Raspbian-OpenFlexure

Download Raspbian-OpenFlexure

The simplest way to set up the Raspberry Pi is to download the pre-built SD card image that contains a full operating system with all the necessary software (the OpenFlexure server and OpenFlexure Connect) pre-installed.

Raspbian OpenFlexure

Full desktop OS.

Includes full graphical microscope control software.

Required:

Raspberry Pi 2 Model B (1GB RAM)
(or better)

Recommended:

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (2GB RAM)
(or better. 8GB model not supported)

Raspbian OpenFlexure Lite

Minimal OS without desktop.

You will need another computer to control the microscope graphically.

Required:

Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+ (512mb RAM)
(or better)

Recommended:

Raspberry Pi 2 Model B (1GB RAM)
(or better. 8GB model not supported)

Write your SD card

A guide explaining how to install a Raspberry Pi operating system image onto an SD card can be found here on the Raspberry Pi website. You will need another computer with an SD card reader to install the image.

The default username is pi, with a default password openflexure.

First boot

Connect your Pi to a display, mouse, keyboard, and power. When the Pi first boots, you will be asked to complete a quick setup, before rebooting.

After rebooting, the OpenFlexure Microscope Server should run automatically. You no longer need to connect the microscope to a display or peripherals if you’re using the microscope from another computer. The server application will handle all communication to the microscope.

OpenFlexure Connect

OpenFlexure Connect is an electron-based client for the OpenFlexure Microscope. It allows for discovery of microscopes on the network and launches the Web App for control of the microscope and basic capture management.

Download OpenFlexure Connect

There is no need to download OpenFlexure Connect onto your Raspberry Pi. It’s already included with Raspbian-OpenFlexure.

Windows

Get it from the Chocolatey package manager

Linux

Get it from the Snap Store

Mac OS

Currently, OpenFlexure Connect for Mac OS must be built from source. Instructions can be found in the Readme file on GitLab.

Use a Web Browser

Alternatively, you can access the OpenFlexure graphical interface from any web browser on a computer connected to the same network as your microscope.

You’ll need to know either your microscope’s IP address, or it’s hostname (by default microscope.local).

The interface runs on port 5000, and so can be accessed from either http://microscope.local:5000 or http://{your microscope's IP address}:5000 (inserting your IP address, for example http://192.168.1.60:5000).

Next steps

Use your Microscope