OpenFlexure Microscope

The selected optical and printed configuration

The high-resolution instructions use an RMS-threaded objective, a 12.7 mm achromatic tube lens and a Raspberry Pi Camera Module v2 with its original lens removed. The guide reports an approximately 360 by 270 micrometre field of view with a 40x objective; this is not a catalog measurement or a universal resolution specification. The specified camera ribbon cable is Type B, with contacts on opposite sides at the ends. The guide warns that the wrong cable type can damage the camera. [S006]

Printing instructions specify PLA, a 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.2 mm layers, with no added supports. The flexure mechanism and integrated brim make slicer gap-closing behavior important, so the guide includes leg and nut-trap test prints. The high-resolution assembly passes a 375 g PLA quantity into its printing instructions; that is a material allowance, not a complete build price. [S005] [S007] [S010]

Hardware and software versions must agree

The mechanical guide selects Sangaboard v0.5, an RP2040-based controller, and reports most testing with v0.5.3. It calls for a USB-C supply capable of at least 3 A. Header height also affects the printed enclosure: the documented supplier uses 11 mm headers, whereas an 8.5 mm version needs a different electronics drawer. These are configuration details, not interchangeable shopping-list entries. [S008]

The current installation page, preserved October 1, 2026, describes two software routes. Its v3.0.0 beta requires a Raspberry Pi 4 and Sangaboard v0.5 running firmware 1.3 or later. It lists 4 GB or more RAM for the Full OS and permits 2 GB for Lite with possible performance impact. It does not support Pi 5, earlier Pi models, alternative motor boards, the Delta stage or server extensions at the documented stage. [S011]

The separate v2.11.0 stable route supports older hardware and workaround motor controllers, but its OS no longer receives updates and uses at most 4 GB RAM. Neither route supports Pi 5 in the retrieved guide. The existence of legacy controller instructions therefore does not establish compatibility with v3 beta. [S008] [S011]

The selected Pi requires the microscope operating-system image on an SD card and the controller requires firmware. The current guide recommends Raspberry Pi Imager 2 because older 1.9 versions may not customize the image correctly. No SD card was written and no firmware was flashed during this review. [S009] [S011]

Source coverage and untested performance

The mechanical repository states CERN-OHL-S version 2.0 or later and includes editable OpenSCAD design files and assembly documentation. The controller PCB, controller firmware, microscope server and clients are separately linked projects. Their complete payloads and licenses were not independently preserved here, so the mechanical repository license is not assigned to those components. [S001] [S003] [S004] [S008]

The installation guide offers OpenFlexure Connect or a browser on the same network. Its current macOS Connect route requires a source build; the browser route is a separate option. Full OS supports a directly attached display and input devices, while Lite is for network control. [S011] [S012]

Complete delivered cost remains unresolved because optics, electronics, printing, hardware and sourcing choices vary. This catalog has not printed the mechanism, assembled optics, measured stage precision, reproduced imaging performance or validated any biological application. [S001] [S005] [S006]