DIY Scanning Electron Microscope - Overview
Why Hacker News recommends it
Used as an example of Applied Science pushing the limits of garage engineering, in DIY microscope threads.
What it is
Ben Krasnow shows the first image from his home-built scanning electron microscope, after months of work, and walks through how the parts operate together.
Recommended by 1 HN commenters across 1 different months, 2015 to 2025.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec fpordeig · 2015-06 · on “Home Built Scanning Tunneling Microscope Electronics”
[this video] Ben Karsnow's channel is really inspiring. With every video, he pushes the limits of what I thought it was possible to do in your garage.
Cites failwhaleshark · 2021-04 · on “Home-Built Scanning Tunneling Microscope (2015)”
Neat. IIRC, wasn't there a project using a well-sharpened pencil tip? Also, Applied Science had one in 2011. [this video]
Cites godelski · 2025-10 · on “Making the Electron Microscope”
Fun fact, you can make a basic scope at home. It definitely is not easy but probably not as expensive as you might think (actually not much at all!). Ben Krasnow (Applied Science) has a few videos and blog posts on the topic[0,1,2]. The Tungsten Filaments can be expensive, but I sent an email to the company and they sent me some samples to play with. It's been years so I forgot who I contacted. I tried the Nalgene bottle method but honestly I could not get it to hold a tight enough vacuum. The electron beam was very unstable and it is just really hard to purge and backfill the "chamber". The hardest part is getting the beam control circuit. I never got that refined myself for clear images, b