What is OpenFlexure?

OpenFlexure is a laboratory-grade, motorised digital microscope. The microscope uses a unique 3D-printed mechanism for sub-micron positioning and has auto-focus, so once you've inserted the slide with your sample you can view images from and control the microscope with your computer over WiFi or Ethernet.

The OpenFlexure Project started at the University of Bath and University of Cambridge, and the core development team is now based at the University of Glasgow. Every purchase of an OpenFlexure microscope kit from LabCrafter supports the project - we donate 20% of profits to the OpenFlexure Project.

 If you're looking for a first experiment to do with your microscope, there's a great zine called a Short Guide to Soil Microscopy that explains how to look at soil under an OpenFlexure microscope. Here is a sample from the compost in a pot on our patio:

You can't clearly see them in the image above as they're not moving, but we were able to identify ciliates swimming around very fast with their cilia (little hairs). They're single-celled organisms that feed mainly on bacteria and algae, and are about 0.01 – 1 mm in size. Have a look at the zine above for images of all the creatures you can expect to find, and have a look at your own soil!