C12666MA Micro-Spectrometer

Both the Hamamatsu C12666MA and the C12880MA are being sold here for anyone interested.

https://groupgets.com/manufacturers/hamamatsu-photonics

limited quantity C12666MA back in stock here:

http://www.pureengineering.com/store

I wanted to give you all the option to buy them before they sell out.

Last time they sold out in a couple of hours.. get them quick.

The sensor has a 6-8 week lead time. so If you miss them this time, I will get more in 6-8 weeks.

The boards arrived last week and everything checked out well with them. I am selling a limited supply of them at my website here if anyone is interested: http://www.pureengineering.com/store

I am ordering more sensors as well, as they are somewhat difficult to buy, some are due to arrive this month.

Things seem to move slower when you are waiting for something.

Exiting news, Just got the first article from the assembly house. Only one small mixup with the connector being put on the wrong way otherwise everything looking good. The rest of the boards are being assembled now. I expect shipment from assembly something next week, then the week after I can start shipping these guys out.

Boards were ordered from the PCB and Assembly house a couple of weeks ago. Expecting boards to arrive shortly. Also waiting on building up some stock of the sensors as well. Exited to get these units out into the wild and see how they get used.

This project is aiming to allow the average DIY person to use what is typically locked up in a lab and costs many thousands of $ to buy. Light is all around us, and the way it responds to nature can be measured with this spectrometer. This will enable countless applications that will help fix the world. Applications will range from checking the quality of food, to measuring oil spill content in the ocean, and even checking your health.

Not quite a fair comparison, the c12666ma is better, but surprising some cardboard, a cardboard slot, and some DVD scraps + a cheap cell phone actually does a decent job. I walk away impressed.

Check out the build here:

http://www.pureengineering.com/blog/foldablemini-spectrometer

Here is the spectrum of the sun in the morning. (filtered through some brown curtains) [near sea level] . Everything looks in order.

I'm thinking about removing the 808nm laser and replacing it with a white led instead. This will allow for color measurements.

The reason why, is I am feeling the 808nm laser is too dangerous because the light is not visible and can blind you. If someone is determined one can always use an external laser. Also the ramen response from it is very low, without the proper fiber optics and filters.

I think the 404nm is viable enough so people will avoid blinding themselves, also the fluorescence spectra is quite visible with the sensor even in daylight and no optics, and this will have a number of good applications with it.

Anyone have any comments on this? Also any ideas for the best full spectrum light source?