McScope

This page is about a reference DIY microscpoe control system similar to those used by John McMaster. Its intended to be a good starting place for what options might be for adding automated image capture to a microscope.

Useful links:

• https://microwiki.org/wiki/index.php/Stepper_Motor
• https://www.machinekit.io
• https://beagleboard.org/black

Reference system, focusing on critical components

• Microscope
  • AmScope MU800 camera
  • MDrive17 stepper motors on XY stage
• BBB indexer
  • BBB
  • Machinekit
  • B3I cape (breaks out step/direction to RJ45)
• T61p laptop
  • Ubuntu 16.04LTS
  • pyuscope (microscope control software)
  • touptek.ko modified for direct RGB control

Reference workflow:

• Connect BBB over USB to host laptop
• Host laptop: static config IP to 192.168.7.1
• SSH -X from T61p to BBB (192.168.7.2)
  • Launch LinuxCNC software over X
  • Launch server.py RPC client (TODO: bring back automatic launch)
  • Use LinuxCNC GUI for all setup movement, not pyuscope
• Optional: white balance camera using cal.py. Write values to microscope.json
• Start pyuscope software
• Select current objective (ie 20x)
• Use LinuxCNC GUI to navigate around stage and make adjustments to level out
  • TODO: add link / suggestions how to do this
• Use LinuxCNC GUI to navigate to upper left corner of die and in pyuscope hit "set upper left"
• Use LinuxCNC GUI to navigate to lower right corner of die and pyuscope hit "set lower right"