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Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
Product Overview
Uses:
Magnetic
stirrers
(also
known
as
magnetic
stir
plates)
are
very
common
in
experimental
chemistry
and
biology.
They
are
used
to
mix
components
(solids
and
liquids)
to
get
homogeneous
liquid
mixtures.
Common
examples
include
bacterial
growth
media
and
buffer
solutions.
How
They
Work:
Magnetic
stirrers
mix
solutions
using
an
external
magnetic
field
that
rotates
a
small
magnetic
bar
that
has
been
placed
in
the
mixture
of
interest.
Advantages:
Magnetic
stirrers
minimize
the
risks
of
contamination
since
only
an
inert
magnet
bar,
which
can
easily
be
cleaned,
is
put
inside
the
sample/fluid.
In
addition,
using
a
magnetic
stirrer
rather
than
manual
stirring
is
critical
for
consistent,
reproducible
mixing
or
mixing
over
long
time
scales.
Protein
dialysis,
for
example,
requires
multi-hour
or
overnight
sample
mixing
and
is
sensitive
to
bacterial
contamination.
This
Magnetic
Stirrer:
Can
rotate
an
internal
magnet
at
variable
speeds,
mixing
volumes
up
to
one
liter.
Glassware
with
a
stir
bar
is
placed
directly
on
top
of
the
stirrer
unit.
The
device
is
battery-operated
and
largely
isolated
from
spills
by
its
plastic
case
and
gasket.
Figure
1.
Tekla
Labs
magnetic
stirrer
with
500
mL
sample
Figure
2.
Internal
view
of
design
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
List of Materials. Note that in many cases, alternate materials can be used, as long as changes in properties such as dimensions are accounted for in the building process. Please add you comments to the online document if you find alternative materials or solutions. Part Rotor body Rotor magnets DC motor Sheet metal Printed circuit board (PCB) Plastic casing Battery clip Knob Potentiometer M2.5 screws M2.5 screws M2.5 nut Stir bar LED light Battery Transistors, capacitors Part Description Used to hold magnets, cut from light wood or hardboard (fiber board) 5mm thick. Magnets that spin on rotor body. Circular or bar magnets may be used. See text, Brush or brushless DC motor, body 30-35 mm long, with mounting screws 16 gauge or similar, for motor mount. Also for metal strip connecting magnets Connects electronics; can also wire by hand Encloses unit, see Material Hints Holds and connects the battery To set various speed settings Speed regulation, can be bought with knob M2.5 x 10 mm machine screw M2.5 x 20 mm machine screw M2.5 hex nut Magnetic stir bar Optional. Lights up when motor is getting power D size Tekla Labs is working on a detailed list of these parts Module 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 2 2 1 3 1 Final 3 Final 2 PartID M001 M002 M003 M004 M005 M006 M007 M008 M009 M010 M011 M012 M013 M014 M015 M017+ Quantity 40 mm diameter 2 1 30 x 70 mm 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 2 1 1 1 Cost (USD) $0.25 $2.60 $2.99 $0.25 Spare, or handwire $14.90 $0.89 $5.30 $0.20 $0.40 $0.20 $2.00 $0.40 $2.00 $4.00
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
Details of Materials
This
is
a
more
detailed
explanation
of
the
key
materials
used
in
the
design.
In
general,
equivalent
options
can
be
bought
from
many
other
suppliers
and
dimensions
and
other
parameters
can
be
readjusted
as
needed.
M001
Rotor
body
Cut
from
bulk
material,
can
use
scissors
or
hobby
knife.
M002
Rotor
magnets
Small
rare-earth
magnets
are
necessary
to
couple
the
rotor
and
stir
bar
in
this
compact
design.
The
author
suggests
removing
the
magnets
from
magnetic
battery
connectors.
Magnets
can
be
circular
or
bar
magnets.These
are
available
from
Science
Lab
Supplies,
sciencelabsupplies.com,
#1921-29
($1.30
each).
Individual
magnets
are
also
available
directly
from
other
suppliers,
e.g.
http://applied-magnets.amazonwebstore.com/
M003
DC
motor
Authors
initial
design
used
a
generic
toy
motor
available
from
JayCar
(jaycar.com.au),
YM2706
or
YM2707
($3.25
or
$4.25),
1.5
4.5
VDC
operating
voltage
Prototype
contains
HTI
Model
32
DC
motor
marked
HTBRR032021903F-0002
Radio
Shack
273-233
1.5
to
3VDC
Hobby
Motor
($2.99)
may
be
a
suitable
replacement
Motor
case
should
have
threaded
mounting
holes
on
the
shaft
side.
This
will
allow
it
to
be
attached
to
the
sheet
metal
mount.
M005
Circuit
board
If
a
printed
circuit
board
cannot
be
obtained,
hand-wiring
electronic
components
is
straigthforward.
Tekla
Labs
will
provide
wiring
instructions
in
the
future.
M006
Plastic
box
Bud
Industries
PN-1324-DG
(DigiKey
377-1124-ND)
$14.90
Tekla
Labs
unit
is
a
12
cm
wide
x
17
cm
long
by
5.5
cm
tall
case
made
of
ABS
plastic.
These
dimensions
are
not
critical
but
the
surface
area
has
to
be
large
enough
to
hold
the
size
glass
beaker
you
want
to
use.
M007
Battery
holder
Memory
Protection
Devices
BHDL
(Digikey
BHDL-ND)
$0.89
M009
Potentiometer
Tekla
Labs
will
confirm
resistance
range
and
dimensions
of
potentiometer.
M010
M2.5
Screws
DC
motor
screws
need
to
be
flat
heads,
otherwise
you
will
have
excessive
rubbing
between
the
mounting
screws
and
the
rotating
hardboard.
M013 Stir bar Science Kit and Boreal Laboratories (sciencekit.com) WW46316M14 SpinBar Magnetic Stir Bar $2.00 M014 LED light Panasonic LN21RPH (DigiKey P374-ND) $0.40 M016 Knob Optional. Standard knobs are available from DigiKey for a few dollars. A cylindrical rubber stopper or cork is a cheap substitute, and can be pressed directly onto the potentiometer.
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
Figure
4.
Close-up
of
motor
setup.
1. Cut
sheet
metal
into
two
pieces:
a
small
metal
strip
for
use
on
top
of
the
rotor
body
and
a
larger
piece
for
mounting
the
motor.
2. Cut
holes
in
the
small
metal
strip
for
the
motor
shaft
and
for
the
screws
to
hold
the
motor.
The
small
metal
strip
is
important
as
it
creates
a
low-profile
horseshoe
magnet,
which
greatly
enhances
the
pull
of
the
magnets
as
compared
to
the
case
where
no
metal
strip
is
used.
If
the
magnets
are
put
directly
onto
the
hardboard
without
a
metal
strip,
one
has
to
be
careful
not
to
change
the
power
setting
too
quickly
on
the
finished
unit
or
else
the
magnetic
stir
bar
will
jump
off
target.
.
Figure
5.
Top
and
sideview
of
small
metal
strip,
magnets
and
hardboard.
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
3. Drill
holes
for
motor
screws
and
shaft
in
the
motor
mount
sheet
CAUTION:
clamp
sheet
metal
to
work
surface
while
drilling.
Keep
hands
free
of
sheet
metal
in
case
it
comes
free
and
rotates
with
the
drill.
Positions
of
holes
for
motor
screws
and
shaft
are
critical.
These
depend
on
the
exact
model
of
motor
that
is
used.
For
most
precise
placement,
first
mark
hole
position
in
pencil.
Then
indent
the
sheet
metal
surface
with
an
awl
or
nail.
Finally,
position
tip
of
drill
bit
in
the
indentation.
Figure 6. Topview schematic of flat metal mount sheet, indicating locations of drill holes and metal bending.
4. Bend the motor mount sheet to form the metal motor mount shape described below. The mount height (30 mm in this case) should be high enough to fit the motor without compressing its solder leads. The angle you bend the sheet is not critical.
Figure
7.
Sideview
schematic
of
bend-lines
of
metal
mount
sheet.
5. Attach motor to the motor mount sheet with screws. Screws with short heads should be used so that there is enough clearance to the rotor body.
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
6. Cut the hardboard to form the rotor body The rotor bodys diameter is dependent on the size of the stir bar you will be using. The magnets on the rotor body should be spaced approximately 80% of the stir bar length. Using longer bar magnets on the rotor body allows for a wider range of magnetic stir bar sizes. Our rotor is 38 mm in diameter and 5 mm thick to fit a magnet center-to-center distance of 24 mm. 7. Drill two screws (or holes, if youre using machine screws) through the bottom base of the hardboard. 8. Install the magnetic strip rotor atop the drilled hardboard using the corresponding nuts 9. Press-fit the rotor body onto the motor shaft. This is a friction fit. The motor shaft can be covered by a piece of heatshrink plastic to provide a firm fit to the hole in the center of the hardboard rotor body. 10. Solder the two motor wires to contacts on the printed circuit board (one to ground and one so that it can be electrically connected to the potentiometer). 11. Attach the motor mount sheet (with attached motor) to the printed circuit board with screws. 8
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
12. Glue magnets onto the metal strip on the hardboard rotor. Magnet distance should be about 80% of the length of the stir bar.
Figure 9. Exploded view of Module 1 components. 1) metal sheet for mounting motor 2) motor 3) hardboard 4) small metal strip 5) magnets 6) screws, 6 total
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
Step-by-step
instructions
1. Construct
a
PCB
according
to
the
circuit
shown
below.
Alternately,
a
hand-wired
circuit
may
be
simpler
to
construct
with
available
parts.
(Tekla
Labs
is
working
on
converting
this
circuit
diagram
into
a
more
accessible
form
and
photographing
the
hand-wiring
step-by-step.)
2. Drill
a
hole
through
the
plastic
casing
to
connect
the
speed
control
knob
to
the
potentiometer.
3. Attach
knob
to
potentiometer
shaft
outside
of
case
Figure
10.
Schematic
circuit
diatram
of
components.
.
Figure
11.
Wiring
diagram
for
hardwiring
in
the
absence
of
access
to
a
printed
circuit
board
KEY
Figure
11
pnp transistor
battery
LED light
npn transistors
ground
10
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
Step-by-step instructions Battery power 1. Solder the two battery casing wires to contacts on the printed circuit board. One wire must be connected to ground and one must be connected to a contact so that the wire can be electrically connected to the potentiometer. 2. Glue the battery casing to the PCB. Hotmelt, a hot glue gun can be used for this step. LED light (optional) 3. Drill a hole on the side of the plastic casing to fit the LED light to provide a tight fit. 4. Solder the two LED light wires to contacts on the printed circuit board (one to ground and one so that it can be electrically connected between the potentiometer and the motor. 5. Carefully press the LED light into the hole using pliers.
11
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
Final Assembly
Approximate
time
=
30
minutes
Step-by-step
instructions
1. Screw
circuit
board
into
bottom
of
plastic
case
2. Place
D-battery
into
battery
clips
3. Screw
top
onto
plastic
case
body
a. Do
not
over-tighten
as
this
could
cause
the
uneven
pressure
load
along
the
perimeter
and
thus
bowing
(outward
bending)
of
the
top
that
affects
the
distance
between
the
glass
beaker
and
the
magnetic
rotor.
Figure
13.
Finished,
closed
magnetic
stirrer
with
magnetic
stir
bar
on
top.
12
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
Figure
14.
Testing
the
finished
magnetic
stirrer:
at
full
speed,
a
large
vortex
should
form
in
1
L
of
water
13
Magnetic Stirrer D0001 Malcolm Watts Tekla Labs Version Status Date 0.1 Pre-release 7/11/2011
Feedback
The
Tekla
Labs
community
wants
to
hear
from
you!
Please
give
back
to
the
Tekla
Labs
community
by
letting
us
know
if
you:
- - - - - find
alternative
materials
or
building
tools
to
use
use
another
approach
for
building
a
module
or
part
of
a
module
come
up
with
a
whole
new
design
for
this
type
of
equipment
(or
another
equipment
piece!)
had
any
other
problems
or
solutions
to
share
need
help
with
specific
parts
of
this
Tekla
Blueprint.
What
is
unclear?
How
can
we
make
this
better?
To get involved in the Tekla Labs community, visit our website www.teklalabs.org. 14