*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
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Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
*****

Two other things that can make life easier if you are making more than just
a few boards:

1) Invest in a stencil printer:
https://learn.adafruit.com/smt-manufacturing/stenciling-machines  These
things make it trivial to apply solder paste, and to stencil multiple
boards in quick succession.  It also allows you to use framed stencils,
which are much more accurate for larger boards (since the stencil is
properly tensioned).

2) A hot air rework station: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14557, which
make hand soldering surface mount components a breeze  This piece of
equipment has paid for itself many times over already in just board level
equipment repairs alone.

Also, as far as I can tell, you didn't include any BGA packages in your
design, and for that you have my thanks.

On Tue, Mar 16, 2021 at 6:20 PM Michael Giacomelli <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> Thanks Ben.
>
> I agree, assembling boards is much easier than people assume if you pick
> the right tools and use reflow.  I put a note in the documentation
> recommending a specific solder paste and a specific model of fine tweezers
> (currently $14 on Amazon) that I used.  We tried to put everything on one
> side, but ended up having to put a few components on the backside (fitting
> in a 1 inch lens tube doesn't leave much space), but you can do 95% of the
> parts on a hot plate and just the last few by hand.   As for stencil, I
> wish I'd thought to order one with the boards, but ended up applying the
> solder paste by hand with a syringe.
>
> Mike
>
> On Tue, Mar 16, 2021 at 5:30 PM Benjamin Smith <
> [log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > *****
> > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> >
> >
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__lists.umn.edu_cgi-2Dbin_wa-3FA0-3Dconfocalmicroscopy&d=DwIBaQ&c=kbmfwr1Yojg42sGEpaQh5ofMHBeTl9EI2eaqQZhHbOU&r=0LyF_z8oU1XGGyisIeOIXyIGIM5IYb3NcLjxHjUca5Y&m=NTw-tlfBK_ZlIxaV1xVQ15IQRuMtu9AA4mdGvYVLtxc&s=QnWAUiFeZAZieAbEcRp9YaoUKZhQCpjqrJWyYIB9yPY&e=
> > Post images on
> >
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.imgur.com&d=DwIBaQ&c=kbmfwr1Yojg42sGEpaQh5ofMHBeTl9EI2eaqQZhHbOU&r=0LyF_z8oU1XGGyisIeOIXyIGIM5IYb3NcLjxHjUca5Y&m=NTw-tlfBK_ZlIxaV1xVQ15IQRuMtu9AA4mdGvYVLtxc&s=cHFTcouCl7joP0-85LuSHPPDSi_eZc7uMMQ83XmPTAI&e=
> > and include the link in your posting.
> > *****
> >
> > That is an awesome project!  One comment I'd add is that as long as the
> > boards aren't double sided, a hot plate (as shown in step #10 here:
> >
> >
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__github.com_Llamero_Light-5FColor-5Fand-5FIntensity-5FDatalogger_blob_master_Data-2520logger-2520assembly-2520manual.pdf&d=DwIBaQ&c=kbmfwr1Yojg42sGEpaQh5ofMHBeTl9EI2eaqQZhHbOU&r=0LyF_z8oU1XGGyisIeOIXyIGIM5IYb3NcLjxHjUca5Y&m=NTw-tlfBK_ZlIxaV1xVQ15IQRuMtu9AA4mdGvYVLtxc&s=BgejVIGKbgIwFn18aKuSn7apGdwvVnsKdDopQDvtiv4&e=
> > )
> > or even an electric skillet (as demonstrated by Sparkfun here:
> >
> >
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.sparkfun.com_tutorials_59&d=DwIBaQ&c=kbmfwr1Yojg42sGEpaQh5ofMHBeTl9EI2eaqQZhHbOU&r=0LyF_z8oU1XGGyisIeOIXyIGIM5IYb3NcLjxHjUca5Y&m=NTw-tlfBK_ZlIxaV1xVQ15IQRuMtu9AA4mdGvYVLtxc&s=28Dwa5mV9KWZkA5poWJJDfMwHNb7X9ZuRGVVQ4a8Iq4&e=
> > ) works great for reflowing boards.
> > They are also far less likely to melt plastic connectors, such as the
> USB-C
> > connector, than a reflow oven.
> >
> > I'd also like to emphasize for people who've never built a board by hand
> > before, reflow soldering is very easy to do (literally just stencil on
> the
> > paste, place the parts like a lego kit, and bake the board), and takes no
> > where near the skill hand soldering does!  Probably the hardest part will
> > be placing the 0402 parts.  You'll likely want some ultrafine forceps
> and a
> > good set of eyes (or a headband magnifier / stereomicroscope) for that.
> >
> > One step closer to a fully open-source confocal/2P system!
> >
> > Cheers,
> >    Ben Smith
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Mar 16, 2021 at 1:43 PM Michael Giacomelli <
> > [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > > *****
> > > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> > >
> >
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__lists.umn.edu_cgi-2Dbin_wa-3FA0-3Dconfocalmicroscopy&d=DwIBaQ&c=kbmfwr1Yojg42sGEpaQh5ofMHBeTl9EI2eaqQZhHbOU&r=0LyF_z8oU1XGGyisIeOIXyIGIM5IYb3NcLjxHjUca5Y&m=NTw-tlfBK_ZlIxaV1xVQ15IQRuMtu9AA4mdGvYVLtxc&s=QnWAUiFeZAZieAbEcRp9YaoUKZhQCpjqrJWyYIB9yPY&e=
> > > Post images on
> >
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.imgur.com&d=DwIBaQ&c=kbmfwr1Yojg42sGEpaQh5ofMHBeTl9EI2eaqQZhHbOU&r=0LyF_z8oU1XGGyisIeOIXyIGIM5IYb3NcLjxHjUca5Y&m=NTw-tlfBK_ZlIxaV1xVQ15IQRuMtu9AA4mdGvYVLtxc&s=cHFTcouCl7joP0-85LuSHPPDSi_eZc7uMMQ83XmPTAI&e=
> > and include the link in your posting.
> > > *****
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > Recently Eben Olson and I have been collaborating on an improved
> > > open source design for SiPM-based laser scanning microscopy detectors.
> > Our
> > > goal was to develop self-contained, very low cost (<$150) modules that
> > > could be powered and controlled over USB-C while providing improved
> > > sensitivity over PMTs.
> > >
> > > Since we both independently came to the need for better detectors, we
> > > wanted to make our design files available to anyone else who could use
> > them
> > > and also invite contributions from the community:
> > >
> >
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__github.com_OpenSiPM_sipm-2Dbias-2Dcontrol&d=DwIBaQ&c=kbmfwr1Yojg42sGEpaQh5ofMHBeTl9EI2eaqQZhHbOU&r=0LyF_z8oU1XGGyisIeOIXyIGIM5IYb3NcLjxHjUca5Y&m=NTw-tlfBK_ZlIxaV1xVQ15IQRuMtu9AA4mdGvYVLtxc&s=aKh-r4N3V6pqMRrBRqZ9w3YjCCQhJnwIrUFpiqKRF0E&e=
> > >
> > > This design incorporates several unique improvements in SiPM detection
> > that
> > > extend the dynamic range and bandwidth by an order of magnitude as
> > compared
> > > to conventional SiPM detectors while eliminating the need for external
> > > power supplies or DAQ boards. We also published a manuscript describing
> > how
> > > these work and characterizing their performance for high speed imaging:
> > >
> > >
> >
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.nature.com_articles_s41598-2D021-2D84522-2D0&d=DwIBaQ&c=kbmfwr1Yojg42sGEpaQh5ofMHBeTl9EI2eaqQZhHbOU&r=0LyF_z8oU1XGGyisIeOIXyIGIM5IYb3NcLjxHjUca5Y&m=NTw-tlfBK_ZlIxaV1xVQ15IQRuMtu9AA4mdGvYVLtxc&s=JUNMqGLwlTeSklV42o2Y9NQuFRsGG4LIfrOUyoWnkxs&e=
> > >
> > > In summary, above 1 MP/s imaging rate, this design has a significant
> > > advantage over GaAsP PMTs, and an even larger advantage over GaAs.  At
> > > higher images rates the advantage becomes very large such that using
> PMTs
> > > may not make sense with resonant scanners in most situations.
> > Conversely,
> > > below 0.1 MP/s, a PMT is clearly a better (if more expensive) choice,
> > > although this design could probably be adjusted to address some of
> those
> > > limitations.
> > >
> > > If anyone is interested in this work or in contributing improvements,
> > feel
> > > free to reach out to me.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Michael Giacomelli, Ph.D.
> > > Assistant Professor
> > > Department of Biomedical Engineering & Institute of Optics
> > > University of Rochester
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Benjamin E. Smith, Ph. D.
> > Imaging Specialist, Vision Science
> > University of California, Berkeley
> > 195 Weill Hall
> > Berkeley, CA  94720-3200
> > Tel  (510) 642-9712
> > Fax (510) 643-6791
> > e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__vision.berkeley.edu_faculty_core-2Dgrants-2Dnei_core-2Dgrant-2Dmicroscopic-2Dimaging_&d=DwIBaQ&c=kbmfwr1Yojg42sGEpaQh5ofMHBeTl9EI2eaqQZhHbOU&r=0LyF_z8oU1XGGyisIeOIXyIGIM5IYb3NcLjxHjUca5Y&m=NTw-tlfBK_ZlIxaV1xVQ15IQRuMtu9AA4mdGvYVLtxc&s=5mLaKQaVKqtwOpxMOKJnuB5NvPp37zq6TAGlLx8UuTQ&e=
> >
>


-- 
Benjamin E. Smith, Ph. D.
Imaging Specialist, Vision Science
University of California, Berkeley
195 Weill Hall
Berkeley, CA  94720-3200
Tel  (510) 642-9712
Fax (510) 643-6791
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
https://vision.berkeley.edu/faculty/core-grants-nei/core-grant-microscopic-imaging/