Post by sgraber on Aug 5, 2014 10:28:47 GMT -5
Ok, I have an idea that I'd like to prototype up using the below UV sensor from Sparkfun:
www.sparkfun.com/products/12705
The idea that I have is to make a UV Radiometer for DLP projectors used in 3D SLA printers using the above sensor, an Arduino, and a simple digital readout. Long term, I'd like to run it off of a battery, include an ON/OFF switch, and make it hand held, but I want to walk before I run. I'm also going to use this project as a way to re-teach myself electronics.
As you may or may not know, most SLA resins cure using UV light. However, there is no current way to easily measure how much UV a given DLP projector's bulb is emitting. When someone uses a given DLP in their SLA printer, they figure out by trial and error how many seconds they need to expose their resin in order to get good cure. However, in an industrial setting where manufacturers use UV resin-based finishes for their parts, they monitor their UV lamps using a UV Radiometer, which spits out an integrated UV irradiance that the part sees as it goes under the UV lamps. UV resin manufacturers also specify how much UV irradiance their coating needs in order to achieve optimum cure. These radiometers typically cost anywhere from a couple hundred to well over a thousand dollars. I want to make, and possibly sell, a DIY kit for this. What is particularly nice about this sensor is that it's highly sensitive to UV from ~280nm - 400nm, which is the region resin manufacturers target for curing SLA resins.
To prototype it up, I ordered the UV sensor, a Sparkfun RedBoard, a couple headers (male and female), and a mini-B USB cable. I'm hoping to prototype it as soon as the parts get in and see how it works. Sparkfun has an introductory arduino program that queries the sensor and turns the voltage reading from the sensor into a mW/cm^2 UV irradiance value over the 280-400nm range. Over time, I'll add a digital readout, 9V battery power, an ON/OFF switch. The first version will just spit out a mW/cm^2 value on the digital readout. Future iterations will have a Start/Stop/Reset button and the ability to integrate the UV irradiance over a given time interval. Ideally I'd like to shrink the whole thing down using an ATTiny85 and put it all on one board and sell it as a kit or as a completed device along with a case.
I'm sure I'll have questions as I go along!
www.sparkfun.com/products/12705
The idea that I have is to make a UV Radiometer for DLP projectors used in 3D SLA printers using the above sensor, an Arduino, and a simple digital readout. Long term, I'd like to run it off of a battery, include an ON/OFF switch, and make it hand held, but I want to walk before I run. I'm also going to use this project as a way to re-teach myself electronics.
As you may or may not know, most SLA resins cure using UV light. However, there is no current way to easily measure how much UV a given DLP projector's bulb is emitting. When someone uses a given DLP in their SLA printer, they figure out by trial and error how many seconds they need to expose their resin in order to get good cure. However, in an industrial setting where manufacturers use UV resin-based finishes for their parts, they monitor their UV lamps using a UV Radiometer, which spits out an integrated UV irradiance that the part sees as it goes under the UV lamps. UV resin manufacturers also specify how much UV irradiance their coating needs in order to achieve optimum cure. These radiometers typically cost anywhere from a couple hundred to well over a thousand dollars. I want to make, and possibly sell, a DIY kit for this. What is particularly nice about this sensor is that it's highly sensitive to UV from ~280nm - 400nm, which is the region resin manufacturers target for curing SLA resins.
To prototype it up, I ordered the UV sensor, a Sparkfun RedBoard, a couple headers (male and female), and a mini-B USB cable. I'm hoping to prototype it as soon as the parts get in and see how it works. Sparkfun has an introductory arduino program that queries the sensor and turns the voltage reading from the sensor into a mW/cm^2 UV irradiance value over the 280-400nm range. Over time, I'll add a digital readout, 9V battery power, an ON/OFF switch. The first version will just spit out a mW/cm^2 value on the digital readout. Future iterations will have a Start/Stop/Reset button and the ability to integrate the UV irradiance over a given time interval. Ideally I'd like to shrink the whole thing down using an ATTiny85 and put it all on one board and sell it as a kit or as a completed device along with a case.
I'm sure I'll have questions as I go along!