The OpenStage Control System is based upon the 2014 PLoS ONE paper by Rob Campbell et al., where they published their design and evaluated the performance of the “OpenStage” – a stepper-motor driven motorized microscope stage for a two-photon microscope. 

Their design includes the complete microscope stage. Here, in line with our modular approach, we separate the stage they described into two separate assemblies:

1.     The “OpenBase Mechanics” (indicated in the above schematic by green colour-coded parts), including the

a.    Stage tier-plates,

b.    Manual translation stages (X,Y and Z),

c.    Mounting pillars

d.    Breadboards/plates for positioning the sample/animal

e.    Interface brackets and plates necessary to integrate all components

NeuroGig offers the OpenBase Mechanics in various formats – discuss your requirements with us for the best fit 

 

2.     The “OpenStage Control System” – everything “upstream” from the manual translation stages (indicated in the above schematic by blue colour-coded parts) The OpenStage Control System offered on this product page is an assembly of these parts. It includes

a.    The stepper motors (X,Y and Z),

b.    Couplers to the translation stages,

c.    Control electronics for the motors,

d.    The control interface (DualShock PlayStation controller)

e.    PC serial port interface, with command code to control the motors via ASCII command.

 

The project described in the paper integrated components available from various electronics traders, open-source maker, or engineering-sites.
The group coded the control circuitry to achieve control and accuracy equivalent to or better than some expensive commercial options. The code and description of the project is available on GitHub.

 

The design has been replicated for several other projects since its publication. In the meantime, one of the control circuit boards (previously
available from SparkFun) has become obsolete. The OpenStage Control System presented here includes custom-built circuitry to replace the obsolete circuit board. 

 

INTEGRATION OPTIONS:

 

We offer the complete OpenStage Control System as a separate, DIY integration for adding motorization to existing translation stages. You can also order a complete motorized system, a combination of the OpenStage Control System and the OpenBase Translation Stage.