Desktop Spectrometry Kit

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Now shipping! The PLOTS Desktop Spectrometry Kit includes all the parts for a compact, simple yet powerful experimental tool -- a visible/near-infrared spectrometer, also known as a spectroscope or spectrophotometer. In less than 30 minutes of assembly, you can plug it into your computer with a USB cable and begin using the SpectralWorkbench.org software and website to collect spectra -- the "fingerprint" of a material. The kit includes:

• a diffraction grating (a slice of a DVD-R)
• a piece of black card paper from which to cut your aperture slit
• a small HD webcam and USB cable
  
• a strip of Velcro for mounting your webcam
• instructions and a copy of the CERN Open Hardware License

Developed by Public Lab contributors, this open source instrument is capable of better than 3 nanometer spectral resolution and can record light from ~390 to ~900nm. Though experimental, this tool has already been used to collect spectral data on contaminated water, laundry detergent, wines, and fishtank lights. You can help to improve it and find new applications!

Actual webcam model may vary, but will be 1280x720.