Optical and mechanical design of a low cost educational microscope using zemax simulation

Abstract

This research presents the optical and mechanical design of a simple compound microscope using Zemax OpticStudio simulation software. The study focuses on optimizing both the objective and eyepiece lenses to achieve a balance between magnification, resolution, and image quality for educational and inspection purposes. The Ramsden eyepiece and medium-power objective were modeled and optimized to minimize spherical and chromatic aberrations. The optical performance was evaluated through spot diagram, modulation transfer function (MTF), wavefront error, and distortion analysis, revealing a distortion rate below 0.152%, with sagittal and tangential rays nearly coinciding—indicating excellent image correction. A mechanical tube length of 160 mm was selected to ensure proper alignment and compatibility with practical fabrication. The resulting system provides magnifications between 40× and 100×, suitable for observing surface irregularities in metals and other materials. This study demonstrates that Zemax-based simulation is a powerful and low-cost method for designing optical instruments, making the microscope a valuable educational and laboratory tool for student training and preliminary research in optical sciences.