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Build Your Own Scanning Tunneling Microscope

Posted by michael on from the puts-other-build-your-own-stories-to-shame dept.

I don't want to spen writes "For all you fans of nanotech out there, a friend just posted me a link to instructions for building a scanning tunnelling microscope, from the University of Muenster. Interestingly, their licensing terms sound open source-ish to me: '(... We grant everybody the right to construct the microscope using the here-published design for private or educational purposes. On these web pages all necessary diagrams, drawings, material descriptions and software-source-codes are published for free access. While granting the right to build the microscope we make it mandatory that new developments, improvements or other applications of our design are also made openly available for private or educational purposes...)'"

13 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Visual Basic? by gerrynjr · · Score: 3, Funny

    come on! At least write it in java....

    Seriously though, looks like a great summer project.. Not to mention my college will now have a SEM because of these plans :-D

  2. Srpechten de German? by seanvaandering · · Score: 3, Funny

    Okay the instructions are in English - nice. The diagrams are in German? Need a little help here...

    1. Re:Srpechten de German? by Slowping · · Score: 4, Funny

      ACHTUNG! ALLES LOOKENSPEEPERS!

      Alles touristen und non-technischen looken peepers!
      Das computermachine ist nicht fuer gefingerpoken und mittengrabben.
      Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk, blowenfusen und poppencorken
      mit spitzensparken. Ist nicht fuer gewerken bei das dumpkopfen.
      Das rubbernecken sichtseeren keepen das cotten-pickenen hans in das
      pockets muss; relaxen und watchen das blinkenlichten.

      couldn't help myself

      --
      (\(\
      (^.^)
      (")")
      *beware the cute-bunny virus
    2. Re:Srpechten de German? by Guppy06 · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Need a little help here..."

      Alright. It should be "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" All set?

  3. Re:I'm just curious... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    micro, tele, what's the diffrence? :)

  4. What?! No Linux Version?! by NeoThermic · · Score: 2, Funny

    >> from the article:
    The software was written in Visual Basic 6 for Windows

    Great! But I wanted to control the STM from my linux box :\
    It already controls my lights, coffie maker, telephone, network, CD player...

    NeoThermic

    --
    Use my link above, or to view my server, NeoThermic.com
    1. Re:What?! No Linux Version?! by PatoLucas · · Score: 2, Funny

      It'll suck then. Using VB is like masturbating with a cheese grater. It should be made illegal

      What I do with MY cheese grater in MY house is non of your business!

      Make it Illegal!! What's next? Make it illegal to make a hole in a watermelon for when I feel lonely? Because watermelons have feelings? C'mon!

      --
      -uh? -Do you remember your first Dime bar? -uh? -D-i-m-e b-a-r? -uh?
  5. omg! by niko9 · · Score: 4, Funny

    A hardware desging, in the GPL style, released to man for his education and enlightenment?

    You mean this is not like, say for a example, some greedy physician who comes up with a slightly different way of suturing someone with existing tools, patenting said technique, and then demanding worldwide royalties????

    The end is near! /faints/

    --

  6. Sad face? by Polyphemis · · Score: 4, Funny

    Interestingly, their licensing terms sound open source-ish to me: '(

    heh, did anyone else quickly glance at that and think he was making a sad crying face because it sounded open source?

    "Uh oh! It sounds like open source! :'("

    1. Re:Sad face? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Actually, I'll one up you. The only reason I read the comments was to find out why he made the sad crying face.

  7. Re:I'm just curious... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    See if those penis enlargement pills are working.

  8. You Must Use This 30000x Power Only For Good by Ray+Radlein · · Score: 3, Funny


    For a horrible, horrible moment, I read the headline as "Build Your Own Spamming Tunneling Microscope."

    Just think what horrid new forms of viral marketing a research tool like that could help develop.

  9. Re:I'm just curious... by ByteSlicer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Telescope? I think you need to read the story again...