Build a USB Digital Microscope in 60min and 15$

Build a USB Digital Microscope in 60min and 15$
How to turn a 10$ microscope and a 5$ USB camera into a cool digital microscope in 60 minuets.
 
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Step 1Disassmble any USB simple webcab

Disassmble any USB simple webcab
Just remove any screws and plastic cover that is not needed.
This webcam cost me 5$ - very simple low resolution web cam.
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76 comments
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Mar 16, 2009. 2:20 PMdogsrcool2me says:
This is really neat but the title is a little deceiving, since the Microscope part of the USB Digital Microscope for only 15$ costs around $250. Otherwise, good job
Sep 16, 2011. 8:02 AMbnurkholis says:
How to change magnification?
Oct 23, 2011. 6:33 PMViaticus says:
The microscope pictured has a revolving "turret" that allows the user to dial a magnification. You can see a similar microscope with the parts labeled at this web site: http://www.microscope-microscope.org/basic/microscope-parts.htm
Apr 30, 2011. 3:35 PMtolga says:
very nice!
Mar 8, 2011. 10:19 AMdanbar says:
muy bueno! felicidades Grats!
Dec 14, 2009. 10:00 AMMalk007 says:
 Yo quiero hacer uno de esots, ¡Muy bueno!
Jun 14, 2010. 7:06 PMpsychlones says:
Translation: I want to make one of these. Very well done!!!
Feb 13, 2010. 5:40 PMRamon-DC says:
yeap, this i a good instructable Congratz!!
Nov 11, 2009. 6:01 AMkitfoxtrot says:
In bold @ the top of step III it says "...add a red and white wire."

Should be red & black as I'm sure you know :p
Oct 17, 2009. 8:46 AMmarko29 says:
 hey can you please give me materials how to build this microscope because i want to build two different kinds of microscopes?
Aug 24, 2008. 9:41 PMwilliam90049 says:
how would you make it magnify in the thousands 1200x just wondering
Oct 14, 2009. 9:26 PMrocketman413 says:
On optical microscopes the maximum usable magnification is around 800X with out using oil immersion. If you use oil immersion it is possible to get a magnification around 1200X, but only under thebest conditions.
Oct 9, 2009. 5:24 AMICBMer says:
You can get better qaulity if you use a nicer digital camera (more detail with higher x) Plus using a stand allows for greater mobility and ensures you get the picture you want, check out my instructable) Sure it's more expensive, but it looks cooler. otherwise AWESOME INSTRUCTABLE (: (my I-able) http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-take-crystal-clear-digital-snapshots-throug
Aug 27, 2009. 10:44 AMmzclive says:
lol Forget cutting myself, I've managed to solder myself once. =)
Sep 3, 2009. 7:16 PMcodongolev says:
once I dropped my soldering iron.... then I caught it..... :P
Sep 3, 2009. 7:17 PMcodongolev says:
(in case you didn't catch that, I mean I just caught it as a reflex and grabbed the business end.)
Aug 1, 2009. 10:25 PMnatman says:
Great Instructable!!!! can't wait to build mine!!!
Jun 25, 2009. 3:13 PMcheath says:
Nice tutorial i just built mine.
May 29, 2009. 5:01 PMramuproject says:
nice work, Do you know the magnification of the objective, eyepiece. Or you removed the eyepiece.
May 26, 2009. 12:34 PMskizzilini says:
Where did you get the camera (webcam) from, or what is its design?
May 14, 2009. 5:22 AMfortunecookie says:
what's the effect of putting an ohm resistor near the lead??
May 15, 2009. 6:45 AMfortunecookie says:
that's why my eyes feels itchy after i used my microscope with an led light. tnx
Dec 18, 2007. 2:21 PMpaulm says:
very good job =)

one thing, its insulation, not isolation...
Mar 25, 2009. 5:21 PMwierd idiot says:
yeah but insulation does Isolate so I think that it could be called isolation.
Mar 25, 2009. 6:32 PMpaulm says:
... but that doesn't change the fact that the material around the wire is an insulator to electricity and used for that property. its confusing to call it isolation
Mar 25, 2009. 6:41 PMwierd idiot says:
Yeah I suppose that's true.
Mar 29, 2009. 9:12 AMiaqhygienist says:
Great job Dude!! I was looking into buying a USB Scope and the problem was the 20X to 200X limitation before they got to be too expensive, I will definately give this a try.
Mar 20, 2009. 7:31 PMSinster says:
In step 3 when you cut the red and black wire. Do you connect the two halves back together along with the extension?
Feb 4, 2009. 4:43 PMKike says:
very good, where did you buy the microscope?
1-40 of 76next »

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