Kit Manufacturing🔗

Mechanical Structure🔗

CNC (computer numerical control) milling machines are used to fabricate parts with precise dimensions and shapes. The configuration of the feed rate and diameter plays a crucial role in the machining process and can significantly affect the quality and efficiency of the production of a workpiece.

Manufacturing files🔗

Tools🔗

Material🔗

Wood🔗

Valchromat is a wood-based composite material made from recycled wood fibers and colored with natural dyes. It is known for its durability, resistance to moisture and decay, and ability to be machined and finished in a similar way to solid wood. Here are some of the key characteristics of valchromat:

• Durability: Valchromat is a highly durable material that is resistant to moisture, decay, and termites, making it ideal for use in outdoor or high-moisture environments.

• Strength: Valchromat has a high mechanical strength, making it suitable for use in structural applications such as flooring, furniture, and doors.

• Machinability: Valchromat can be machined using traditional woodworking tools, such as saws, routers, and drill bits. It can also be finished using sanding, staining, and painting techniques.

• Sustainability: Valchromat is made from recycled wood fibers, which makes it a more sustainable option compared to traditional wood products. It is also produced using an eco-friendly manufacturing process that generates zero emissions.

• Versatility: Valchromat is available in a variety of colors, including shades of red, yellow, green, blue, and black, making it suitable for a wide range of applications and design projects.

• When compared to conventional MDF wood, valchromat has a number of advantages. It is more durable and resistant to moisture and decay, making it a better choice for use in outdoor or high-moisture environments. Valchromat is also more sustainable, as it is made from recycled wood fibers.

• Valchromat can be processed using a CNC router in a similar way to MDF wood. However, it is important to consider the specific characteristics of valchromat when setting up the CNC router, such as the appropriate cutting speed and feed rate.

For the specific use case of the PlanktoScope Case, valchromat was used with a thickness of 8mm. This thickness may be suitable for a variety of applications, depending on the specific requirements and design of the project.

In summary, valchromat is a durable, strong, and versatile wood-based composite material that can be machined and finished in a similar way to solid wood. It is available in a variety of colors and is a more sustainable alternative to traditional wood products. When processed using a CNC router, it is important to consider the specific characteristics of valchromat in order to achieve the desired results.

Finishing🔗

Rubio Monocoat Plus is a wood finishing product that is designed to provide a durable, natural-looking finish to wood surfaces. It is made from plant-based oils and pigments, which give it a unique, transparent finish that enhances the natural beauty of the wood.

One of the key features of Rubio Monocoat Plus is its versatility and ease of use. It can be applied to a wide range of wood species, including hardwoods and softwoods, and can be used on both indoor and outdoor surfaces. It is also easy to apply, with a simple one-coat application process that allows users to achieve a professional-grade finish in a matter of hours.

Rubio Monocoat Plus is also environmentally friendly, with a low VOC (volatile organic compound) content and a biodegradable formula. This makes it a popular choice for those who are looking for a sustainable and eco-friendly wood finishing solution.

We use Rubio Monocoat Plus as a finishing product for Valchromat.

CNC workflow🔗

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to configure the feed rate and the diameter of the end mill of a CNC milling machine for the production of a workpiece, using the specified tools and configuration:

1. Select the appropriate end mill: The end mill should be selected based on the material and shape of the workpiece, as well as the desired level of precision. For this specific production, the following end mills will be used:

   • 6mm end mill for straight flats
   • 2mm end mill for inner contours
   • 1mm end mill for small holes

2. Determine the feed rate: The feed rate is the speed at which the end mill moves along the surface of the workpiece and is usually measured in millimeters per minute (mm/m). The appropriate feed rate will depend on the diameter of the end mill and the material and thickness of the workpiece. For this specific production, the following feed rates will be used:

   • 1500mm/min for 1-2mm end mills
   • 2500mm/min for 3mm end mills
   • 3500mm/min for 6mm end mills

3. Load the end mill: Once the appropriate end mill has been selected, it can be loaded onto the spindle of the CNC milling machine.

4. Set the workpiece: The workpiece should be securely clamped onto the table of the CNC milling machine.

5. Set the machine parameters: The feed rate and end mill diameter should be entered into the machine's control panel or included in the machining program.

6. Begin machining: The machining process should be carried out in the following sequence:

   • Mill the screw holes with a 2mm end mill and then with a 3mm end mill
   • Mill the corners with a 2mm end mill
   • Mill everything else with a 3mm end mill

By following these steps, you can properly configure the feed rate and the diameter of the end mill of a CNC milling machine for the production of a workpiece. It is important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations and guidelines for the specific CNC milling machine being used, as well as to use proper safety measures while operating the machine.

Finnish of the case parts🔗

Requirements for case parts🔗

Case tools🔗

• Hammer
• Air Compressor
• Rubber gloves
• Paper carpet pad
• Clean piece of cotton fabric
• Support material for drying the parts

Case part parts🔗

• all case parts
• Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C
• Rubio Monocoat Accelerator Component B
• Magnets
• Square nuts

Clean🔗

Stir🔗

Apply🔗

Dry🔗

Inserting the screws🔗

Inserting the magnets🔗

Package Housing part🔗

PlanktoScope Hat🔗

Welcome to the PCB production manual for the PlanktoScope Hat!

A PCB (printed circuit board) is a crucial component of many electronic devices, providing a platform for connecting and mounting electronic components. The PCB production process involves several steps, including designing the PCB layout, fabricating the PCB, and assembling the electronic components onto the PCB.

The raw materials used in PCB production include copper sheets, fiberglass sheets, and various chemicals for etching and plating. These materials are used to create the circuitry patterns on the PCB.

There are two main types of electronic components that can be mounted onto a PCB: thru-hole components and surface mount components. Thru-hole components have leads that are inserted through holes in the PCB and soldered to the other side, while surface mount components are soldered directly onto the surface of the PCB. The choice between thru-hole and surface mount components depends on the specific requirements of the device being produced.

Manufacturing files🔗

PCB manufacturing process🔗

Placing an order🔗

To order a PCB board including assembly, follow these steps:

• Select a manufacturing company based on your local availability, budget, delivery dates, and services such as assembly.

• Create a customer account if you do not already have one. Ensure to specify the correct tax, contact, and delivery information.

• Create a project and select the quantity of PCB boards you need for production.
• Configure the order based on the values specified in this document.
• Upload the bill of material (BOM) and validate the component availability.

• Upload the gerber files provided as a zip file in the repository under the following link.
• Upload the assembly instructions provided as a zip file in the repository under the following link.
• Check that there are no missing references in your order configuration.
• Place the order based on your delivery requirements.
• Select a payment method and complete the order process.

Configuration🔗

The following configuration parameters can be used for the production of the PCB.

Board dimensions🔗

65 mm x 100 mm

Circuit specifications🔗

Solder mask🔗

Marking🔗

Specific options🔗

Quality assurance🔗

To ensure the quality of the produced PCB, request data validation from the customer support team. They can provide you with image files like the following to visually verify the manufacturing files you provide.

Top🔗

Bottom🔗

Copper layer 1🔗

Copper layer 2🔗

Mechanical🔗

Component placement🔗

Assembly of the Thru-Hole components🔗

Thru-Hole Requirements🔗

Thru-Hole tools🔗

• professional Soldering iron
• solder with flux
• Helping hand or Breadboard

Thru-Hole parts🔗

Soldering of the stepper motor driver🔗

Unpack the motor driver and the connector strips and take the breadboard aside.

Plug the connectors with the appropriate distance to the breadboard.

Now position the motor driver on the connector strips of the beadboard.

Now solder all pins of the connector strip.

Soldering of the motor driver sockets🔗

Now take the PlanktoScope Hat board and the female connector of the stepper motor driver and position them as shown in the picture.

Now put the previously soldered motor driver on the socket connector to fix it for the soldering process. Turn the board as shown in the picture and place it carefully.

Now solder all pins of the connector strip.

Repeat the procedure with the second motor driver. The end result should look like this.

Soldering the connection sockets🔗

Now solder the motor driver sockets, inserting the connector into the holes as shown.

Turn the board over and hold the loose connector while soldering it. Repeat the procedure with the second motor connector.

Repeat the procedure with the power connector. The end result should look like this.

Repeat the procedure with the led connector. The end result should look like this.

Soldering the Raspberry Pi connector🔗

Now solder the Raspberry Pi header connector with all 20 pins.

Install and solder the cooling fan🔗

Install the fan with the four screws and nuts.

Cut off the excess cable of the fan and leave about 6 cm.

Feed the fan cable through the hole provided, check if you can reach the contacts on the board without any problems and trim it further if necessary and enisolate the ends.

Solder the fan cables according to the marking and color codes ⚫ GND, 🔴 VCC, 🟡 RPM, 🔵 PWM.

Solder the display connector🔗

Insert the pin headers into the holes provided, hold them in place, carefully turn the board over and solder the connector.

Solder the configuration option jumpers🔗

Insert the pin headers into the holes provided, hold them in place, carefully turn the board over and solder the connector.

You have finished soldering the components🔗

The assembly of the thru-hole components for the planktoscope hat is now complete. The end result should look like this.

PlanktoScope Hard case🔗

Hard case Requirements🔗

Hard case tools🔗

• double sided adhesive tape

Hard case parts🔗

• Hard case

Foam preparation🔗

Cut the foam block at the outer edge by gently tearing it apart with your fingers.

Now lay a layer of two-sided adhesive tape on the upper inside edge of the case, with which we can later attach the show fabric.

Now insert the foam edge in to the case and glue it to the outer wall.

Kit composition🔗

Now divide all the components for the kit, and pack it in the hard case. You can find the full list of components for the kit in the v2.5 hardware BOM (Bill of Materials). However, this BOM does not include ordering links, since such links will need to be different for each country. If you've customized the v2.5 hardware BOM for your own v2.5 PlanktoScope kit (e.g. by finding and adding part ordering links from suppliers in your country for each component), please share your custom BOM to our GitHub Discussions thread for v2.5 Localized Hardware BOMs, so that other members of our community can learn from your work!