azonenberg changed the topic of #homecmos to: Homebrew CMOS and MEMS foundry design | Wiki: http://homecmos.drawersteak.com/wiki/Main_Page | Repository: http://code.google.com/p/homecmos/ | Logs: http://en.qi-hardware.com/homecmos-logs/
<Noxz> looks like a magnetic QCM has existed for a decade+
<Noxz> appears to mostly be magnetic properties though - and my aim is simply a non-contact force gauge
mrdata- has quit [Read error: Connection reset by peer]
Bike has quit [Quit: Lost terminal]
Naergon has joined #homecmos
pie_ has joined #homecmos
<Noxz> Right now the biggest cost that I am specing out for the tensiometer is actually the vertical stage
<Noxz> decent veniers are ~$100 USD, plus a tiny servo/stepper and plastic rails/whatnot(even ball bearing linear bearings)
<Noxz> actually... come to think about it.... CD laser travel guides would work well enough imho
<Noxz> Anyone know if that kind of stage is easily avilable form china? ridiculously mass produced
<Noxz> awesome
<Noxz> ah, no slider on that, anyways.. under $10
<Noxz> even amazon has 'em
<Noxz> the concept at this point is to move the balance + flexible magnetized lever (+wilhelmy plate) down to touch the fluid, and measuring the "pull"
<Noxz> can prob build it for under $50 easy
<Noxz> the only thing I would likely spend money on is decent QCM (like $5 ea for gold plated ones) and some decent op-amps, such as from Linear Technologies
<pie_> whats this for?
<Noxz> surface tensiometer
<Noxz> so, a microbalance connected to a plate that is dipped to the surface egde of a liquid
<pie_> sounds cool
<Noxz> yeah, new project added to my list
<Noxz> but should be fairly doable, cheaply
<Noxz> no $1500 machine needed
<Noxz> I actually plan on doing a kickstarter on ea of these devices I have spec'd out when I start the YT channel on my projects/whatnot - just for a lil extra cash influx and also so others can experiment without breaking the bank
<pie_> ghetto epic science equipment yes please
<Noxz> :D
<Noxz> I'm actually looking MUCH closer at langmuir films for ICs
<pie_> i remind myself often that the initial devices that demonstrate the principles for a lot of this stuff probably werent that hard to make
<Noxz> including AlN base photodiode stuff I was/am interested in
<pie_> but then, demonstrating a principle and actually making a usable thing is somehting else...
<Noxz> and ITO
<Noxz> many of these scientific instruments are single appliances.. sorta plug and play
<Noxz> so I get it, but the markup is ridiculous
* pie_ goes back to tryig to read quantum information theory stuff he doesnt really understand
Bike has joined #homecmos
<Noxz> the device can also be used as a 'standard' micro balance, too
<Noxz> but I love the idea of contact-less