USB microscope holder with fine adjustment

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A sturdy base for a USB microscope (approximately 35mm in diameter) is easily printed with precise results and requires no exotic materials. It features coarse height adjustment and a fine focus (height) adjustment facilitated by a large handwheel, offering a smooth movement of 0.5mm per turn due to its ball bearing support. This combination enables accurate focusing and high-quality image capture. The coarse adjustment utilizes flexure clamps, ensuring the surface of the square tube remains unscathed during motion. A strong bond is achieved with super glue for all printed parts, while hot glue is used for components that require disassembly. Printed at 0.15mm layer thickness without support, the thumbwheels and large handwheel are designed to be screwed into place using a threaded rod or screws almost fully inserted before applying a drop of super glue. The cavities surrounding the bearing and main nut are intended for hot glue application, though super glue can be used throughout if disassembly is not anticipated. A rubber band secures the microscope in place. Source files, including those for Solidworks 2014, as well as a STEP file for modification in other CAD programs, are available for download. Although no images of the completed product exist, the design has been tested and proven effective. To adapt this base to a different size of microscope or application, simply create a custom clamp part that fits your specific needs.