It turns out that old Blu-ray players can be converted into microscopes

December 21, 2022 By Raulf Hernes

(Image Credit Google)

Optical microscopes typically have a magnification range of 500x to 1,500x. A Blu-Ray drive focuses an ultra-precise blue laser with a wavelength of 405 nanometers on the surface of a disc. The effectiveness with which that light is reflected back to the optical pickup unit of the drive defines whether a one or a zero has been spotted. However, the optical pickup unit's sensors can measure a broad range of light intensities—not just on or off—which improves a Blu-Ray drive's error correction capabilities and allows the hardware to be repurposed. Doctor Volt of YouTube has converted a Blu-Ray drive into a simple scanning laser microscope. A scanning bed was built using custom-designed and mass produced plastic parts. The image is constructed from 16,129 measurements (a 127x127 grid) and scaled up to 512x512. On eBay, you can get a microscope hacked from a Blu-Ray drive for less than $20. The microscope's focus and scanning speed can be adjusted using a browser-based user interface, but only at the slowest possible speed. The results are incredible and distinct. Definitely not similar to what you'd get from tens of thousands of dollars in lab equipment.

By Raulf Hernes

If you ask me raulf means ALL ABOUT TECH!!

It turns out that old Blu-ray players can be converted into microscopes

Walmart's GenAI Search Engine: Challenging Google's Dominance in Retail Search

Introducing the MSI Claw Handheld: Your Ultimate Gaming Companion

Uber Increases In-App Ads, Prompting Mixed Reactions from Customers

Apple's iOS 18: A Leap into the AI Era

Google's Regular Pixel 8 Won't Get Gemini Nano AI

MacBook Air M3 Makes Amends for M2's Storage Blunder

Samsung Unveils the Galaxy M15 5G

Elon Musk's xAI to Open-Source Chatbot Grok

Contra: Operation Galuga - A Modern Run-and-Gun Classic

Musk Confirms X's TV App Arrives This Week

A new eyeless telescope called eQuinox 2 makes space exploration accessible to everyone

Company Uses Nasa’s Rover Technology to Create Airless Tires for CES 2023

Samsung could unveil the world's first foldable + slidable display at CES2023

How to Trick Burglars With Your Smart Home? Nightmare for Thieves

Lenovo Wants to Charge Your Phone and Hold Your Webcam With Your Desk Lamp

Here Is How To Map Your Home With iRobot Roomba?