Advancing optical imaging systems with digital fabrication

Fuente: arXiv
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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wenzel, Tobias, Bowman, Richard, Cairns, Gemma S., Diederich, Benedict, Hurtado, Matias, Parot, Vicente, Saggiomo, Vittorio
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Wenzel, Tobias
Bowman, Richard
Cairns, Gemma S.
Diederich, Benedict
Hurtado, Matias
Parot, Vicente
Saggiomo, Vittorio
author_facet Wenzel, Tobias
Bowman, Richard
Cairns, Gemma S.
Diederich, Benedict
Hurtado, Matias
Parot, Vicente
Saggiomo, Vittorio
contents Optical imaging technologies are central to discovery in the life and physical sciences, yet their impact depends on how readily they can be built, adapted, and sustained across laboratories. Digital fabrication, including desktop 3D printing, offers new ways to engineer imaging instruments by simplifying assembly, lowering replication barriers, and enabling modular integration and local refinement. Here we examine, using open microscopy as a transparent case, how digitally fabricated components support adaptable, research-grade optical systems while enabling faster innovation cycles and distributed refinement. We outline practical design guidelines and discuss emerging developments that may further advance accessible, high-performance imaging.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_00853
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Advancing optical imaging systems with digital fabrication
Wenzel, Tobias
Bowman, Richard
Cairns, Gemma S.
Diederich, Benedict
Hurtado, Matias
Parot, Vicente
Saggiomo, Vittorio
Biological Physics
Instrumentation and Detectors
Optics
Optical imaging technologies are central to discovery in the life and physical sciences, yet their impact depends on how readily they can be built, adapted, and sustained across laboratories. Digital fabrication, including desktop 3D printing, offers new ways to engineer imaging instruments by simplifying assembly, lowering replication barriers, and enabling modular integration and local refinement. Here we examine, using open microscopy as a transparent case, how digitally fabricated components support adaptable, research-grade optical systems while enabling faster innovation cycles and distributed refinement. We outline practical design guidelines and discuss emerging developments that may further advance accessible, high-performance imaging.
title Advancing optical imaging systems with digital fabrication
topic Biological Physics
Instrumentation and Detectors
Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.00853