Public Lab Research note


Potentiostat Notes 4: Fabrication made easy

by JSummers | January 08, 2014 21:03 08 Jan 21:03 | #9931 | #9931

What I want to do

In my last Potentiostat note (found here), I droned on for three paragraphs about how to fabricate a printed circuit board. Here is the easy way.

My attempt and results

This link should take you directly to a page where you can order a board. If it doesnt work, go to OSHPark.com, click on the "Shared Projects" link at the top of the page and look for "WheeStat5.1" (they are arranged chronologically, so look for things submitted on Jan 8, 2014).
OSHParkPCB-2.png

Click on the link at the bottom of the page that says "Order". You will need to order a minimum of three, at a total cost of $11. Priority shipping is another $5 (in the US) but free shipping is available.
Since this is my first foray into having boards fab'd, I had no idea what turn-around time to expect. For those in a similar situation; I ordered three boards Jan 8, they went to the fab house on the 10th and they shipped on the 16th. I expect they will get to my office on Monday the 20th. Thus, from first click to delivery took a little less than two weeks. Be aware that you will still need to purchase and solder on the components (they are just shipping you the board).

Questions and next steps

Question--Why have I been doing this the hard way? Next steps-- I have three boards on order (also on order is a stencil from OSHstencils.com). Once these come in and I have convinced myself that this really is the way to go, I will order a larger run and make a set of instruments for use in lab this semester. If you would like a board, let me know. I can have extras made when I place my next order (For a larger order the price drops).


11 Comments

Hi, it is a honor to meet a very interesting project, I want build your proyect for the university for project graduate, but the scheme is not clear. You use two integrated, Please clarify what uses could CI´s in your board? I´m sorry but my bad english.

Thanks and good luck in your development.

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Hi, I am glad to hear that you are interested in the project. The first integrated circuit (IC1) is a quad operational amplifier. The part number is LMV324IDR. IC2 is a digital potentiometer (MCP4231-103E/SL). All the resistors and capacitors are 1206 packages. All resistances and capacitances in the pdf schematic look OK, but we have changed the values of R8 and R9. They were 160 K ohm, but we are now using 10 K ohm. The software on the GitHub site is outdated and I need to update it. Hope to have time to do that soon. We may be making a production run in the next few months. This would be boards populated with components but not headers or leads for the electrodes. If things work out, we will make 120 boards and I will be able to let you have one for my cost plus shipping. Let me know if there is anything further that I can help with. Jack

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Thanks Jack for your response, is not too much trouble, if you could send me the circuit diagram to my email? Please, If you need help, tell me to improve your board. I have also the launchpad stellaris and have ADC 16 bits converter and TL072/TL084CN as operational amplifier (this integer work to made a pH meter with arduino).

Sorry for the inconvenience and greetins from sudamerica

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I would be happy to send any files you need to your email. Just let me know how to find your email address. Alternatively, you should be able to get a pdf file of the schematic from https://github.com/SmokyMountainScientific/WheeStat5_0/blob/master/WheeStat5_1Board/WheeStat5_1_Schematic.pdf. There should be a button labelled "raw" that allows you to download the original pdf file. Jack

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Hi Jack, my name is Mauricio and my email is ironfist469@gmail.com. I understand is what CI´s not refered in the schematic, you include in the new board (Oshpark). Sorry but my insistence. If I made the board (Oshpark), can work without any changes?.

Thanks and good day.

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Hello Jack - my particular interest . . . detection of methyl mercury . . . I too would be interested in purchasing a product run board. CHEERS! Mike

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Hi Mike, Send me your contact info and I will see what I can do.
Jack

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This is a very exciting project, congratulations on your effort. Have you thought about doing a kickstarter for this? I think it would be a good idea. I would also be very interested in purchasing a board from you (sell it to me at 2x your price so that you make a profit).

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Hi Danielfp, I would be happy to get a board into your hands. Send me an email (summers at wcu dot edu) and we can figure out how to move forward. Jack

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Dear JSummers

I have studied how to perform Arduino project as potenciostado , and frankly, was already giving up because there are many difficulties to realize until I located public lab that gave me new hope about the project. It is part of my work in college my teacher asked if he could develop to resolve internal funding problems but the work will be also a evaluation. The work was divided into two phases : one to the measures using the Arduino and other systems use scada , which already have more knowledge, to collect information and show graphically for monitoring and control. I wonder if it would be possible to have access to the project to try to implant in college. I noticed the plate assembly did not understand how to perform the components could not read right , anyway. what can help me I will be very Grateful

Sincerely,

Ivan Morales

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Hi Ivan, I will be happy to help you with this. Did you want to make a WheeStat or were you decided on using Arduino. The WheeStat was designed using a different microcontroller board than the Arduino, but it is similar. Send me emails at summers@wcu.edu. Best, Jack

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