What is it?
This is a phone mount adapter for an AmScope Stereo Microscope. It mounts onto the eye lens, and was designed for The Alley Makerspace at Michigan Tech. It allows the user to fine tune the height and x-y position of their phone easily with 3D printed screws. It only requires a basic spring from the hardware store, a rubber band, a small amount of super glue, and the 3D printed parts (~100g of PLA filament). This means the total cost comes to around $3, as opposed to current options from the manufacturer that cost $35. In addition to the price reduction, this assembly is easier to adjust than current options on the market.
Assembly:
The adapter is easy to assemble, and requires:
(2) Vertical slide screws ("VERT_SCREW1")
(1) Horizontal slide screw ("HORIZ_SLIDER2")
(1) Base ("FULL_BASE1")
(1) Phone Base ("PHONE_BASE3")
(1) Tightening screw ("TIGHT_SCREW1")
Simply glue the horizontal slide screw piece to the phone base. Then put one of the "VERT_SCREW1"s on the bottom side of "FULL_BASE1", with the spring inside the hole, wrapping around this screw. Then, insert the "PHONE_BASE3" inside the "FULL_BASE1", compressing the spring. While doing this, turn the "VERT_SCREW1" such that it threads into the "PHONE_BASE3".
Lastly, thread the last two screws into their remaining holes and place your phone on top of the phone base, securing it with a rubber band, using each screw for tuning the position.
Sources/Modification:
This model was created in OpenSCAD, so it is almost fully parametric, and modifying it to fit another microscope would be simply a matter of changing a couple of variables. See attached. Additionally, I used the Nuts and Bolts OpenSCAD library, which is based off metric screws, so if you are willing to spend more money, the 3D printed threads are compatible with standard metric fasteners.