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Considering a new approach

A project log for ramanPi - Raman Spectrometer

The open source 3D Printable Raman Spectrometer using a RaspberryPi and easy to find off the shelf components..

flcfl@C@ 06/09/2014 at 12:450 Comments

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So, in an effort to simplify and make a more robust system...  I'm considering this new approach..  Instead of having so many separate objects, all having to be mounted individually, aligned, etc... I'm looking at this more enclosed system..  Basically, the laser is attached to a series of modules...all connected using flanges..  Each module contains a part of the spectrometer... a mirror, a lens, or filter or a mechanism, etc..  Here is what I have conceptually so far..

This part contains the laser on the left..connected to a module that holds the 532nm pass filter and a shutter mechanism driven by a servo.. that is then connected to the right angle module that contains a surface mirror. That will in turn connect to a module housing the beam splitter, then goes forward to the objective lens mount and cuvette holder and mechanism..  The beam splitter also would branch off parallel to the laser and connect to a much smaller shortpass/longpass filter mechanism which will probably also contain the vertical aperture as a modular attachment depending on if I make it adjustable or not... that connects to the collimator module and so on...  This approach will make a much sturdier system, block out any external light sources, keep dust and dirt out, avoid any stray laser reflections from exiting and hitting your eyes, but still be modular and configurable...and modifiable..  It will probably lend itself to a wider range of cases too.. I'll probably rethink the laser mount, even though there's plenty of airflow and the laser is thermoelectrically cooled, I don't want to risk it..I'll test a couple different ideas with that.

Here's the individual modules you see above... and of course, they're all up on gitHub right now...

This is the laser emitter..

This is the 532nm Pass Filter and Laser Shutter...There's a port on the top so when the paddle blocks the beam it is reflected to a translucent plug in top that is illuminated to indicate the beam is on and blocked...and there's a portal on the side to allow observation and access if need be..

This is the mirror mount..which will soon connect to the beam splitter module...

If anyone has any thoughts or considerations, I'd love to hear them!!

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