MicroStretch: Microstretcher designed for live imaging on microscopic stages

TL;DR

MicroStretch is an affordable, compact microstretcher for live imaging on microscopes, enabling cost-effective material deformation testing.

Contribution

An open-source, low-cost microstretcher system designed for compatibility with various microscope stages.

Findings

The device can be assembled for under $100 and validated with PDMS and electrospun samples.

Real-time imaging of sample deformation is possible on multiple microscope setups.

The system supports both static and cyclic uniaxial loading for material testing.

Abstract

•Design and manufacturing of an affordable, easy-to-assemble micro stretching system for use on microscope stages.•Hardware is compact and lightweight, making it versatile for use on a variety of microscope stages.•Equipment is validated using PDMS and electrospun samples stretched and real time imaged on multiple microscopes.•Detailed CAD models, assembly processes, and parts lists provided for easy replication and modification.•Open-source innovation democratizes the use of important testing approaches.

Design and manufacturing of an affordable, easy-to-assemble micro stretching system for use on microscope stages.

Hardware is compact and lightweight, making it versatile for use on a variety of microscope stages.

Equipment is validated using PDMS and electrospun samples stretched and real time imaged on multiple microscopes.

Detailed CAD models, assembly processes, and parts lists provided for easy replication and modification.

Open-source innovation democratizes the use of important testing approaches.

Deformation response evaluation is essential for understanding material behavior, providing insight into their suitability across many fields, such as biomechanics, materials science, and other engineering disciplines. Specialized applications in biomedical and soft materials demand miniaturization for testing under a microscope or spectroscopic stages. The current commercial machines on the market are often large, expensive, or heavy, making them difficult to use for specific needs. This hardware addresses this need by developing a cost-effective, miniature, and programmable system that can be tailored to individual lab requirements to fit multiple microscopic stages. By utilizing a bipolar stepper motor attached to a lead screw and sliding linear stage, programmed and controlled by an Arduino microcontroller, the system can apply specialized stretch under uniaxial static or cyclic loading. The developed system can be assembled for less than $100, making cost-effectiveness a central focus of this development. The device performance was validated using a variety of samples and microscope tests, with sample deformation captured in real time. The device is compatible with live imaging on microscopic stages, accommodating specialized research needs across applications.

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