Motorized Microscope [WIP]

With this final project, I wanted to challenge myself by using the Jacob’s Makerspace to build a physical device! Laser cutting was a tool that I’ve always had access to but haven’t used – so I wanted to familiarize myself with it with this project. The aspect of being able to see microscopic organisms always intrigued me. I wondered what a microscope could look like if it was handheld, portable and motorized.

~ Serena Yung

Prototype / Building Process

1. Microscope component It was challenging to come up with a way to magnify objects at a close range while still keeping the design compact. I first tried to use a webcam lens and connect it to an actuator, but the webcam lens didn’t detach.

I ended up attaching a small magnifying lens to the webcam for digital viewing!

Close up of a plant leaf:

2. Motor component This aspect took the longest because I’ve never worked with a laser printer prior to this project. I had to figure out how to get laser printed gears to fit the shape of the motor, and spin a pinion system in order to move the microscope. It took a lot of attempts to get the laser printing right!

Sketches:

3. Final Product

Video

https://youtube.com/shorts/hOXV0zNwQK8?feature=share

Code:

// Motor library
#include <L298N.h>

const int IN1 = 7;
const int IN2 = 8;
const int EN = 9;

// Create one motor instance
L298N motor(EN, IN1, IN2);

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);

  // Set initial speed
  motor.setSpeed(70);
}

void loop()
{

  // Move motor forward
  motor.forward();

  delay(3000);

  // Stop
  motor.stop();

  // Alternative method:
  // motor.run(L298N::STOP);

  printSomeInfo();

  // Change speed
  motor.setSpeed(120);

  delay(3000);

  // Tell the motor to go back
  motor.backward();
  
  motor.setSpeed(200);

  delay(3000);

  // Stop
  motor.stop();

  printSomeInfo();

  delay(3000);
}

Conclusion / Reflection

Overall, I’m very proud of challenging myself to learn a new skill I haven’t learned before. I’m quite happy with how this project turned out – I initially was not sure how I would execute this idea, but it worked out and I think I got a better understanding of the physical design process! In future iterations, I would love to explore a better compartment for the microscope, a greater magnification, and a more complicated/practical motor system.

Initially I wanted to make a wearable microscope with the Adafruit Flora v3, but all the other pieces (eg: motor & all its connections, webcam, camera) made it impractical for wear. I would love to challenge myself to rebuild this contraption more modularly and make it more compact! I also wanted to connect it to a joystick for manual control!

I think my biggest challenge was executing the idea I had in mind. The motor in particular gave me a difficult time because I wasn’t sure how to connect it to gears. Learning laser cutting, Illustrator, and connecting it to Arduino was really challenging because I was afraid nothing would go according to plan, but it worked out in the end!