Applied Science - 2011-06-01
After getting back from Maker Faire (which is always a hugely enjoyable and inspiring event), I thought that my microscope might need some repairs. As it turned out, I only had to change the filament and tighten some screws that came loose during the trip back from the Faire. The microscope works just as well as it ever has -- I didn't even need to move my alignment magnets. I made this video to show everyone what using it is really like. Also, if you haven't been able to attend Maker Faire yet, it really is as amazing and epic as you have heard. The intelligent and inspiring people who make it happen are a large part of the motivation that I had to build and display this microscope. In turn, I hope my project inspires others to create things and share their ideas with everyone. There's no better way to have fun and celebrate accomplishment at the same time!
As the guy in the "Apollo 13" movie said: "You sir, are a steely-eyed missile-man!".
That is the most incredible and excellent homemade-from-scratch project I have ever seen!
Respect.
Hahaha, just watched that like 10 days ago. I had to youtube it to see what they meant, the original story was pretty awesome too
Right on, Justin...... definitely awesome :-)
This is brilliant. Your willingness to go for it and not think that it can't be done is inspiring.
Doing this kind of stuff was my dream as a kid. Now I'm in university and I see that everything is magnitudes more complicated than I thought.. and I just can't handle all the science :D
Electrical engineering?
not as difficult as it is expensive. If you don't have a garage full all deep vacuum pumps and 40kV power supplies and other electronics, buying all that stuff and having a place to experiment on it is kinda expensive and not even do easy to find. Idk where i can find 40kV power supply or a filament for that electron beam
I look forward to seeing your homebuilt SEM that will do 100,000x, and have automatic control with a PC interface for desired zoom factor.
That's absolutely awesome!
I'm still surprised how much High quality Content is (still) available on YouTube!
Thanks! CRT electron guns are optimized for producing a fairly large spot size. The SEM requires a much smaller spot, and this changes the way the gun geometry is setup. Another problem is that CRT guns are coated with a metal oxide to enhance electron emission. However, venting the tube to atmosphere will cause the coating to become "oxygen poisoned", and the emission characteristics will be hurt significantly. I haven't done the experiment to determine how significantly, but it's severe.
Not too often. The vacuum system is very simple, and has only one valve so there isn't much to go wrong. I did have a problem with insulators in the chamber becoming charged, then suddenly discharging and causing problems with electronics.
You are one heck of an engineer! Really love your work on that SEM...! You actually made this topic quite easy to understand! Thanks again:D
i'm glad you picked up a book on electron acceleration and not one on fission, all the best things were built in sheds and without people like you we'd all still be in caves.
This really is by far the most amazing/coolest thing I've seen anyone create individually. Imagine the research, time, $$$$$, and theory that went into this. A good solid foundation in physics or electronic engineering would be a good start I suppose. Bravo to you sir!
Question....are we seeing screen roll because of a frequency mismatch between the scope and camera? I would assume your scope is a still image.
This is the absolute best DIY science on youtube. Keep up the good work. We are rooting for you.
Very neat! Only thing I would add is a shatter shield for the bell jar. A professor was telling me about one imploding and putting glass into a car door!
Wow I'm impressed. Go science!
This is so cool. "eh I think I'll build a scanning electron microscope. No big deal". I love this guy!
omg I think this is the first “see ya next time, bye”!
And the next one is the first “see ya next time, byyye” :)
And so the legacy began xD <3
2011 Ben: "Bye"
2020 Ben: "Bæ"
Yes, but the problem is that you might have to submerge the specimen in an aqueous solution for silver coating, and this would saturate the insect with water, which you'll have to fully remove before inspecting with the SEM. However supercritical drying is often used for specimen preparation, and it's possible the extra water will not be much of a problem.
Destroying a filament is pretty difficult. A lot of air would have to leak in to cause the tungsten to actually burn through. I don't think I ever destroyed one. However, I had plenty of arcs in the chamber, and changed my emission current gauge twice since it would blow out after a major arc discharge.
i want to be your neighbor. sitting everyday in your garage, watching you fiddeling around. learning a whole bunch.
I see, it will work if you are able to dry it. I just stumbled upon yor videos and you are truly inspiring! Kids need this. Thumbs up
The images keep looking better and better. I look forward to seeing more videos and construction details.
No, the problem is that chamber materials outgas and also release adsorbed molecules (like water), which must be pumped away or else the vacuum will get worse over time.
I'd be happy to answer specific questions about the SEM build. I'm easy to find on the internet. Send me a message.
'm severely impressed. You have an amazing collection of vids. Thanks for your inspiring work!
i believe that the shakiness of the image can be reduced if the microscope itself is physically separated for the vacuum pumps - vibration of the pumps moves the sample and the image gets shaky you probably watched it but i found a lot about electron microscopes in this video series
I would love to make one of these!
Ok, I am convinced, you are a true mad scientist! :) Haha really that is freakin' awesome! That's gotta be a lot of work to make and set up, but you can bring over your friends and ask them whether or not they have a scanning electron microscope in *their* workshop! Seriously though, this is very impressive! Job well done.
Well atleast you're the first one to call me an idiot without having horrible grammar. Ohh and i'm not an idiot.
Excellent work!! How much did this apparatus cost to build? I am a physics undergrad and I am wondering about building this for my senior project. It is probably not feasible since I would only have like three months. Still a really cool setup!!!
This microscope sometimes arcs, that's just the way it is ....
Best. Sentence. Ever.
This guy is casually a level 100 genius
Amazing project.
Is possible use a CCD/CMOS sensor instead a photomultiplier (maybe coating a CCD/CMOS matrix with phosphorous or ZnS film)?
Thank you for share this.
Best Regards
This is really amazing.
Very much reminds me of the 1971 movie the andromeda strain...!
THIS GUY!!!
🐐
That is so amazing. Kudos.
Awesome!
Amazing work! Wouldn't have thought, that it is possible to build one working electron microscope without having access to a professional laboratory. I think the most sensitive thing to handle is the vacuum technology, if one of the pumps goes damaged your filament will burn. How often did that happen in the engineering process?
Can't imagine what you with Cody's Lab can rig together, you look like close relatives
Truly impressive work! You seem to know alot about what you are doing;)
Awesome Report Thank-you!
Very cool
really impressive, nice work!
@xXdenhartXx From my understanding, bio-material is difficult to image, at least for back-scatter imaging, because you have to coat the material with a metallic coating.
100% thought by the thumbnail for this video that you'd made a real-life pip boy
This machine rocks !!! BTW: Please help jeriellsworth fix the mass spectrometer.
Most interesting again. Any idea what the depth of field might be? I guess if you had a gold sprayed bug it could interesting and presume focus scale would enable you to cover full depth. I think you will have to try a fruit fly sometime!!!
You're right. I probably should.
This is truly amazing.
Incredible work!
@jgedutis - 2016-11-26
Every video I watch you make a piece of scientific equipment that I used to think was only attainable by a university or big business. You will inspire the next generation to make their own access to equipment. With the right tools and an open mind what will be possible?
Keep on inspiring!
@JD-ub5ic - 2017-05-31
Absolutely. I feel like people, myself included, often have this mindset of "well I could do this thing if I had this epic piece of equipment to do it with!" but rarely think "is it feasible to try and create said equipment, or otherwise find a creative solution?".
Hopefully these videos convince people to not make excuses for why they can't do something.