FlexDrive Supplies and Tools#
Custom parts
See the section on custom parts for details and links to companies that can make custom parts.
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.)
(custom M0.6x7mm from Antrin Miniature Specialties, Inc.)
Drive body
(3D printed, ABS like plastic)
(3D printed, ABS like plastic)
Steel spring
(1095 spring steel, 0.002”, machined with wire EDM)
(1095 spring steel, 0.002”, machined with wire EDM)
Electrode interface board (EIB) (Neuralynx, or custom PCB)
Headpost (https://github.com/open-ephys/headposts_etc)
Shielding / Enclosure
see section on shielding for details
Overhead projector transparencies
Aluminum foil
(for making the shielding & Cap, templates available online)
(for making the shielding & Cap, templates available online)
Cap from optic fiber ferrule
(for attaching drive cap to drive - from Precision Fiber Products )
(for attaching drive cap to drive - from Precision Fiber Products )
Steel wire for grounding
(Stainless Steel, PFA coating, ~0.003", A-M Systems)
(Stainless Steel, PFA coating, ~0.003", A-M Systems)
Mill-Max pins for ground connection (Mill-Max 853 Interconnect Socket)
32x Gold pins (Neuralynx)
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. Smallparts, now part of amazon, discontinued the 37/38ga sizes that we use for the shuttle tubes.
We recently bought some from http://www.rivertechmed.com, at somewhat higher prices.
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
(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
(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 example@Amazon)
Conductive epoxy for connecting ground wire to drive cone (for example from MG Chemicals @Amazon)
Tools
Ceramic tipped forceps (Dumont A275B, FST)
Serrated scissors (FST)
Dumont #5 Forceps (FST)
Measuring calipers
Alligator clip stand for holding drive during assembly
Custom screwdriver for M0.6 drive screws (see here for building instructions)
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).
Keyless chuck (MCM Part #: 22-16500, Dremel Part #: 4486) to drill out holes of drive bodies (This part fits on a dremel rotary tool, and holds even the finest drill bits).
For holding the drive during electroplating&implantation: Implant holder