Build Your Own Atomic Force Microscope
I’ve been fascinated by atomic force microscopy ever since I compiled this slideshow for Wired back in 2008.
AFMs are expensive pieces of kit however –way beyond the means of most private individuals.
Another technology that fascinates me is the 3-D printer, which is used for rapid design prototyping in three dimensions. 3-D printers are really coming into their own in recent years with the cheapest models starting to become affordable for private buyers and the concept of desktop manufacturing starting to take off.
So, you can imagine my delight when I stumbled across this tutorial that shows how to build a cheap AFM head using a 3-D printer.
As the author explains:
As the acquisition cost for commercially available AFMs is in the order of some hundred thousand dollars, this is an approach to make these instruments available to more research groups. Most of the structure can be made with rapid prototyping mehods, all that is left to do is to screw together the pieces. Nevertheless the user is supposed to have some experience with the matter as he doesn’t get the support that comes with a commercial instrument.
While I won’t be making an AFM anytime soon –I lack the time and expertise to do all but dream– it’s great to see the DIY spirit entering the world of high-tech microscopy.
BTW, check out the fabbaloocious Fabbaloo blog for regularly updated news about the world of 3-D printing. Is it inconceiveable that in the future we will be able to print out new limbs for people using their personal genetic code?
If you really want to build your own AFM, it’s now possible! See this one here:
http://atomicforceblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-kind-of-afm.html
that I built in 4 afternoons! And I have NO experience in building any instruments…it really was amazing experience, and I now have a fully functioning AFM!
Pete.
But you didn’t tell the whole story in your blog, there is just a picture of an AFM but nothing on how you “made it in 4 afternoons”. I am sure it took more than that. You also don’t mention anything so others can make their own. It would be helpful. By the way congratulations for your AFM book, it is interesting mainly for the beginners.
Fernando
Hi Fernando,
If you look at my blog, there are some more details there, but, in that post, not so much. I can assure you it DID take only four afternoons, I started on Monday, and it was scannign on thursday! But the way I made it was with a kit, where the really difficult stuff (i.e. the software and electronics) was already put together. But in less than four days, we (two of us did it together) assembled the video microscope, AFM stage, AFM head with laser and photodetector, built the scanner, cut the laser mirror by hand, built the electronics box, and put everything together.
I will try to make another blog post soon with some more details, but you can see some example images here: http://atomicforceblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/ttafm-images.html