Kit Production🔗

Required Tools🔗

Building the PlanktoScope involves components that can be sourced from various vendors, both online and locally. The assembly process is straightforward and can be completed within a few hours. Our website offers detailed guides for both hardware and software assembly, and the PlanktoScope community is ready to assist you with any questions or issues.

Soldering Station🔗

A soldering station with flux, or flux core solder, is necessary for making a few electrical connections. Purchase here.

Tap Wrench🔗

Any tap wrench compatible with the M12x0.5 tap will work. Purchase here.

M12 x 0.5 Tap🔗

An M12x0.5 tap is required to secure the objective and tube lenses. Purchase here.

Screwdriver Kit🔗

A screwdriver kit with multiple drivers simplifies many assembly operations. Purchase here.

Required Components🔗

Below is a comprehensive list of components required to build the PlanktoScope V2.1, along with links to purchase them in both the US and France.

Electronic Components🔗

Fluidic Components🔗

Optic Components🔗

Hardware Components🔗

Machine Your Structure🔗

To complete your PlanktoScope kit, you'll need to fabricate the structure. This can be done using laser cutting or CNC machining from a sheet of material. You can machine the structure locally at a FabLab or through a company specializing in laser cutting or CNC machining. The cost will vary depending on the material chosen and whether you machine it yourself or use a company.

Suggested Materials🔗

Get the Plan and Machine It🔗

You can download the necessary fabrication patterns for the structure here; two versions are available, one for material with 5 mm thickness, and the other for material with 1/4 inch thickness:

• 5 mm thickness: SVG file (recommended), DXF file
• 1/4 inch thickness: DXF file

Since DXF files don't include unit information, when you open or import one of these DXF files you may need to rescale all dimensions to achieve the correct sizes. You can check whether dimensions are correct by checking the length and width of part M against the actual dimensions shown below:

You can also compare the approximate dimensions of parts in the SVG file (for 5 mm thickness material) with the sizes of parts in your imported DXF file to check whether the rescaling result looks approximately correct.