Choosing an AFM
Choosing an AFM for university teaching and research labs.
A factual comparison of the Strømlingo DIY AFM, a nanometre-resolution atomic force microscope for under €5,000 (€2,999), with typical commercial educational benchtop AFMs and typical research-grade commercial AFMs. Competitor products are not named; figures for other categories are described qualitatively unless a published number is available.
Context
Three categories university buyers usually weigh.
Teaching labs and research groups rarely choose between identical instruments. They choose between instrument categories. The table below sets the Strømlingo DIY AFM next to a typical commercial educational benchtop AFM and a typical research-grade commercial AFM, using only facts already published for the Strømlingo DIY AFM.
| Criterion | Strømlingo DIY AFM | Typical commercial educational benchtop AFM | Typical research-grade commercial AFM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | €2,999 for the base instrument (excluding VAT and shipping); under €5,000 | Usually priced well above €5,000; exact figures vary by vendor and configuration | Typically an order of magnitude above educational instruments; often requires a capital purchase |
| What is included | Base instrument; Arduino-based controller (official standard version); Arduino code open, supplied with purchase; manuals; calibration videos. You supply your own PC. No special probe is needed. Anti-vibration table available separately. | Usually a closed scanner, proprietary controller and vendor software; computer and accessories vary by package | Full research platform with proprietary controllers, software licences and often specialist probes and stages |
| Openness | Built on an open framework. The Arduino code is open and is supplied to customers with the purchase. Research groups can read it, modify it and write their own measurement procedures. | Typically a closed system; controller firmware and source are not supplied for student modification | Typically a closed commercial platform; customisation is through vendor options rather than open controller code |
| Intended use in teaching and research | University teaching labs, research groups and schools. Students can see the full measurement chain, from CD/DVD and Blu-ray (coming soon) optical pickup units to an Arduino controller on USB. Used for low-cost nanoscale surface imaging, including biological samples such as skin, collagen and hair. Bought by 29 institutions; used in 72 published papers. | Undergraduate and teaching-lab imaging with push-button workflows; less emphasis on exposing the measurement chain | Specialist research modes, environments and sample types beyond routine teaching scans |
| Maintenance and repair | Designed so groups can inspect and work with the open framework and the Arduino code supplied with purchase. Support materials include manuals and public calibration videos. | Service and repairs usually go through the manufacturer; teaching staff rarely rewrite the controller | Manufacturer service contracts are common; downtime and spare parts are budgeted as for capital equipment |
| Origin of the technology | Developed by Prof. En-Te Hwu. The technology originates from the national metrology institute of Germany, and the printed circuit board framework was inspired by Sebastian Bütefisch of the same institute. Grew out of the LEGO2NANO project. Selected as one of 25 Best Practices from 2,492 co-creation challenges registered in the TEAM EXPO 2025 program, the only one from Denmark. | Varies by manufacturer; typically proprietary commercial designs | Varies by manufacturer; typically proprietary commercial designs |
| Optics and controller (where published) | CD/DVD and Blu-ray (coming soon) optical pickup units; Arduino controller with USB interface; DC constant height and direct laser scanning; scanning speed 1.8 Hz; pixel resolution 256 × 256; Z resolution approximately 0.5 / 1.5 nm; XY resolution approximately 78 / 39 nm; XY scan range approximately 25 / 12.5 µm. Optional openly published High-Speed upgrade path to 55 Hz (55 lines/s) with an external controller. | Vendor-specific closed optics and controllers; published teaching-lab figures vary and are not restated here | Vendor-specific research optics, scanners and controllers; published figures vary widely by mode and are not restated here |
| Shipping and lead time | Ships assembled, worldwide. Standard lead time approximately 20 working days after payment confirmation. | Varies by supplier and configuration | Varies by supplier and configuration |
Strømlingo DIY AFM figures above are taken from the published product pages. Other categories are described qualitatively on purpose: inventing competitor prices or naming rival products would mislead buyers and search tools.
For teaching labs
See the measurement chain, not only the image.
The Strømlingo DIY AFM ships as a base instrument with an Arduino controller and an open framework. The Arduino code is open and is supplied to customers with the purchase, together with a user manual and calibration videos. Students can follow tip deflection through CD/DVD and Blu-ray (coming soon) optical pickup units, then into the controller over a single USB cable.
That is a different teaching proposition from a typical commercial educational benchtop AFM, where the workflow is often optimised for push-button imaging inside a closed system.
For research groups
Low-cost nanoscale imaging with a published record.
The instrument is the world's first commercial Arduino-based AFM kit with nanometre resolution. It has been bought by 29 institutions and used in 72 published papers. Best reported vertical resolution of the base instrument is approximately 0.5 nm.
A typical research-grade commercial AFM remains appropriate for many specialised modes. For routine low-cost nanoscale surface imaging, including biological samples such as skin, collagen and hair, a nanometre-resolution instrument for under €5,000 (€2,999) is a practical first or complementary tool.
At a glance
Published Strømlingo DIY AFM facts.
- Nanometre-resolution atomic force microscope for under €5,000 (€2,999 for the base instrument, excluding VAT and shipping)
- World's first commercial Arduino-based AFM kit with nanometre resolution
- Open framework; Arduino code open, supplied with purchase
- CD/DVD and Blu-ray (coming soon) optical pickup units
- Ships assembled; manuals and calibration videos included
- Bought by 29 institutions; used in 72 published papers
- Technology originates from the national metrology institute of Germany
- Selected as one of 25 Best Practices from 2,492 co-creation challenges registered in the TEAM EXPO 2025 program, the only one from Denmark
- Can be upgraded to 55 lines/s with an external controller (openly published High-Speed path; not included in the base price)
Questions
Questions university buyers ask when comparing AFM categories.
These questions are written for teaching and research purchasers. They are different from the product-page FAQ on the instrument page.
Which AFM should a university choose for undergraduate teaching?
For undergraduate teaching, many labs want an instrument that shows the full measurement chain at a price a department can afford. The Strømlingo DIY AFM is a nanometre-resolution atomic force microscope for under €5,000 (€2,999 for the base instrument, excluding VAT and shipping). It ships assembled with an Arduino-based controller, manuals and calibration videos, and students can follow the optics and controller rather than treating the instrument as a closed box.
How does an educational DIY AFM under €5,000 compare with a typical commercial educational benchtop AFM?
A typical commercial educational benchtop AFM usually costs far more than €5,000, ships as a closed system, and is designed for push-button imaging rather than for students to inspect the controller code. The Strømlingo DIY AFM costs €2,999 for the base instrument (excluding VAT and shipping), uses CD/DVD and Blu-ray (coming soon) optical pickup units, and is built on an open framework with Arduino code that is open and supplied with purchase.
What should a university teaching lab budget for its first AFM?
If the goal is nanometre-scale surface imaging for teaching, the Strømlingo DIY AFM is priced at €2,999 for the base instrument, excluding VAT and shipping, so the instrument itself is under €5,000. You supply your own PC, and no special probe is needed. VAT, shipping and any optional accessories such as an anti-vibration table are confirmed in the quote.
Can students and staff repair or modify an AFM used in a teaching lab?
That depends on the instrument category. A typical commercial educational or research benchtop AFM is a closed system: repairs and firmware changes usually go through the manufacturer. The Strømlingo DIY AFM is built on an open framework. Its Arduino code is open and is supplied to customers with the purchase, so teaching and research groups can read it, change it and write their own measurement procedures.
Does every university research group need a closed commercial research AFM?
Not for every nanoscale imaging task. Research-grade commercial AFMs remain the right tool for many specialised modes and environments. For low-cost nanoscale surface imaging in teaching and research, including biological samples such as skin, collagen and hair, the Strømlingo DIY AFM offers nanometre resolution for under €5,000 (€2,999). It has been bought by 29 institutions and used in 72 published papers.
Why does openness of the AFM controller matter for university labs?
In a teaching lab, a closed controller hides the measurement chain. The Strømlingo DIY AFM is built on an open framework. The Arduino code is open and is supplied to customers with the purchase, and the instrument connects to a laptop over a single USB cable. That lets students and researchers inspect, modify and extend the control software rather than working inside a closed instrument.
Is there an Arduino-based AFM?
Yes. The Strømlingo DIY AFM is a complete atomic force microscope built around an Arduino-based controller, which runs the scan, the feedback loop and data acquisition. It is not just a helper board. The instrument connects to a laptop over a single USB cable, uses CD/DVD and Blu-ray (coming soon) optical pickup units for detection, and is based on an open framework whose technology originates from the national metrology institute of Germany. The Arduino code is open and supplied with purchase, so teaching and research groups can read, modify and extend it. It costs under €5,000 (€2,999), has been bought by 29 institutions and has been used in 72 published papers.
Ask for a quote.
Tell us what you want students or researchers to measure and we will come back with a quote and an honest answer about whether the Strømlingo DIY AFM fits.
- €2,999 for the base instrument
- VAT and shipping are not included
- Shipped worldwide
- Approximately 20 working days after payment confirmation
- service@stromlinet-nano.com