Z-plane focusing is achieved using a linear rod set, where manually rotating the lead screw raises or lowers the sample stage with respect to the imaging lens and camera. An x-y translational stage is attached to the sample stage to allow smooth sample adjustment in this plane. This affects only the positioning of the sample and has no bearing on the relative positions of the optical components. The imaging column faces upwards towards the sample stage from the base of the DOME and contains an optical filter holder on a pivot hinge and printed internal threads to attach magnification lenses. The imaging column has two different attachments that can be used, one for a lower magnification option in which only a tube lens is required, and an extended version for higher magnification, where a microscope objective can be attached.
Optical setup
To control microscale collectives, the DOME must be capable of both visualising these agents and targeting them with localised light. This necessitates combining together projection and microscopy optical pathways. The precise configuration of critical optical components is given in Figure \ref{860569}.