It looks as though you have found some older versions of the parts - a couple of things in your photo were changed after v7.0.0-beta1, the current version is v7.0.0-beta5. There are a lot of improvements in both the hardware and the instructions.

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I printed them in February of last year. Everything went together pretty smoothly. There was a spot or two where I suppose I was running into differences and figured I was just confused :upside_down_face:

I’ll have to take a look at the changes. Fun project.

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Ah yes, beta2 was May last year. As you have got a working microscope the differences are not enough to warrant changing it yet.

There is a bit more space around the electronics drawer and the holes in the body and stand have covers. Most of the other improvements are in other versions and in the instructions. Beta5 introduced better attachment of the motors, but also a change in the bill of materials with more M3 screws and nuts. The M4 screws were a failure point during assembly, but as you have it assembled it is all fine.
The next release might make useful changes to the actual main body that help to avoid damage from excess travel during use.

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