BrickScope: RMS threaded 8x10 stud brick

thingiverse

Building a microscope is definitely doable, thanks to numerous tools and resources available for this project. However, it can seem intimidating, especially when dealing with optics. To make experimenting with basic microscope optics quick and easy, we wanted to create something flexible and adaptable. Using construction toy bricks (like Lego) as the structural parts of the microscope should simplify alignment and stability when playing around with the optics. This design is part of a system that makes optical threads reliable for printing using FDM printers, thanks to the excellent OpenFlexure microscope. To integrate a standard microscope lens thread (RMS) into an 8x10 stud brick compatible with Lego and other Lego-compatible bricks, we've designed this system. To complete a microscope, you'll need a finite conjugate RMS threaded lens, a camera/sensor, and some bricks to place between the two. You can find lenses online, such as old RMS objectives on eBay at affordable prices. Finite conjugate lenses require no additional optics, but infinite conjugate lenses need an extra tube lens, so we recommend using a finite conjugate lens for simplicity. Finite conjugate lenses have a specified tube length (e.g., 160mm), but you can use them with shorter tubes - the magnification and working distance will change, and image quality will drop, but it should still offer usable performance. Changing the distance from the lens to the camera is an excellent starting point for experimentation! We'll be adding designs for camera/sensor mounts once they're tested, along with more details on microscope configuration and assembly. The optical axis in this design centers midway between the 4th and 5th stud, but due to approximate alignment during the design process, it may be slightly off.