A team of physicists and engineers at the University of Strathclyde, in Scotland, working with a colleague from the University of Glasgow, has developed the means for 3D printing a microscope, including the lens, for under $60. In their paper posted on the bioRxiv preprint server, the group describes how they came up with the plans for the microscope and notes that the end result has a resolution strong enough to make out individual blood cells in test samples.
  • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
    11·
    14 days ago

    it was possible to print quality microscope lenses using a photopolymerizing clear resin on a Mars 3 Pro printer. In developing the specifications for their lenses, they followed those of the Edmund Optics 12.7 mm diameter plano-convex lens, which has a focal length of 35 mm

    I didn’t open the paper to read more, but that’s the important bit if you’re curious like me.

  • ShepherdPie@midwest.socialEnglish
    71·
    14 days ago

    The cost of high-resolution microscopes can be prohibitively high for millions of students and researchers around the world.

    Now they’ll just need to spend $1,000 on a couple of 3D printers (FDM and resin) and supplies and bam you’ve got a fully functional microscope!

      • 21Cabbage@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
        1·
        13 days ago

        The paper mentions 2 printers and quite a few other pieces of equipment for clearing the lenses, which is kinda what I figured the catch was going to be.

        Edit: what I could see coming from that is this new manufacturing method bringing costs down across the board, and they’ll almost certainly be individuals that go all the way through with it as it’s described here, along with making improvements along the way. I just think the headline is inviting disappointment.

    • AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.netEnglish
      1·
      13 days ago

      As 3D printers become increasingly commonplace, I have noticed various ways of accessing a 3D printer without having to own one — my local library has one nowadays

      • 21Cabbage@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
        1·
        13 days ago

        Mine does too but I don’t even think it could do something clear, nonetheless a lens of any type. I think we’ll see some amount of time pass before that sort of machine is readily available to the public in that context and time after that before enough people get handy enough with the maintenance for precision work like that.