Custom parts
see section on custom parts for details.
Where provided, companies and links to websites indicate sources that we have used before. They do not neccessarily represent the best sources, especially outside the U.S.
16x Drive screws
(custom M0.6x7mm from Antrin Miniature Specialties, Inc.)
Drive body
(3D printed, ABS like plastic)
Steel spring
(1095 spring steel, 0.002”, machined with wire EDM)
Electrode interface board (EIB) (
Neuralynx, or custom PCB)
Shielding / Enclosure
see section on shielding for details
Overhead projector transparencies
Aluminum foil
(for making the shielding & Cap, templates available online)
Steel wire for grounding
(Stainless Steel, PFA coating, ~0.003",
A-M Systems)
Connectors
2x Amplifier connectors (Omnetics or Molex)
or any other custom connector, depending on the choice of EIB
Polyimide tubing
We usually buy from Smallparts
Shuttle tubes - 37 or 38 gauge
Guide tubes - 33 gauge
Stabilizer tubes- 26-28 gauge
Additional polyimide tubing for holding drive bottom assembly
(for example 22 and 21ga)
or stainless steel cannula depending on drive bottom layout
Optical fibers
Optical fiber, 125, 200 or 300μ core diameter (
Thorlabs)
1.25mm OD multimode ferrule connector
(steel or ceramic,
Precision Fiber Products)
of inner diameter matched to
the desired optical fiber
Fiber polishing supplies
Electrodes
Follow existing protocols for tetrode or stereotrode fabrication
(Nguyen et al. 2009)
Glue
Cyanoacrylate super glue (medium viscosity)
Epoxy (2 component, 5 minute epoxy)
Conductive epoxy for connecting ground wire to drive cone
Tools
Ceramic tipped forceps (Dumont A275B,
FST)
Measuring calipers
Alligator clip stand for holding drive during assembly
Screwdriver for M0.6 screws
(can be modified with guide cannula to prevent slipping)
Razorblades
Fine sandpaper (~400 grit)
Small sharp scissors for cutting polyimide tubes
2 hemostats for holding the springs while soldering
Wire cutter for ground wires
Needle nose pliers for inserting gold pins
Soldering Iron (w/ solder,
acid based flux, etc suitable for soldering stainless steel)
Drill bit (#77) and pin vise
Tapping tool made from drive screw soldered to a metal cannula to act as handle (See build protocol for details).