Considerations and Justifications for Choice
As we detached the eyepiece and objective lens from the microscope to isolate x and y-axis control, the eyepiece and objective lens require a support structure for mounting onto the 3D printer frame.
Prototyping Process: Cycle of Test, Critique and Re-Design
V1
Designed a lens adaptor with a sharp-angled slot to insert the microscope lens
V2
Identified Issues with Previous Prototype:
- Holes drilled for screws were upside down.
- The sharp-angled slot does not fit the lens.
Modifications Made:
- Corrected orientation of holes drilled.
- The specifications of the lens adaptor is widened.
- Modifications to the edge of rail adaptor made the corner of the slot slightly rounded.
- The depth of the rail adaptor decreased.
V3
Identified Issues with Previous Prototype:
- The back of the lens adaptor could not fit with the protruding screw heads of the 3D printer frame.
Modifications Made:
- Drilled two holes at the back of the lens adaptor to fit screw head of 3d printer frame.
V4
Identified Issues with Previous Prototype:
- One of the side block is not necessary.
- The screw holes made for fixing the lens adaptor onto the 3D printer frame are too large for the adaptor to fix tightly on the frame.
Modifications Made:
- Removed the side block on the right side of the adaptor.
- Reduced the size of the holes so that the adaptor and lens can be fixed tightly by installing screws and screw nuts.
V5
Identified Issues with Previous Prototype:
- The side block’s length is blocking the user from installing the screws.
- There is a need to add a feature that signals the system when the lens adaptor moves to the end of the rail on the 3D printer frame.
Modifications Made:
- The length of the side block is reduced.
- A hole is drilled to install a long screw as a tool to press the button on the 3d printer frame to signal that the lens has moved to the end of the rail.