DIY Smart Phone Microscope

This is an astonishingly simple and inexpensive way to build a microscope that allows students to capture digital images of the world just beneath the surface. This project was originally published on the Instructables website.

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Grade Range:
3 to 12+

Duration
2-4 Hours

Supplies

3x 4 ½” x 5/16” carriage bolts
9x 5/16” nuts3x 5/16” wing nuts
5x 5/16” washers
¾” x 7” x 7” plywood — for the base
⅛” x 7” x 7” plexiglass — for the camera stage
⅛” x 3” x 7” plexiglass — for the specimen stage
Scrap plexi (~ 2″x 4″) for specimen slide (optional but useful)
laser pointer focus lens (use two for increased magnification)
LED click light (necessary only for viewing backlit specimens)

Tools:

Drill
Assorted bits
Ruler