DIY FoldScope
Dec 27, 2014 • 7:02 AM UTC
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MadGreen
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While I was waiting for my FoldScope to get here, I made one for myself. I found a picture on the foldscope site and printed it out on cardstock. I skipped adding the back section and just held it up to the light to use it. The lens was the only harder to get part of this project. For mine I used a lens salvaged from an old computer CD drive.
Now that I have the real FoldScope, I had a chance to compare my homemade version with the real one. The magnification power of the real one seems to be a little higher (using the low power lens) than the homemade one. The “plastic paper” used on the real one makes a much nicer microscope that should hold up better. All the extras like the light module and camera attaching magnets are all great features.
My homemade slides were from the same cardstock which I cut out a square (or several squares) and then put clear tape over the hole. I then placed whatever I wanted to look at on the sticky side of the tape and covered it with another piece of tape to seal it in place.
The problem I found was with the tape turning white if any moisture or water was in the sample. Here is the slide I made of a drop of water.
My homemade slides were from the same cardstock which I cut out a square (or several squares) and then put clear tape over the hole. I then placed whatever I wanted to look at on the sticky side of the tape and covered it with another piece of tape to seal it in place.
The problem I found was with the tape turning white if any moisture or water was in the sample. Here is the slide I made of a drop of water.
I did get to view some microscopic creatures swimming around in that drop of water before it clouded up. I didn’t have the real FoldScope when I made that slide so I didn’t get a picture but will very likely try it again. This was one of the things I hoped to view with a microscope and now I have. The slide took a little while before it turned cloudy and I still found little things swimming even after it started turning white. After an hour or so, no more movement could be found.
Hera are some of the slides I have made so far.
Hera are some of the slides I have made so far.
The one with 4 sections didn’t work real good. You need enough left on the ends to hold it in place. Making a good slide if harder than I expected. Most of the slides shown had objects that were too thick to see much detail through.
Here are a couple scans I made and edited of the new Foldscope. It is only the two main parts but, if you can find or make a lens, it works. Not as good as the real one but better than nothing.
Here are a couple scans I made and edited of the new Foldscope. It is only the two main parts but, if you can find or make a lens, it works. Not as good as the real one but better than nothing.
This second one is not as clear but uses a lot less ink if you print it out.
EDITED TO ADD LINK TO MY WEBSITE
http://diymicroscope.yolasite.com
On that site you can find a nicer pattern to make one of these type microscopes yourself.
P.S.
Manu, if this is sharing too much, remove it or let me know and I will.
http://diymicroscope.yolasite.com
On that site you can find a nicer pattern to make one of these type microscopes yourself.
P.S.
Manu, if this is sharing too much, remove it or let me know and I will.
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