Author Topic: $40 spectrometer kit.  (Read 2275 times)

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Offline MadCatTLX

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$40 spectrometer kit.
« on: July 07, 2014, 07:13:37 pm »
I was browsing the web as usual and I managed to run in to an open source spectrometer kit on Makershed.com, made by the company Public Lab, with the kit also available directly from them.

http://www.makershed.com/Desktop_Spectrometry_Kit_p/mkpbl04.htm
http://store.publiclab.org/products/desktop-spectrometry-kit

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOJxTxSmfNM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOJxTxSmfNM</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idg10MiceEI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idg10MiceEI</a>

What I want to know and can't find the answer to is if this can be used to find the what substances are in an unknown mixture. Like if I took a sample of unknown liquid, could it tell me it has water, oil, and whatever minerals in it? I know this isn't a gas chromatography mass spectrometer, which can do that, but the video says they were able to find that a laundry detergent contained a certain dye. Anyone here happen to have knowledge of sprectrometry and know the answers?

If it can do that, I'll totally buy one. I want to conduct experiments on "wood vinegar" or pyroligneous acid, as I can't find an actually list of it's constituents, and it's going to be a collected by product of my making charcoal to power an aluminum smelter. I need to know what's in it so I can find a use for it.
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Offline Witchyjoshy

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Re: $40 spectrometer kit.
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2014, 07:30:47 pm »
...I forgot what a spectrometer was and thought that it was a device used to "find ghosts".
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Offline Ultimate Paragon

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Re: $40 spectrometer kit.
« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2014, 07:44:52 pm »
...I forgot what a spectrometer was and thought that it was a device used to "find ghosts".
I can see how somebody could make that mistake.   XD

Offline Cerim Treascair

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Re: $40 spectrometer kit.
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2014, 07:45:54 pm »
Bought one for my roommate last christmas.  He loves the fuck out of it.  He mostly uses it for his circuit boards and lasers.
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Offline MadCatTLX

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Re: $40 spectrometer kit.
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2014, 12:31:33 pm »
Bought one for my roommate last christmas.  He loves the fuck out of it.  He mostly uses it for his circuit boards and lasers.

Could you ask him about my question and see if he might know the answer?
History is full of maniacs, my friend, men and women of intelect, highly perceptive individuals, who's brilliant minds know neither restraint nor taboo. Such notions are the devils we must slay for the edification of pony-kind. Even if said edification means violating the rules of decency, society, and rightousness itself.
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Offline Cerim Treascair

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Re: $40 spectrometer kit.
« Reply #5 on: July 08, 2014, 03:21:19 pm »
Bought one for my roommate last christmas.  He loves the fuck out of it.  He mostly uses it for his circuit boards and lasers.

Could you ask him about my question and see if he might know the answer?

Sure, I'll ask.  No promises, but I'll ask.
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Offline Dan

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Re: $40 spectrometer kit.
« Reply #6 on: July 08, 2014, 03:45:03 pm »
You'd need to know the spectrum of each constituent chemical in order to identify it in the test substance's spectrum. I don't know where you'd find a database of reference spectra, but if you did find one I bet it'd be for gases.