3D printing optical components for microscopy using a desktop 3D printer

Christopher, Jay L.; Tinning, Peter W.; Uttamchandani, Deepak; Bauer, Ralf

doi:10.1117/12.2608614

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…For identical non-planar surfaces, the spin-coating speed both at its optimized and non-optimized point exhibited a surface roughness <120 nm. The flat sides of all lenses have additionally a surface roughness <50 nm [ 26 ]. Additionally, the refractive index of Formlabs resin is 1.51 at 515 nm excitation [ 25 ] with Vida Rosa having shown negligible difference [ 17 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low-cost 3D printed lenses for brightfield and fluorescence microscopy

Christopher,

Rooney,

Donnachie

et al. 2024

Biomed. Opt. Express

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We present the fabrication and implementation of low-cost optical quality 3D printed lenses, and their application as microscope objectives with different prescriptions. The imaging performance of the 3D printed lenses was benchmarked against commercially available optics including a 20 mm focal length 12.7 mm diameter NBK-7 plano-convex lens used as a low magnification objective, and a separate high magnification objective featuring three 6 mm diameter NBK-7 lenses with different positive and negative focal lengths. We describe the design and manufacturing processes to produce high-quality 3D printed lenses. We tested their surface quality using a stylus profilometer, showing that they conform to that of commercial glass counterpart lenses. The 3D printed lenses were used as microscope objectives in both brightfield and epi-fluorescence imaging of specimens including onion, cyanobacteria, and variegated Hosta leaves, demonstrating a sub-cellular resolution performance obtained with low-cost 3D printed optical elements within brightfield and fluorescence microscopy.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low-cost 3D printed lenses for brightfield and fluorescence microscopy

Christopher,

Rooney,

Donnachie

et al. 2024

Biomed. Opt. Express

Self Cite

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“…The measured radii of curvature are for all three cases within 94% of the design spec based on the original Thorlabs design files, with at least three replicates having been measured for each lens type. The flat sides of all lenses have additionally a surface roughness <50 nm [25].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low-cost 3D printed lenses for brightfield and fluorescence microscopy

Christopher,

Rooney,

Donnachie

et al. 2023

Preprint

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We present the fabrication and implementation of low-cost optical quality 3D printed lenses, and their application as microscope objectives with different prescriptions. The imaging performance of the 3D printed lenses was benchmarked against commercially available optics including a 20 mm focal length 12.7 mm diameter NBK-7 plano-convex lens used as a low magnification objective, and a separate high magnification objective featuring three 6 mm diameter NBK-7 lenses with different positive and negative focal lengths. We describe the design and manufacturing processes to produce high-quality 3D printed lenses. We tested their surface quality using a stylus profilometer, showing that they conform to that of commercial glass counterpart lenses. The 3D printed lenses were used as microscope objectives in both brightfield and epi-fluorescence imaging of specimens including onion, cyanobacteria, and variegatedHostaleaves, demonstrating a sub-cellular resolution performance obtained with low-cost 3D printed optical elements within brightfield and fluorescence microscopy.

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“…After spin-coating the array was cured with UV light for 10 min. A second coating step for the flat backsurface of the array was undertaken following the steps in [4].…”

Section: A 3d-printed Lenslet Arraymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This has shown line scan repletion rates of >500 kHz with a 5 mm diameter galvanometer, aimed at applications in two-photon microscopy. In this work we will build on the demonstrated concept and make use of a MEMS resonant scanner with 27.8 kHz resonance frequency and a 3D-printed microlens array, based on previously demonstrated 3D-printed optics manufacturing approaches [4]. This will allow a compact and low-cost scan unit that enables line scan frequencies approaching 1 MHz.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing MEMS Micromirror Line-Scan Rates through 3D-Printed Micro-Optics

Christopher,

Donnachie,

Uttamchandani

et al. 2023

2023 International Conference on Optical MEMS and Nanophotonics (OMN) and SBFoton International Optics and Photonics Conference

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Line-scan rates of mechanical scanners are in general limited to <100 kHz for scan mirror apertures of up to 1 mm. We present work to increase the line-scan rate of a MEMS micromirror beyond this through a scan multiplication unit consisting of a mirror, a cylindrical lens, and a 3D-printed cylindrical microlens array with 1 mm pitch and 2.5 mm effective focal length. Scan rates of up to 635 kHz at the scan line centre are demonstrated with seven array lenslets, with the compact multiplier having the potential to achieve over 1 MHz line-scan rate using higher element numbers.

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3D printing optical components for microscopy using a desktop 3D printer

Cited by 3 publications

References 5 publications

Low-cost 3D printed lenses for brightfield and fluorescence microscopy

Low-cost 3D printed lenses for brightfield and fluorescence microscopy

Low-cost 3D printed lenses for brightfield and fluorescence microscopy

Increasing MEMS Micromirror Line-Scan Rates through 3D-Printed Micro-Optics

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