AM-Microscope/DSLR tube

thingiverse

This is a connector for a telescope Barlow lens DSLR adaptor, designed to be fitted to an AmScope microscope! Why? The 32mm telescope 2x adaptor can be bought for under £14, whereas the adaptors for a microscope are around £90. The optics are the same quality, just the diameter differs. This tube has been tested on two items: the Amazon UK product B004QEFO1Q and the eBay UK item 153125301171. The microscope is an AmScope T490B 40X-2000X full-size professional trinocular lab biological compound microscope. The 32mm Barlow lens is for a standard telescope eyepiece fitting, screwed into a T2 adapter that locks onto the camera's lens mounting. I used a Canon 7D Mark II - any camera can be fitted to the relevant T2 ring adaptor. IMPORTANT! To ensure a snug fit, you'll need to sand down the top inside of the tube. The tube prints about 1mm too tight, so this is necessary. Use fine sandpaper and check your progress every couple of minutes to avoid making it too loose. The washer sits between the camera and the top of the tube - used to fine-tune focusing. I've printed the tube about 1.5mm too short, to handle differences in 3D printers and microscopes. Focus accurately through the eyepiece, then use "live view" on the camera zoomed in (the 7D Mark II can do 10x) to get a clear view of any focus issues. Gently twist and lift the camera out of the tube (or just lift if you made it too loose!) until the camera live preview is sharp. Measure the gap between the top of the camera Barlow lens case and the tube... in my case, it was 1mm... and print a washer of the right height. If you change your camera in the future, you can re-adjust this as needed. I'm going to use a small dab of glue to keep my washer in place.