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.

Step 1: 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.

Comments

[dogsrcool2me]

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

[moris_zen]

Trust me - this microscope is the cheapest type you can buy in a $ shop (it cost 10$) - If I where to use a 250$ one the pictures would be much much better!
give it a try.

[moris_zen]

This microscope cost me 6$ (bad wraping) - new it is 10$ . look in the toy section in "toys R us" good luck :-)

[bnurkholis]

How to change magnification?

[Viaticus]

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

[tolga]

very nice!

[danbar]

muy bueno! felicidades Grats!

[Malk007]

 Yo quiero hacer uno de esots, ¡Muy bueno!

[moris_zen]

English pls .
Thanks

[psychlones]

Translation: I want to make one of these. Very well done!!!

[moris_zen]

Thanks - good luck . post pictures when you make it.

[Ramon-DC]

yeap, this i a good instructable Congratz!!

[kitfoxtrot]

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

[marko29]

 hey can you please give me materials how to build this microscope because i want to build two different kinds of microscopes?

[william90049]

how would you make it magnify in the thousands 1200x just wondering

[rocketman413]

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.

[moris_zen]

I assume it should work .. just give it a try and play with the distances before you put the glue. see the image in real time and only then put the glue on.

[ICBMer]

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

[mzclive]

lol Forget cutting myself, I've managed to solder myself once. =)

[codongolev]

once I dropped my soldering iron.... then I caught it..... :P

[codongolev]

(in case you didn't catch that, I mean I just caught it as a reflex and grabbed the business end.)

[natman]

Great Instructable!!!! can't wait to build mine!!!

[cheath]

Nice tutorial i just built mine.

[ramuproject]

nice work, Do you know the magnification of the objective, eyepiece. Or you removed the eyepiece.

[moris_zen]

I didn't remove the eyepiece just glued it to it.

[skizzilini]

Where did you get the camera (webcam) from, or what is its design?

[moris_zen]

The where stoked up in a pile in a computer store .. It was just the cheapest brand available .. some Chinese unknown brand...

[fortunecookie]

what's the effect of putting an ohm resistor near the lead??

[moris_zen]

If you dont - the LED will burn (it limits the current)

[fortunecookie]

that's why my eyes feels itchy after i used my microscope with an led light. tnx

[paulm]

very good job =)

one thing, its insulation, not isolation...

[wierd idiot]

yeah but insulation does Isolate so I think that it could be called isolation.

[paulm]

... 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

[wierd idiot]

Yeah I suppose that's true.

[moris_zen]

Thanks for repairing me English (just joking)

[iaqhygienist]

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.

[Sinster]

In step 3 when you cut the red and black wire. Do you connect the two halves back together along with the extension?

[moris_zen]

yep

[Kike]

very good, where did you buy the microscope?

[moris_zen]

Toys R us - discounted returned lot for ~6$