MacGyver Microscop – Technical Unviersity Eindhoven TU/e + openUC2

Two years ago, we packed a big box full of OpenUC2 cubes, lenses and LED arrays and shipped them over to the Eindhoven University of Technology. But why? 50 second-year Biomedical Engineering students had to prepare for the challenge-based learning (CBL) microscopy course where every team had to design, build, calibrate and deploy its own […]

How you can use openUC2’s FRAME in agricultural studies?

Turning Microscopy on Its Side—Literally At OpenUC2 we love testing the limits of modular microscopy. Our newest plant-science rig, inspired by the developments with the Wageningen University in the Netherlands, does exactly that: the entire frame can be rotated 90 ° onto its back. Seedlings stay in their natural, upright orientation, while objective and camera […]

Inclusive Innovation: Volmarstein Workshop Builds OpenUC2 Discovery Line Microscopes

Our mission is to make optical research – from basic microscopy to quantum-physics experiments – modular, affordable and classroom-ready. Our first education-focused product, the Discovery Line, now rolls off the assembly tables of “WerkVol”, the inclusive workshop run by Evangelische Stiftung Volmarstein near Dortmund. Hurray! 🙂 60+ precision parts, Lego-style simplicity Project lead Armin Grundmann […]

I want it now! Many!

A few days ago, a research group approached us for assistance with a rather specific application: imaging a series of well plates in a fully automated workflow. The goal was to inspect multiple wells per plate efficiently and reliably. After a brief phone call, it quickly became clear that this task could be easily tackled […]

Yes, we CAN (BUS)!

Of course, OpenUC2 places a strong emphasis on modularity. The goal is to digitally replicate virtually any optical setup through a flexible system of hardware and firmware (maybe there will be an openMINFLUX Box at one point? 😇). Each component – motors, sensors, illumination modules – can be quickly reconfigured and controlled. Until now, a […]

Microscope with Aluminum Hat (No Conspiracy Theory inlcuded?!)

Ocean Scientists We found the research team “Biological Carbon Pump” at Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, a research team taking a look at life cycles and interactions of the different organisms in the sea. They look at what types of Plankton (sea organisms from algae to jellyfish to crustaceans) they can observe at different times and at different […]

Building Infinite Complexity: The OpenUC2 Approach to Modular Optics

The foundation of OpenUC2 lies in its mission to enable the construction of optical systems of virtually any complexity. At the heart of this endeavor is, of course, the microscope. Over the years, we’ve built countless microscopes—each unique, tailored to specific needs. In many ways, they’re custom creations. Yet, thanks to our modular approach, we […]

Dead is the Quantum Box. Long live the Quantum Box!

Exciting developments are underway as we officially join the BMBF-funded project to bring quantum minilabs to various extracurricular learning venues across Germany. Though the project began earlier this year, we joined in the spring, following some internal organizational and financial adjustments. Now, we’re thrilled to be part of this initiative, working alongside strong partners like […]

Pushing Cutting-Edge Microscopy using Robotic

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the “Microscopy Farm” R&D project by openUC2, as part of our “get started 2gether” initiative. This pioneering venture is set to revolutionize the field of microscopic imaging by developing a massively parallelizable microscopy platform, in close collaboration with INNOVENT e.V. Technologieentwicklung Jena. This initiative is not just […]

Empowering Science: OpenUC2’s Journey to Nigeria’s Biomedical Landscape at BioRTC

Around two years ago, the seeds of collaboration were sown when OpenUC2 embarked on a mission to introduce open-source microscopes to the BioRTC (Biotechnology Research Center). The idea was grand, but the path forward was uncertain. The initial discussions paved the way for what would become a transformative journey. The collaboration started modestly, with virtual […]