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YOU CAN BUILD A LASER SCANNING MICROSCOPE FROM A DEAD BLU-RAY PLAYER

The optical unit inside a dead Blu-ray player already has a blue laser, a voice-coil lens and photodiodes — everything you need to scan a sample point by point and build an image.

by Michael Linschied (Doctor Volt)

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

ScienceOpen-hardware

difficulty
●●●●○
time
a weekend-plus
license
GPL-3.0
repo
repo ACTIVE126 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

  • 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
  • Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
  • Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware

Partner

Show off your build — Record and edit your build video by editing the transcript, not the timeline.Try Descript
Videos
1

COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a real scanning microscope built from a real Blu-ray optical pickup, producing 127-by-127 pixel images at an estimated resolution of 5 micrometres. The idea is elegant: the pickup already contains a blue laser, a focusing lens on a voice coil and photodiodes, so all you are doing is mounting it in a printed frame, wiring it to an ESP32, and sweeping it across a sample. The scans are slow — 16,129 individual measurements — but the browser interface shows them building in real time. Everything you need is published under GPL-3.0: STL files, schematics, firmware and the web UI. The single thing most likely to go wrong is sourcing the pickup. The video shows a Samsung BD-J5900 being dismantled, but the current bill of materials specifies a BDP-10G pickup, and the repository does not say where to buy one or whether other models will work. The firmware only compiles against ESP32 Arduino core 2.x, which is an immediate trap if you are using the latest toolchain. If you want to see microscopy at this scale and you are comfortable sourcing parts without a shopping list, this is a weekend well spent. If you need a kit or a guaranteed supplier, you will be inventing half the build yourself.

NOT IN THE REPO

  • —3D-printable frame files, KiCad schematics, ESP32 firmware and a browser-based scan interface are all in the repository.
  • —The video shows a Samsung BD-J5900 player being stripped, but the current build list specifies a BDP-10G pickup bought separately — a version difference worth noting.
  • —The firmware only compiles against ESP32 Arduino core 2.x, not 3.x.
  • —No bill of materials with supplier links; you will need to source the pickup and other components yourself.
  • —GPL-3.0 licence; permits commercial use but requires derivative work to also be open.
  • —Resolution is estimated by the author at around 5 micrometres; no formal calibration procedure is provided.

Can I build this?

PrintFrame, sample holder and motor mounts — files in the repository.
BuyBDP-10G optical pickup (or equivalent), ESP32 dev board, stepper motors, driver boards, power supply, assorted electronics. No links provided.
Tools3D printer, soldering iron, multimeter, basic hand tools, Arduino IDE with ESP32 core 2.x installed.
SkillsIntermediate electronics (reading schematics, soldering surface-mount if modifying), firmware flashing, 3D printing, patience with sourcing parts.
TimeA weekend to print and assemble if you have all the parts; longer if you are hunting down the pickup or debugging firmware.
Cost$30–$60 according to the author; dominated by the optical pickup and stepper motors.
SafetyBlue laser inside the pickup — do not look directly into it or shine it at people. Otherwise ordinary electronics care.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

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Videos

Blu-ray Laser Scanning Microscope

Walkthrough by the creator showing the Samsung BD-J5900 being stripped and the microscope in operation.

Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Read the README and watch the video (Understand the version difference: video shows BD-J5900, BOM specifies BDP-10G.)
  2. 2.Source the optical pickup(BDP-10G or equivalent — no supplier link provided, you will need to find one.)
  3. 3.Install ESP32 Arduino core 2.x(Version 3.x will not compile the firmware.)
  4. 4.Print the frame and mounts(STL files are in the hardware folder.)
  5. 5.Assemble electronics and flash firmware(Follow the schematics and firmware instructions in the repository.)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

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KNOWN ISSUES

  • The optical pickup is not a standard hobby part. The video shows a Samsung BD-J5900 being stripped, but the current BOM specifies a BDP-10G, and there is no link to buy one. You may spend a weekend hunting it down.
  • The firmware only compiles with ESP32 Arduino core 2.x. If you have 3.x installed, it will fail immediately.
  • Resolution is estimated at 5 micrometres by the author, not measured with a calibration standard. Your results may differ.
  • Scans are slow: 16,129 points for one 127-by-127 image. This is not real-time imaging.
  • No formal documentation on pickup compatibility. If you buy the wrong one, the pinout or coil resistance may not match.
  • The blue laser is a real safety hazard if the pickup is powered outside the enclosure. Do not look into it.

Can I use a different Blu-ray pickup?

Maybe. The repository does not list compatible models or explain what to check. If you buy a different one, you will need to reverse-engineer the pinout and verify the coil resistance yourself.

What is the actual resolution?

The author estimates around 5 micrometres based on the blue laser wavelength and optics, but there is no formal calibration or test target included.

Why does the firmware not compile?

It only works with ESP32 Arduino core 2.x. If you have 3.x installed, downgrade before you start.

How long does one scan take?

Several minutes for a full 127-by-127 image. The browser interface shows it building in real time.

Community builds

No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.

Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

The whole microscope scans 127 by 127 points to build one image, and the resolution is estimated at around 5 micrometres — what would you scan first?

CompareeTEAM1d ago

Practical notes from our verification: the repository contains everything promised — STL files, schematics, firmware and a browser UI — but no bill of materials with supplier links, so you will be sourcing the BDP-10G pickup yourself. The video shows a different model (Samsung BD-J5900) being stripped, which is a version difference worth knowing before you start hunting for parts. The firmware only compiles with ESP32 Arduino core 2.x, not 3.x, which will catch anyone using a recent install. The scans are genuinely slow, and the resolution estimate comes from the author without formal calibration, so treat it as a rough guide rather than a specification.

Michael Linschied (Doctor Volt)

Michael Linschied publishes open hardware and electronics projects as Doctor Volt. The Blu-ray microscope is one of several instrument builds, all shared under GPL-3.0.

GitHub

Star the project on GitHub

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  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
GitHub repo