# Low-cost microscope

This is a lower cost version of the OpenFlexure Microscope. It supports uses the lens from the Raspberry Pi Camera to produce a microscope with field of view about 750μm, similar to using a 20x objective. It is motorised, but you can also build it as a manual microscope.

If you use this microscope for research please consider citing [our paper in Optics Express](https://doi.org/10.1364/BOE.385729).

Before you start building the microscope you will need to source all the components listed our [bill of materials]{bom}.


The assembly is broken up into several steps:

1. [.](test_your_printer.md){step}
1. [.](printing.md){step, var_type: low_cost}
1. [.](prepare_main_body.md){step}
1. [.](prepare_stand.md){step}
1. [.](actuator_assembly.md){step}
1. [.](basic_optics_module.md){step}
1. [.](mount_optics_and_microscope.md){step, var_optics: low_cost}
1. [.](illumination.md){step, var_optics: low_cost}
1. [.](motors.md){step, var_optics: low_cost}
1. [.](attach_clips.md){step, var_optics: low_cost}
1. [.](wiring.md){step, var_optics: low_cost}
1. [.](finished.md){step, var_optics: low_cost}

![A render of the completed microscope using the Raspberry Pi camera module's lens.](renders/complete_microscope_low_cost1.png)