Before you make a microscope with your own hands, you should understand what it can be used for, as well as what materials will be required for this. It should be noted right away that you can build such a structure yourself, while you do not need any expensive elements.
What is the device used for?
In principle, the main goal of any microscope is to increase the object by several tens or hundreds of times. Applied devices are used not only in biology classes at school, but also in medicine, electronics and other fields. For example, thanks to a digital microscope, it is possible to repair very small microcircuits, mobile and computer boards.
The most convenient is an electronic device, since it is able to enlarge the object very much. It should be noted that it is not difficult to build a microscope with your own hands. You just need to know its device, as well as collect the necessary materials.
What can a device be made of?
Naturally, you can build a microscope with your own hands from scratch. However, often those people who are versed in electronics, computer technology and optics, make the presented device on the basis of other units: cameras, binoculars, webcams.
Before starting the manufacture of the structure, it is necessary to precisely determine its functions, to select the necessary elements. It is also advisable to draw a drawing of the device on paper. Naturally, all the necessary calculations are made.
Making the machine from scratch: the necessary materials and tools
In order to make a microscope with your own hands without ready-made devices, you need such equipment:
- A tube of glass. Its length should be approximately 20 cm and a diameter of up to 6 mm.
- Several plates (preferably made of copper). The thickness of the metal should not be large (about 1 mm). As for the overall dimensions of the plates, they are 3 * 6 cm.
- A few small pieces of glass.
- A small diameter drill.
- Gas-burner.
- Hammer.
- A screwdriver.
- Nuts and cogs.
If you do not have metal that will serve as the basis for the construction, then you can use thick cardboard. However, note that in this case the device will not be durable and will not last for a long time.
We make the device: instruction
Before making a microscope, familiarize yourself with the sequence of the work:
1. First of all, a small ball must be made from a glass tube using a burner, which will serve as a lens for the device. Note that in no case should you touch this element with your hands, as traces will remain on the surface that will subsequently distort the image.
2. At this stage, you need to make a housing for the lens. To do this, you need metal plates. To use such an apparatus was convenient and safe, it is necessary to round the corners. Holes should be drilled in the “body”: 4 fasteners and one viewing.
3. Now you can assemble the entire structure together. To do this, a “lens” is installed between the plates, and the housing is fastened with bolts. Further, on one side of the lens, using adhesive tape, you can glue the glass, on which the object will be laid.
This design of the microscope is manual and the simplest. This device can be used by adults at home and children. For professional work, you will need a more complex, digital apparatus. Next, you will learn how to build it.
How to make an electron microscope: the necessary materials
For the manufacture of the presented device, a webcam is usually used. Before you make a microscope of this type, collect all the necessary material and tools:
- A personal computer or laptop.
- Webcam (preferably with manual focus adjustment). Please note that we will need a lens, so it should be easily removable from the original device.
- Several large and small corners, from which a rack will subsequently be built.
- A steel tube of small diameter and a special mount that can be moved and fixed on the metal surface.
- Glass.
- A small mirror or flash from a mobile phone to design the backlight.
- A metal plate for the manufacture of the platform.
- Fasteners, as well as a gun with hot-melt adhesive.
Digital Microscope Instructions
A digital microscope with your own hands is done very simply, you only need to follow a certain sequence of actions:
1. First, you should build a "skeleton" of the structure. To do this, connect the metal plate to the corners. All elements can be bolted together. As a tripod, you can use a metal pipe of small diameter. She has certain advantages. For example, using special fasteners, you can screw another small piece of pipe to the vertical element to which the lens will attach. If necessary, you can raise or lower this element. In addition, for the construction of the platform, you can also use a small cardboard box into which a tripod is inserted and poured with tile (or other) glue. Please note that the design must be as stable as possible.
2. Next, you can make the focus adjustment knob. To do this, use kapron thread (or elastic), a movable sleeve, an eye for fixing the thread on a tripod. That is, you need to make a kind of reducer, thanks to which the accuracy of the focus of the lens increases.
3. Next, an electronic microscope with your own hands is done simply. Now you should unscrew the lens from the webcam. Do this carefully so as not to damage the item. Next, you need to turn it over and put it in place. Use hot melt adhesive for fastening. The finished structure can be attached to the movable part of the tripod. Under it should be organized subject table with backlight. A regular LED is used for this.
4. Lastly, you need to process the wire of the webcam. That is, you should cut off his thick braid. In this case, it will become more flexible and will not interfere with the movement of the lens.
Now you know how to make a microscope with your own hands. Good luck