Public Lab Wiki documentation

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides and posting your own
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Share your upgrades for others to try -- and perhaps for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on kit

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). These activities can be categorized, and some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Note: If you are working on an urgent issue such as a threat to your or someone else’s health, please know that these techniques may not be ready for your use; it's possible that they never will be. Read more here

Activity grid

[activities:spectrometry]

Add your own activity Request an activity guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. Learn what makes a good activity here.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ask a question about spectrometry

[notes:question:spectrometry]

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides and posting your own
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Share your upgrades for others to try -- and perhaps for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on kit

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). These activities can be categorized, and some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Note: If you are working on an urgent issue such as a threat to your or someone else’s health, please know that these techniques may not be ready for your use; it's possible that they never will be. Read more here

Activity grid

[activities:spectrometry]

Add your own activity Request an activity guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. Learn what makes a good activity here.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ask a question about spectrometry

[notes:question:spectrometry]

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). These activities can be categorized, and some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Note: If you are working on an urgent issue such as a threat to your or someone else’s health, please know that these techniques may not be ready for your use; it's possible that they never will be. Read more here

Activity grid

[activities:spectrometry]

Add your own activity Request an activity guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. Learn what makes a good activity here.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ask a question about spectrometry

[notes:question:spectrometry]

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). These activities can be categorized, and some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Activity grid

[activities:spectrometry]

Add your own activity Request an activity guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. Learn what makes a good activity here.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ask a question about spectrometry

[notes:question:spectrometry]

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). These activities can be categorized, and some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Activity grid

[activities:spectrometry]

Add your own activity Request an activity guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. Learn what makes a good activity here.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ask a question about spectrometry

[notes:question:spectrometry]

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). These activities can be categorized, and some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Activity grid

[activities:spectrometry]

Add your own activity Request an activity guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. Learn what makes a good activity here.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ask a question about spectrometry

[notes:question:spectrometry]

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). These activities can be categorized, and some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Activity grid

[activities:spectrometry]

Add your guide here Request a guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ask a question about spectrometry

[notes:question:spectrometry]

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). These activities can be categorized, and some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Activity grid

[activities:spectrometry]

Add your guide here Request a guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ask a question about spectrometry

[notes:question:spectrometry]

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). Some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Activity grid

[activities:spectrometry]

Add your guide here Request a guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ask a question about spectrometry

[notes:question:spectrometry]

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). Some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Add your guide here Request a guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ask a question about spectrometry

[notes:question:spectrometry]

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). Some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Add your guide here Request a guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

[notes:question:spectrometry]

Ask a question about spectrometry

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). Some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Add your guide here Request a guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

Frequently Asked Questions

[notes:question:spectrometry]

Ask a question about spectrometry

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). Some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Add your guide here Request a guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

[upgrades:spectrometry]

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). Some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Add your guide here Request a guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Upgrades

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

Add your upgrade guide here Request or propose an upgrade

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). Some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Add your guide here Request a guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Hardware Mods

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

Add your hardware modification here Request a hardware modification

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). Some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Add your guide here Request a guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Hardware Mods

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

Add your hardware modification here Request a hardware modification

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Activities

This is a list of community-generated guides for specific applications using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design). Some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments. Together, we can repeat and refine the activities into experiments.

Add your guide here Request a guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Hardware Mods

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

Add your hardware modification here Request a hardware modification

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.

The Public Lab spectrometry project is an open source community effort to develop low-cost spectrometers for a range of purposes. All open spectrometry hardware and software efforts are welcome here!

Join in by:

• Reading about goals and asking great questions
• Building a basic spectrometer using one of our starter kits
• Trying (and critiquing) our community-made how-to guides
• Posting your own how-to guides and mods
• Building on others’ work; hack and remix the kits to refine and expand them
• Submit your improvements for inclusion in an upcoming starter kit release or add-on
• Serving on a Research Review Group for a 3 month period

Experiments

This is a list of community-generated guides for experiments using your spectrometry setup (either a starter kit or a modded design) toward specific applications. Some may be more reproduced -- or reproducible -- than others. Try them out to build your skills, and help improve them by leaving comments.

Add your guide here Request a guide

Guides should include a materials list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Hardware Mods

Have you added to your starter kit, improved it, or redesigned it? Show others how to take it to the next level by posting a build guide here:

Add your hardware modification here Request a hardware modification

Mods should include a parts list and a step-by-step construction guide with photo documentation. See an example.

Builds

There’s a lot going on in open source spectrometry -- if you’ve developed another open source design you’d like to show others how to construct, post it here!

• RamanPi
• Hackteria “drop”-style spectrometers / DIY NanoDrop on Hackteria.org
• Add yours here

Starter Kits

Public Lab’s Kits initiative offers several starter kits, including many of the basic components, and instructions for constructing a basic visible light spectrometer. The point of the kits is to provide a shared reference design for building experimental setups onto.

• The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit (now at version 3.0), is our most recent “reference design” incorporating some community improvements while balancing low cost and relative ease of construction. We have not yet met all our intended goals for this design, which is still at an exploratory phase: build on this design by adding a sample holder, attaching a light, or incorporating it into an experiment.

Visit the Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit version 3.0 page

• New to spectrometry? You might like to try the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit, a $10 foldable spectrometer which you can attach to a smartphone or webcam. It’s made of paper to reduce cost and complexity, and is mainly intended as an “introductory” or educational kit.

Visit the Papercraft Spectrometry Starter Kit page

Using spectral data

Overview of spectra, calibration, units, comparison, and fluorescence/absorption/… Using the spectrometer with the https://spectralworkbench.org interface, spectral data is recorded, which includes qualitative light intensity at specific wavelengths of light. Data is presented visually in a plot with light intensity as a function of wavelength, ranging from 400 to 700 nm. By creating “sets” of multiple spectra, you can visually assess the similarities and differences between the spectra, although it cannot be used to compare the color of substances.

Software

Same, remix, or expansion of existing docs.
Spectral data can be analyzed with https://spectralworkbench.org to create spectra plots, find centers of emissions plots, and find similar spectra. Data also can be exported to graphing programs such as Plotly, Gephi, or MatLab for further analysis and visualization.

How does this compare to a lab instrument?

The Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit is only one part in an experimental setup, and the following shows where it fits in an overall diagram of a lab spectrometric setup:

[ Analysis computer ] [ Spectrometer ] = || [ Sample container ] || = [ Light source ]

[ Extraction system ] [ Sample storage ] [ Sample collection equipment ]

There are many, many different types of spectrometry and spectrometers -- many don’t even measure light. Even among those that do, some detect light in the ultraviolet range, and others in the infrared range of light.

The range of Public Lab spectrometers depends on the range of the commercially available cameras we attach them to (~400-700 nanometer wavelengths). A commercially available product with a slightly wider range (from 335 to 1000 nanometers) is available from Cole Parmer.