Miniscope Zero/Component/Miniscope Zero Optics/0.2.10
Miniscope Zero Optics 0.2.10
| Hardware Component | |
|---|---|
| Description | Folded optical path of the miniscope: excitation and emission optics, 3D-printed housing, and CNC-machined baseplate. |
| Design File URL | https://github.com/miniscope/MiniscopeZero/tree/v0.1.1/MiniscopeZero/Optics |
| Hardware Type | Optical
|
| Name | Miniscope Zero Optics |
| Project | Miniscope Zero
|
| Source Path | MiniscopeZero/Optics |
| Version | 0.2.10 |
| Backlinks | |
| Has component | Miniscope Zero/Release/0.1.1 |
Specifications
| Name | Value | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field of View | 600 × 600 | um | |
| Resolution | 6.2 | um |
Design Files
- bom: optics_bom.csv
- zemax dir: zemax/
- housing dir: housing/
- baseplate dir: baseplate/
README
Optics
Optical system of the Miniscope Zero head-mounted assembly: bill of materials, mechanical drawing, optical design files, and housing/baseplate CAD.
Contents
Optics/ ├── optics_bom.csv Bill of materials for the optical path ├── mechanical/ Dimensioned drawing of the optical assembly (Fusion 360 export) ├── zemax/ Ansys Zemax OpticStudio sequential-mode design files ├── housing/ 3D-printed optical housing CAD └── baseplate/ 3D-printed baseplate CAD and hardware list
The housing holds the optical stack; the baseplate is cemented to the skull and receives it. A set-screw mechanism sets the focal plane relative to the implanted GRIN lens during baseplating, then locks it for subsequent recordings.
Assembly
guides/optics_assembly.md is the build guide for the head-mounted assembly: which optic goes into which printed part and in which orientation, edge blackening and adhesive practice, the order the four printed parts are joined in, and a dark-field leak test to run before the scope goes on an animal.
Bill of materials
optics_bom.csv lists every element in the optical path. GitHub renders it as a table in the web UI. The ref column keys each part to the mechanical drawing:
| ref | Element |
|---|---|
LED
|
Excitation LED |
F_ex
|
Excitation filter |
DM
|
Dichroic beamsplitter |
L1, L2
|
Objective (L2 is closest to the sample) |
L3
|
Tube lens |
M1
|
Fold mirror |
F_em
|
Emission filter |
IS
|
Image sensor |
Light path: LED → F_ex → DM (transmitted) → L1 → L2 → sample, then sample → L2 → L1 → DM (reflected 90°) → L3 → M1 (folded) → F_em → IS.
Folding the path twice distributes the elements laterally rather than vertically, keeping the assembly height low.
The notes column records where a part is modified from stock — the filters, dichroic, and mirror are all diced down from larger catalog parts. Ordering the stock part number alone will not give you a part that fits the housing.
Links in the link column point to the vendor part page, or to a vendor search for the stock number where no stable product URL exists.
Mechanical drawing
mechanical/drawing_Miniscope_Wireless_emission_v_0_2_10.pdf — dimensioned layout of the optical stack, exported from Fusion 360 (design v0.2.10), with element spacings in mm.
Housing
housing/ holds the 3D-printed optical housing (design v0.2.10):
Wireless_Miniscope_v_0_2_10.step— all four bodies as exact solids. Use this to modify the design in any CAD package.Wireless_Miniscope_v_0_2_10.f3d— Fusion 360 archive with the design history.- One STL per body, for printing:
| File | Body | Size (mm) |
|---|---|---|
base_unit.stl
|
Main chassis, tube-lens bore | 11.3 x 13.0 x 9.0 |
objective_unit.stl
|
Objective lens holder | 7.9 x 2.1 x 7.9 |
excitation_unit.stl
|
Excitation LED and filter arm | 7.6 x 7.6 x 9.0 |
focus_slider_unit.stl
|
Set-screw focus slider | 8.4 x 10.0 x 8.0 |
The four parts print separately. Each STL is a single watertight, manifold shell at the origin, so it can be oriented independently in the slicer.
Printed on a Formlabs Form 4 in Black Resin V5 at 25 um layer thickness.
Baseplate and dust cap
baseplate/ holds the skull-mounted baseplate and its dust cap. The two are made differently:
| Part | Process | File to use |
|---|---|---|
| Baseplate | CNC machined (Protolabs) | baseplate.step
|
| Dust cap | 3D printed | dust_cap.stl
|
The dust cap prints on the same settings as the housing: Formlabs Form 4, Black Resin V5, 25 um layer thickness.
Baseplate machining specification (as ordered from Protolabs):
| Material | Aluminium 7075-T651 |
| Process | Mill |
| Dimensions | 14.59 x 5.99 x 14.89 mm |
| Tolerance | +/- 0.005 in (0.13 mm) |
| Edges | Broken; tool marks visible |
| Internal corners | Sharp, at minimum tool radius |
| Threading | 1 feature, UNF #2-64 |
The threaded bore is highlighted in green below. It takes the set screw that locks the optical stack in the baseplate once the focal plane is set.
Baseplate seen from above, with the UNF #2-64 threaded bore highlighted in green
baseplate.step is the exact solid sent for machining; baseplate.stl is the tessellated equivalent, for viewing and fit checks. baseplate_and_dustcap.f3z is the Fusion 360 assembly archive for both parts.
baseplate/baseplate_components.csv lists the hardware that goes with it: the McMaster-Carr 92311A317 set screw (18-8 stainless, cup tip, 2-64 UNF x 1/8 in, 0.035 in / 0.9 mm hex drive) and the precision hex driver used to turn it.
Optical design
zemax/ contains the sequential-mode OpticStudio models:
Miniscope_Wireless_emission_v_0_2_6_mirror_as_prism_2ndaspheric_14572.zmx— emission path (the fold mirror is modelled as a prism).Miniscope_Wireless_excitation_v_0_2_2.zmx— excitation path.emission_prescription_data.txt— prescription dump of the emission model (surface data, NA, working F/#, track length), readable without OpticStudio.
.ZDA files are the matching OpticStudio session/analysis files.