an atomic force microscope drags a very, very tiny stylus across an object. This stylus is attached to a probe that will reflect laser light off of it into a photosensor, eventually rendering an ...

The microscope stage is based on an OpenFlexure "Delta" stage, and the confocal optics are constructed with a 3D printed body, some lenses, a 405nm laser, pinhole and photodiode.

The basic scheme here is known as confocal laser scanning fluorescence ... the sample at different focal planes. Like many DIY projects, this microscope is built from old DVD parts, specifically ...