Revolutionary $60 3D-Printed Microscope Democratizes High-Resolution Imaging for Researchers Worldwide
January 14, 2025
Detailed plans for the microscope are available for free online, shared on the bioRxiv preprint server, allowing others to replicate the design.
This innovative microscope can be 3D printed in under three hours, including all essential components such as lenses and a Raspberry Pi.
Weighing approximately 3 kg (6.6 lbs), the microscope is claimed to be the world's first complete 3D-printed functional microscope for histological imaging.
A team of physicists and engineers from the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow has successfully developed a fully functional optical microscope that costs only $60.
The design builds upon existing frameworks from the OpenFlexure project, which provided the main structure for this groundbreaking device.
Researchers created plastic lenses using a Mars 3 Pro 3D printer, designed to match the specifications of expensive glass lenses but at a significantly reduced cost.
The entire assembly process for the microscope takes less than three hours, making it accessible for budget-constrained researchers.
This development could democratize access to microscopy, facilitating more widespread use and innovation in the field.
Previous DIY Raspberry Pi microscopes lacked the ability to visualize sub-cellular details clearly, highlighting the significance of this new design.
Testing of the microscope included a blood smear and mouse kidney tissue sample, achieving a field view of 1.7 mm and a spatial resolution of around 5 micrometers.
The setup utilizes an off-the-shelf light source and camera controlled by a Raspberry Pi processor, ensuring cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
This innovation addresses the high costs of traditional high-resolution microscopes, which can be prohibitive for many students and researchers globally.
Summary based on 3 sources
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Sources

Phys.org • Jan 14, 2025
Team develops plan for 3D-printed microscope, including lens, that costs less than $60
naked capitalism • Jan 13, 2025
Links 1/13/2025 | naked capitalism