Build guide
One 3D-printed part, the Celestron microscope with its included stand, and a few inexpensive supplies. That’s the whole first version.
01 · Parts
Everything below, plus a computer to view and save images and the microscope’s attached USB cable.
Captures the images, provides lighting and lets you adjust height and focus. The stand comes with it.
Stabilizes the finger during imaging without pressing on the nailfold.
Lets the software convert image pixels into real micrometers.
Reduces surface scattering and reflections so the capillaries are easier to see.
The cloth cleans the microscope and stand; swabs apply or remove the oil.
Blocks reflections and stray light. It isn’t a structural base.
Optional: thin double-sided tape if the rest slides on your desk, and a ruler or digital calipers for checking dimensions. The Celestron kit also lists an included calibration ruler, but the separate 0.01 mm stage micrometer is better for checking accuracy.
02 · Check first
The stand’s listed dimensions are overall size, not necessarily the footprint or working clearance under the lens.
| Measurement | What to do |
|---|---|
| Finger rest length, width, height | Read the imported STL dimensions in the slicer |
| Finger channel width and depth | Check that the printed groove comfortably fits your finger |
| Lens-to-finger clearance | Find experimentally while focusing |
| Height of nailfold above tabletop | Measure with the finger resting naturally |
| Working space beside the stand post | Make sure the finger rest fits beneath the lens |
| Calibration slide thickness | Use the spec or measure it; it matters for matching imaging height |
03 · The setup
Simplified side view. Not to scale and not an exact CAD assembly.
04 · Assembly
Download the Attune finger-rest STL and open it in your slicer.
Set scale to 100%, read its real dimensions, check the print orientation and print one rest. Smooth any edges that touch skin.
Attach the vertical support to its base and fit the microscope into the holder following Celestron’s instructions. Tighten the controls so the microscope doesn’t drift down.
Put the setup directly on your desk and slide the finger rest under the lens. Place the nailfold under the lens.
Keep the hand and wrist supported and make sure nothing squeezes the finger.
Plug the USB cable into your computer and open the Celestron software, a camera app, or our Microscope page. Check that the live image appears.
Raise or lower the microscope on the stand, then fine-tune with the focus wheel.
Start at moderate LED brightness. If your version has a polarizing filter, turn it to cut glare.
Lift and reposition your finger a few times. If the rest moves, add thin double-sided tape under it. Don’t attach anything permanently until you’ve found a comfortable position.
Move your finger aside and put the calibration slide under the lens on a clean, flat support, at about the same height as the nailfold. Capture a sharp image of the markings and work out the scale:
Example: if a 100 µm interval spans 200 pixels, the scale is 0.5 µm per pixel. The Microscope page can do this for you.
Keep settings and geometry the same. Recalibrate if magnification, resolution or working distance changes.
Remove the slide and put your finger back in the rest. Add a small drop of mineral oil to the nailfold, avoiding irritated or broken skin.
Recheck focus and lighting, then save several sharp images with the same settings.
If you can’t see the capillary loops, adjust finger angle, focus and lighting before buying more hardware.
05 · Done
The open question isn’t the assembly. It’s whether this microscope can take clear, repeatable nailfold images good enough for the AI. Test that before making the hardware more complicated.