Lego Spectrometer
lego-spectrometer

This is the latest version of Public Lab's DIY Desktop Spectrometry Kit -- the Lego Spectrometer. It addresses issues of rigidity, sourcing, modularity, and image quality over previous versions. We've been making and distributing [Do-It-Yourself spectrometers](/w//spectrometry) since 2011, and have been through [4 major kit versions](http://store.publiclab.org/collections/spectrometry) and hundreds of different community contributed modifications, new versions, changes, and more. ## Get a kit This is an open source kit, so you can just build your own -- but to **order parts for a kit**, visit the Public Lab Store: ## Design goals Over the years, we've identified a few really critical improvements that have been tough to solve: * rigidity * easy to source parts * modularity - working together * image quality Our mission is to make it **easier, cheaper, and more accessible to do environmental monitoring**, and to do that as an open source, collaborative community. And of course part of that is cost -- while people build upon our kits with more expensive options and upgrades, we want the basic kit to be extremely affordable. ## Quick start [notes:grid:lego-quickstart] ## Questions [questions:lego-spectrometer] ## Building your Lego Spectrometer [activities:lego-spectrometer] ## Spectrometry activities [activities:spectrometry-sampling] **** ## Spectrometer calibration [activities:spectrometry-calibration] **** [![tinkercad.png](https://publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/022/935/large/tinkercad.png)](https://publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/022/935/original/tinkercad.png) _Tinkercad model, below_ ## Parts ### 3D models * Tinkercad: https://tinkercad.com/things/43IqCTHE7Iz * Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2711528 ### 3D brick models Lots of great brick models are available here: https://printabrick.org/ and on http://thingiverse.com * assorted standard bricks: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2626413 * holey bricks: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1095326 * sloped brick: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:527185 * corner L brick: https://printabrick.org/bricks/2357 * brick w/ peg: https://printabrick.org/bricks/2458 (I used this instead of a 1x2 hole brick + a friction peg, because I couldn't find a model for the brick) Brick dimensions are nicely described in this diagram from Wikipedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lego_dimensions.svg Print files for the black cardstock insert can be [found here](https://publiclab.org/notes/abdul/10-19-2016/foldable-paper-spectrometer-instructions). ...


Author Comment Last activity Moderation
irganga "A tip is to put the DVD on a pan with water and boil it for 5 to 10 minutes. It would be easier to separate the layers with a knife. " | Read more » over 1 year ago
laurel_mire "I did this! " | Read more » over 2 years ago
bhamster "I did this! " | Read more » almost 3 years ago
jimsmith_081799 "A simple visible-wavelength spectrophotometer has been constructed ... inexpensive components students can easily work with (small flashlight bulbs..." | Read more » over 3 years ago
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Naumandhak12 "Separate the layers of the disc. Insert a butter knife in between the two layers of the CD, and gently wiggle it to pry the layers apart. " | Read more » over 3 years ago
Ag8n "It depends on the type of instrument. A narrower slot is normally used in a scanning type instrument. Many instruments these days are not scanning..." | Read more » over 3 years ago
Bronwen "Ah! When we did a million of these at makerfaire a few years ago I found a strategy worked for me was to flex the dvd back and forth for a while fi..." | Read more » over 3 years ago
zaphodc130 "A narrower slit. Reduced light thruput but increased resolution " | Read more » almost 4 years ago
kgradow1 "To get the film off, try running a sharp exacto knife very lightly under one edge. If it starts to split it's very hard to remove it without scrat..." | Read more » almost 4 years ago
TC1994 "Hi @jenjimah, thank you so much for sharing your work. I have a question, did this final assembly manage to get the functionalities you set out to ..." | Read more » about 4 years ago
craftpk "Thanks, Srnec i found it " | Read more » over 4 years ago
srnec "Standalone software was also missing for me, so I created one. You can download here: https://lpuws.scot.sk/ screenshot: https://lpuws.scot.sk/lpuw..." | Read more » over 4 years ago
rrajbhar754 "Very nice post. " | Read more » over 4 years ago
warren "Hi! I've noticed that the Pi runs /much/ faster when adequately cooled -- strange but true, because I think it throttles to reduce temperature. So..." | Read more » over 4 years ago
danieisnietgek "Thanks changed it like you mentioned " | Read more » over 4 years ago
bsugar "@danieisnietgek, I'm not sure if you can edit the title, but if have a suggestion which is that you add something about the raspberry pi. For exam..." | Read more » over 4 years ago
jevs "Apparently a capital F and a lowercase f mean something different. I changed my post to a lowercase f=3.85mm. Apparently f is focal length and F is..." | Read more » over 4 years ago
stef "there may be some answers for you in the research notes produced by @Stoft and @Warren on the topic of camera's native resolution and optics as a ..." | Read more » over 4 years ago
devolperdev "Very Nice article Thanx for this useful jobkari My recent project is jobkari.com make sure to visit jobkari " | Read more » over 4 years ago
jevs "What is the best focal length No IR lens to get? " | Read more » over 4 years ago