USB microscope stand with x-y base and built-in backlight by s7nlisek

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

My daughter tried to use a USB microscope, but it was difficult. Keeping focus at high magnification is hard and moving viewed samples is also not easy.
So I designed a table for her, helpful in shifting the sample and focusing.
I also added a backlight crucial for some microscope slides.
Thanks! to 'Hank-Cowdog' for sharing the knob design (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:664192) – it was the basis for code for x/y/z knobs.
Film demonstrating how the table works - https://youtu.be/JszwZvKry9o.
In the gallery few bonus photos with our "cat" :)
Features
fine adjustment for precise focusing
built in x-y stage with fine adjustment
built in LED backlight powered via USB
clips for holding objects being viewed
easy replaceable microscope holder; holder for Bresser Junior hand-held USB microscope
stage dimension (L x W): 90 mm x 70 mm; fits for standard microscope slides 75 mm by 25 mm
Bill of materials
Smooth and threaded rods
2 x smooth rod Ø6x115 mm (for the X-axis)
2 x smooth rod Ø6x95 mm (for the Y-axis)
2 x smooth rod Ø6x100 mm (for the Z-axis)
1 x threaded rod M3x160 mm (for the X-axis)
1 x threaded rod M3x120 mm (for the Y-axis)
1 x threaded rod M3x120 mm (for the Z-axis)
Screws, nuts and washers
30 x M3 nut
30 x M3 washer
2 x M4x14 bolt
1 x M4 nut
2 x M4 wing nut
4 x M2x10 screw
Electronics
USB cable
5 x LED 3mm white (20 mA, 3,1V drop)
2 x 39Ω 0.25W resistor
1 x PCB protoboard 22 mm x 37 mm
Other
1 x translucent sheet 90 mm x 70 mm (for the stage cover); e.g. cut from the windshield washer bottle
Printing
PLA
infill 20%
support on