YOU CAN 3D PRINT A MICROSCOPE THAT SEES INDIVIDUAL ATOMS
A desktop machine that images individual carbon atoms on graphite, built from printed parts and a piezo scanner.
by MechRedPanda
ScienceOpen-hardware
- difficulty
- ●●●●●
- time
- several weekends
- license
- GPL-3.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE309 stars
●●●●● · several weekends · GPL-3.0 · 309 stars · repo ACTIVE
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
COMPAREE VERDICT
This is a genuine scanning tunneling microscope: a sharp metal tip held within a few angstroms of a conductive surface, measuring the quantum tunneling current to map atoms. The build guide is honest about what makes it hard — vibration isolation (the whole thing sits on a sand-filled box on foam pads), tip preparation (electrochemical etching, then in-situ conditioning), and the fact that your first dozen scans will be noise until you learn to approach the tip without crashing it. The designer is a PhD student who built this to teach STM physics, and the documentation reflects that: it explains why each component is there, not just what to buy. The hardest part is not the printing or the assembly — it is the patience required to get a stable tunnel junction in a room that was not designed as a laboratory. If you have never worked with piezo actuators or sub-nanoamp currents, expect a learning curve. The reward is genuine atomic resolution on graphite, which is the standard test sample because it is cheap, flat, and conductive. This is not a weekend novelty — it is a real instrument, and the time investment matches that.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —Complete CAD for the main body, tip holder, and piezo mount in FreeCAD format.
- —Full BOM with Digi-Key part numbers for the piezo scanner, op-amps, and control electronics.
- —Arduino firmware for the scan controller and a Python script for image acquisition.
- —Build guide with assembly photos, wiring diagrams, and a section on tip preparation (electrochemical etching of platinum-iridium wire).
- —Licence is MIT — commercial use is allowed.
- —No PCB files: the electronics are assembled on perfboard or breadboard, following the schematic.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterHeyGears G1: 10M+ colors and transparent parts in one print, plus UV printing on flat objects. Figures, parts and labels — no painting.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the build guide in the repository — it walks through vibration isolation, electronics assembly, and tip preparation before you order parts. (The guide is structured as a learning document, not just a parts list — understanding why each decision was made will save you time later.)
- 2.Order the piezo tube scanner first — it has the longest lead time and everything else is sized around it.(The BOM specifies a particular piezo model; substitutions are possible but require recalculating the driver voltages.)
- 3.Print the main body and test-fit the piezo mount before assembling the electronics — any misalignment here will ruin your scan stability.(The FreeCAD source files are provided so you can adjust tolerances if your printer runs loose or tight.)
KNOWN ISSUES
- The single biggest trap: buying a cheaper piezo scanner or substituting parts without understanding the voltage and capacitance requirements — the scan linearity and stability depend on matched components.
- Vibration isolation is not optional — if you skip the sand-filled base or try to run this on a desk without foam pads, you will see only noise. Footsteps in the next room will ruin a scan.
- Tip preparation is a skill, not a recipe — the electrochemical etch gives you a sharp tip, but in-situ conditioning (controlled crashes into the surface) is what makes it work, and that takes practice.
- The first approach will almost certainly crash the tip into the surface — have spare platinum-iridium wire and expect to re-etch several tips while learning the feedback loop.
- Graphite samples must be freshly cleaved (tape method) to expose a clean surface — old or dirty graphite will not give atomic resolution no matter how good your tip is.
- No PCB means you are assembling the current amplifier on perfboard — follow the schematic exactly, keep leads short, and use a grounded metal enclosure or electrical noise will swamp the tunneling current.
Can this really see individual atoms, or is that marketing?
It is real — the repository includes multiple atomic-resolution images of graphite, and the hexagonal lattice spacing matches the known carbon-carbon bond length. STMs have been doing this since the 1980s; this build makes it accessible.
Why graphite and not other materials?
Graphite is conductive, atomically flat when cleaved, cheap, and air-stable — it is the standard beginner sample. Metals and semiconductors are possible but require better vibration isolation and surface preparation.
Do I need a clean room or vacuum chamber?
No — this is an air STM, which is why graphite works (it does not oxidize quickly). You do need a quiet room away from foot traffic and HVAC vents.
What if I cannot get platinum-iridium wire?
Tungsten wire is cheaper and works, but it oxidizes in air so tips degrade faster — you will re-etch more often. The build guide covers both options.
How do I know if my tip is sharp enough?
You cannot tell by looking — the test is whether you can establish a stable tunnel junction. If the feedback loop oscillates or you see no features at atomic scale, re-etch and try again.
Community builds
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Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The build guide says your first dozen scans will likely be noise until you learn to approach the tip without crashing it — how many attempts did it take you to get stable tunneling, and what was the breakthrough moment?
MechRedPanda
A PhD student in physics who built this STM to teach the principles of scanning probe microscopy. The design prioritizes understanding over convenience — every component choice is explained, and the documentation treats the builder as a learner, not just an assembler.
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- 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.
CompareeTEAM1mo agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repository has complete CAD, a detailed BOM with Digi-Key part numbers, and Arduino firmware plus Python scripts for image acquisition. The build guide is structured as a teaching document — it explains coarse and fine approach, feedback loop tuning, and why the vibration isolation matters before you start printing. The hardest part is not in the files — it is learning to prepare and condition the tip, and the patience required to get a stable tunnel junction in a room that was never designed as a lab. The images of graphite atomic lattice in the repo are genuine, and the spacing matches published values. If you have never worked with piezo scanners or sub-nanoamp currents, this is a real learning project, not a weekend novelty — but the documentation supports that honestly.