A low-cost confocal microscope for the undergraduate lab

Authors

Erik Brekke, St. Norbert College
Will Bethard, St. Norbert College
Antonio Reguilon, St. Norbert College

Files

Description

We demonstrate a simple and cost-efficient scanning confocal microscope setup for use in advanced instructional physics laboratories. The setup is constructed from readily available commercial products, and the implementation of a 3D-printed flexure stage allows for further cost reduction and pedagogical opportunity. Experiments exploring the thickness of a microscope slide and the surface of solid objects with height variation are presented as foundational components of undergraduate laboratory projects, and demonstrate the capabilities of a confocal microscope. This system allows observation of key components of a confocal microscope, including depth perception and data acquisition via transverse scanning, making it an excellent pedagogical resource.

Publication Date

1-19-2023

Comments

CC BY 4.0 DEED

Attribution 4.0 International

Recommended Citation

Brekke, Erik; Bethard, Will; and Reguilon, Antonio, "A low-cost confocal microscope for the undergraduate lab" (2023). Faculty Creative and Scholarly Works. 66.
https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/faculty_staff_works/66