3D Printing a Low‐Cost Miniature Accommodating Optical Microscope

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 35; no. 20; pp. e2208365 - n/a
• Main Authors: Hai, Rihan, Shao, Guangbin, Ware, Henry Oliver T., Jones, Evan Hunter, Sun, Cheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2023
• Subjects: 3-D printers; 3D printing; additive manufacturing; Assembling; Depth of field; Form factors; low cost; Manufacturing; microcontinuous liquid interface production; miniature accommodating optical microscopes; optical imaging systems; Optical microscopes; Optical properties; Three dimensional printing; additive manufacturing; microcontinuous liquid interface production; miniature accommodating optical microscopes; low cost; 3D printing; optical imaging systems
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202208365

This decade has witnessed the tremendous progress in miniaturizing optical imaging systems. Despite the advancements in 3D printing optical lenses at increasingly smaller dimensions, challenges remain in precisely manufacturing the dimensionally compatible optomechanical components and assembling them into a functional imaging system. To tackle this issue, the use of 3D printing to enable digitalized optomechanical component manufacturing, part‐count‐reduction design, and the inclusion of passive alignment features is reported here, all for the ease of system assembly. The key optomechanical components of a penny‐sized accommodating optical microscope are 3D printed in 50 min at a significantly reduced unit cost near $4. By actuating a built‐in voice‐coil motor, its accommodating capability is validated to focus on specimens located at different distances, and a focus‐stacking function is further utilized to greatly extend depth of field. The microscope can be readily customized and rapidly manufactured to respond to task‐specific needs in form factor and optical characteristics. The key optical and optomechanical components of a miniature accommodating optical microscope are 3D printed in 50 min for less than $4. Synergizing the built‐in voice‐coil motor and compliant optomechanics facilitates focus‐stacking functionality for extending imaging depth. 3D printing enables digitized component manufacturing, part‐count reduction, and passive alignment for the ease of system assembly and alignment, allowing rapid customizability toward task‐specific needs.