This guide offers a comprehensive engineering roadmap for constructing a Do-It-Yourself Scanning Tunneling Microscope (DIY STM), an instrument capable of atomic-scale imaging. It details the fundamental principles governing STM operation, emphasizing the quantum tunneling effect and its exponential dependence on distance, which necessitates extreme precision. The text breaks down the complex system into three main components: the mechanical system, focused on achieving picometer stability through precise scan heads, coarse approach mechanisms, and multi-stage vibration isolation; the electronic system, which handles current sensing, high-voltage driving, and digital control via microcontrollers; and the software and operational aspects, including tip fabrication, sample preparation, and image analysis using tools like Gwyddion. The guide also covers crucial safety protocols for high-voltage circuits and provides a cost analysis with an example bill of materials, making this advanced scientific instrument accessible to dedicated hobbyists and researchers. Finally, it highlights the vibrant open-source community and valuable resources that support DIY STM construction.

Research done with the help of artificial intelligence, and presented by two AI-generated hosts.