Pax Instruments has launched the T400 datalogger

I’ve recently launched the T400 temperature datalogger with my new company Pax Instruments.

Overview
The Pax Instruments T400 datalogger is an open source four-channel thermocouple temperature datalogger based on the Arduino™ Leonardo platform. It is ready to use out of the box with the features you want most. Measurements can be logged to MicoSD card, printed to serial port, and graphed. The T400 is a great tool for anything from live thermal process monitoring in the lab to long-term environmental data collection in the field.

Professional design
The Pax Instruments T400 datalogger is designed to be out of the box ready for professionals and hobbyists alike. If you need a temperature datalogger that works every time, this is the device for you.

Open source spirit
The hardware and software design files are available to you at no cost to use, modify, or redistribute. This allows you and others to extend the devices capabilities or tailor it to your specific application.

Arduino™ compatibility
Arduino™-compatible hardware means while hacking on the platform you will be able leverage the work of others while sharing your own work with large community of hackers and makers. Sharing is caring.

Hardware

MicroSD slot
Readings can be saved to a microSD card in standard CSV format for processing in Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice, or your favorite data analysis tool.

USB serial port
Readings can captured live via the USB serial port. This is perfect for live process monitoring in lab experiments or connecting to an internet-enabled device.

Mini-TC connectors
Thermocouples connect via standard mini thermocouple connectors. The T400 is compatible with a wide variety of K-type thermocouple sensor types from stainless steel probes to rolling surface-contact sensors.

Ambient temperature
The MCP9800 temperature sensor is used for cold junction compensation.

ADC
The MCP3424 analog-to-digital converter measures the voltage produced by each thermocouple.

Real-time clock
The DS3231 real time clock is used to trigger readings. Between readings the device is put into low power sleep mode. The RTC wakes up the unit to take a reading. This gives a longer battery life.

Li-Po battery
The T400 uses a standard BL-5C battery. This is great for battery replacement in the field.

LCD
The generous 132×64 LCD is capable of displaying the current temperature for each thermocouple as well as a graph of the most recent readings.

AVR processor
The T400 runs on the ATmega32u4 AVR processor.

The Pax Instruments T400 temperature datalogger is Kickstarting September 2014.

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Documentation

Source
NOTE: Source files are being migrated from the original private repository to the repositories below.
T400-v0.7 schematic
Electronics on Github
Firmware on Github
Enclosure on Github

Additional resources
T400 on Hackaday.io

Datasheets
ATmega32U4 – Microcontroller
DS3231 – Real-time-clock
MCP3424 – Analog-to-digital-converter
MCP9800 – Ambient temperature sensor
MCP73831 – LiPo battery charge controller
MIC5219 – 3.3 V regulator
PGB1010603 – ESD suppressor

Motor Vehicle Collision

On the way to work this morning I watched a cop car T bone a black SUV. I gave a statement to the police and my business card to the driver of the SUV. I’m recording my thoughts here while they’re fresh.

This morning I was walking on the sidewalk at Eastern Parkway and Frankine Avenue in Brooklyn. My location at the time of the collision is represented by the blue circle. My destination was the subway entrance represented by the green circle. I witness a sedan style police car strike the passanger side of a black SUV. The police car’s path is represented by the red arrow. The SUV’s path is represented by the black arrow. The intersection of the red arrow’s tip and black arrow is where the collision took place.

I did not observe the state of the traffic light. However, I was paying attention to the crosswalk signal represented by the yellow circle. At the time of the collision there was an amber blinking hand. After the collision I continued walking across the street, keeping an eye on the cars while mentally processing what happened and deciding if I should stick around. As I made it across Franklin Avenue to the crosswalk signal I observed that the signal was still blinking. The crosswalk signal is significant because it indicates the SUV had a green light at the time of the collision.

I did not hear the police car siren, but I couldn’t say with certainty that it was not on. I’m fairly confident that the siren was off and a few blips were sounded just before entering the intersection. I can say with certainty that the police car did not slow down enough to ensure the intersection was clear. Also, the SUV was traveling at a normal speed when entering the intersection.

MakerBot Replicator Launched

Today I’m very proud to announce the MakerBot Replicator is launched. We started development this summer with two full time employees, a college intern and a hand full of high school students. Developing a new product from idea to launch was a huge undertaking, but we knew we could do anything. Over the past months the team grew, but the goal remained the same: create the ultimate dual material 3D printer for your desktop.

NYC Resistor Interactive Art Show

Tomorrow (7 May 2011) NYC Resistor is hosting another Interactive Art Show. Come interact with beautiful and interesting works that will buzz, blink, and blow your mind. For a better idea of what to expect view the Interactive Art Show round up from 2009.

Paul Strohmeier’s interactive paper cranes will be shown along with other amazing works.

Cardboard Surfboard

Wow! Thingiverse citizen Mike Sheldrake has posted a totally awesome cardboard surfboard.

I’ve been making and riding cardboard-core surfboards for about three years now. They work. Leaks are not the huge problem you would expect. And they happen to look – what’s that old term the surfers used to use – awesome!

The design files come lain out in 12×24 inch sheets meaning it can be cut on the NYC Resistor laser cutter.

UPDATE: The surfboard was covered by Becky Stern back in June of 2009.

McMaster-Carr has 3D Models

Every product you see was designed. Most of these were designed using three-dimensional CAD tools. This means that most of the things we use already have 3D models somewhere out there. Thingiverse is a great place to share the objects you have created and download the objects shared by others. But what about all the things not on Thingiverse? McMaster-Carr is full of 3D models for various parts. Do you know of any others?

Skeinforge Trick: Extra Base Shells

Colorbroken used a a neat Skeinforge trick to get a concentric patter on the bottom of this 120 Film Advance Crank. All he had to do was increase the “Extra Shells on Base Layer” in the Fill pane. Can you can count the rings to calculate how old it is? 🙂

 

The Skeinforge path

 

 

Colorbroken's result

 

World Maker Fair in NYC Sep. 25, 26

World Maker Faire is coming to the New York Hall of Science this weekend. Come visit MakerBot Industries in Zone D near the 3D printing village. We’ll have the botfarm running. This is an event not to be missed.

Tickets may be purchased at the event for $25 or less depending on the discount for which you are eligible. Parking is $10.

(via Make)

My face is digital

On Friday I was scanned using the newly released Makerbot Cyclops 3D Scanner. Feel free to download my face from Thingiverse. For less than $200 you can start experimenting with 3D scanning. I’m pretty excited to see what people do with this new tool.