Difference between revisions of "DNA Melter Improvements"
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== Physically Restrained Optical System == | == Physically Restrained Optical System == | ||
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+ | Because people have to carry their DNA melters from place to place, the optical system tends to get misaligned very easily, leading to noisy data. Here are some ways to make the system more stable: | ||
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+ | * Use PART NAME to hold the heat sink in place on the breadboard. | ||
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+ | * Bend down the leads of the TEC and tie them to the 'legs' of the heat sink with short pieces of wire. (By itself this doesn't help very much, but in combination with thermal grease, it makes a big difference.) | ||
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+ | * Use cage rods to hold together the sample block, the photodiode, the filter, and the lenses of the fluorescence detector. To avoid conducting heat out of the sample block, add nylon standoffs to your cage rods. | ||
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+ | * TODO: can I also attach the LED to the sample block? | ||
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+ | * TODO: photos |
Revision as of 06:43, 23 May 2011
This page catalogs improvements made to the apparatus for the 20.309 DNA Melting Lab Module.
Forced Cooling
Monolithic Photodiode-Amplifier
Physically Restrained Optical System
Because people have to carry their DNA melters from place to place, the optical system tends to get misaligned very easily, leading to noisy data. Here are some ways to make the system more stable:
- Use PART NAME to hold the heat sink in place on the breadboard.
- Bend down the leads of the TEC and tie them to the 'legs' of the heat sink with short pieces of wire. (By itself this doesn't help very much, but in combination with thermal grease, it makes a big difference.)
- Use cage rods to hold together the sample block, the photodiode, the filter, and the lenses of the fluorescence detector. To avoid conducting heat out of the sample block, add nylon standoffs to your cage rods.
- TODO: can I also attach the LED to the sample block?
- TODO: photos