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notice Some items are only available on campus or will require authentication via EUID and Password at the point of use.

The Spark

Igniting the imagination through cooperative learning

Overview

Tools

Need a tool to use for your next project? We have a number of operating and reference/research tools. In our environment operating tools are physical tools used to complete a given task, where as the reference and research tools are books, databases, and articles to help learn or investigate a project plan or idea.

Many of the tools are available for In space use only, however some on available as circulating items. Most operating tools do require safety and operational training prior to being able to use them. Be sure to schedule a time for training so you will be abler to use the resources the rest of the semester without delay.

Operating Tools

Auxiliary Tools

3D Connexion Mouse

Specifications and Info.

Circulation Information

  • House Location: WILLIS & DP
  • Catalog Record: In-Space Use only
  • Notes: 4-hour use, in space only when workshops/events are not scheduled. User must have their own Steam account. We teach Unity programming for VR development. Located at DP M130.

 

 

Drawing Tools

Dell Canvas Drawing Tablet

Specifications and Info.

Circulation Information

  • In Space use Only

 

 

 

 

 

NeoLucida

Specifications and Info.

  • Overview: The NeoLucida is a drawing aid that allows you to trace what you see. It’s a modern reinterpretation of the camera lucida, an indispensable drawing tool popular in the days before photography.

  • "We use a silvered prism, optimized for optical clarity, carefully encased in a custom anodized aluminum mount. The prism is supported by a highly adjustable gooseneck arm and a sturdy metal clamp. We even use a 1/4"-20 threaded bolt as the connection between the gooseneck arm and the prism holder--so your NeoLucida arm can easily double as a standard camera mount." - Website

 

Circulation Information

Wacom-Intuos 3 Drawing Tablet

Specifications and Info.

  • Overview: USB Wacom Graphics Tablet includes pen, pen holder with tablet

Circulation Information

 

 

 

Pottery Tools

Pottery Tool Kit

Specs / Manuals / Info

  • Overview: This kit contains 5 bags with different tool types. You can check out any of the 5 bags separately for your needs.
    • Rubber Pen Tools
    • Clay Hole Cutters/ Ribbon Tools
    • Clay Shapers
    • Sculpting Tools
    • Wooden Sculpture Knives 
  • House Location: FRISCO LANDING

Circulation Information

 

 

Scientific/Probewares

We offer an assortment of easy-to-use data loggers and sensors that allow you to work at the cross section of science and technology. Pair these tools with our other electronics equipment and experiment with something new or borrow them for use in your own or coursework-related field studies.

 

Vernier LabQuest 2

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

Circulation Information

  • House Location: WILLIS
  • Catalog Record: Check Availability / Place a Hold
  • Fines Rate: $10 per day late 
  • Notes: Kit includes logger unit, stylus, battery, power adapter, USB cable.

 

Barometer

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: Measures actual, or station pressure, but it can be calibrated to measure the elevation-adjusted, or sea level pressure, if desired for weather studies.
    • Sensing element: SenSym SDX15A4; Pressure Range: 0.8 to 1.05 atm; Maximum pressure that the sensor can tolerate without permanent damage: 2.04 atm or 61 in Hg; sensitivity: 436 mV/in of Hg to 13.06 V/atm; Typical resolution: 1.0026 x 10⁻⁴ atm; combined linearity and hysteresis: typical ±0.1% full scale, maximum ±0.5% full scale; Response time: 100 microseconds.
  • Info: 

Circulation Information

 

C02 Gas Sensor

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: Measures gaseous carbon dioxide levels by monitoring the amount of infrared radiation absorbed by carbon dioxide molecules.

    Response time: 95% of full-scale reading in 120 seconds; Warm-up time: 90 seconds; Pressure effect: 0.19% of reading/mm of Hg from standard pressure; Output signal range: 0-4.0 V; Gas sampling mode: diffusion; Normal operating temperature range: 25°C (±5°C); Operating humidity range: 5–95% (non-condensing); Storage temperature range: –40 to 65°C; Storage temperature range: –40 to 65°C: Low range: 0 to 10,000 ppm CO2, High range: 0 to 100,000 ppm CO2.
  • Info: Manual

Circulation Information

 

Gas Pressure Sensor

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: Used to monitor pressure changes in gas-law experiments in chemistry, biology, and physics.

    Pressure range: 0 to 210 kPa (0 to 2.1 atm or 0 to 1600 mm Hg); Accuracy: ±4 kPa; Maximum pressure that the sensor can tolerate without permanent damage: 4 atm; Sensing element: Honeywell SSCMRNN030PAAA5.

    Included Accessories: 2 tapered valve connectors in a #5 stopper, 1 tapered valve connector in a #1 stopper, 1 two-way valve, 2 Luer-lock connectors connected to either end of plastic tubing, 1 20 mL syringe, 2 transpiration tubing clamps.
  • Info: Manual

Circulation Information

 

Extech EX 330: 12 Function Mini Multimeter + Non-Contact Voltage Detector

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: A compact auto-ranging multimeter which features extra large 4000 count display and a built-in non-contact AC voltage detector.
  • Info: 

Circulation Information

 

O2 Gas Sensor

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: Used to monitor gaseous oxygen levels
  • Measurement range: 0-27% (0-270 ppt); accuracy (@ Standard Pressure 760 mm Hg): ± 1% volume O₂; typical resolution: 0.01%; response time: ̃12 seconds to 90% of value; gas sampling mode: diffusion; sensor tube: 45 mm length, 28 mm OD.
  • This kit comes with The O2 sensor, 250mL gal sampling bottle and O2 Gas Sensor booklet
  • Info: Manual

Circulation Information

 

Optical DO Probe

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: Used to measure the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water samples tested in the field or in the laboratory

    Range: 0 to 20 mg/L; accuracy: mg/L ± .2 mg/L below 10 mg/L to ± .4 ml/L above 10 mg/L; typical resolution: 0.006 mg/L; automatic temperature compensation.

    Comes with Probe, bottle and light shield.
  • Info: Manual 

Circulation Information

 

Salinity Sensor

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: Measures the total dissolved salt content in an aqueous solution.
  • "Measure water with a wide variety of salinities, from brackish water to ocean water, and even hyper-saline environments. You can also study how salinity affects buoyancy or monitor salinity values in estuaries where fresh water mixes with ocean water." -- website.

    Range of salinity sensor: 0 to 50 ppt; Accuracy using factory calibration: ±3% of full-scale reading; Accuracy using custom calibration: ±1% of full-scale reading; response time: 90% of full-scale reading in 10 s; Temperature compensation: automatic from 5 to 35° C; Temperature range (can be placed in): 0 to 80°C; cell constant: 10 cm⁻¹; Description: dip type, epoxy body, parallel electrodes.
  • Info: Manual 

Circulation Information

 

Soil Moisture Sensor

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: Used to measure the volumetric water content of soil. This makes it ideal for performing experiments in courses such as soil science, agricultural science, environmental science, horticulture, botany, and biology.

    Range: 0 to 45% volumetric water content soil; accuracy: ±4% typical; typical resolution: 0.1%; power: 3 mA @ 5VDC; operating temperature: -40°C to +60°C.
  • Info: Manual 

Circulation Information

 

Sound Level Sensor

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: Measures sound level in decibels.
  • Example uses:
    - Environmental noise studies
    - Sound level comparisons
    - Investigating room acoustics
    - Investigating sound insulation

    Sensor: 3/8" electret (prepolarized) condenser microphone; measurement range: 55 dB to 110dB; frequency range: 30 Hz to 10,000 Hz; resolution: 0.1 dB; accuracy: 3 dB (ref 90 dB @ 1kHz)
  • Info: Manual 

Circulation Information

 

Stainless Steel Temperature Probe

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: A general-purpose temperature sensor that can be used in organic liquids, salt solutions, acids, and bases.
  • Info: Manual 

Circulation Information

 

Tris-compatible Flat pH Sensor

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: Monitor/test pH.
  • Examples:
    - aquariums
    - water quality in lakes, streams, etc.
  • Range: pH 0-14; electrode type: double-junction, sealed, gel-filled, Ag/AgCl reference, polycarbonate body; membrane style: flat glass; storage solution: pH 4/KCl solution (10 g KCl in 100 mL buffer pH-4 solution); cable 1 meter with BNC connector; temperature range: 0-100°C.
  • Info: Manual 

Circulation Information

 

Turbidity Sensor

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: "Turbidity is a measure of water's lack of clarity and is an important indicator of water quality. Water with high turbidity is cloudy, while water with low turbidity is clear."--User manual.

    Range: 0 to 200 NTU; Typical resolution: 0.25 NTU; Standard: StablCAL Formazin Standard 100 NTU; Accuracy: ±2 NTU for readings under 25 NTU; ±5% of readings above 25 NTU; LED wavelength: 890 nm.
  • Info: Manual 

Circulation Information

 

Interfaces

Connect our sensors with other tools we offer.

Arduino interface shield for Scientific Probeware

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

  • Description: Make connections from Arduino microcontrollers to Vernier sensors.

    2 analog sensor ports (BTA sockets), 2 digital sensor ports (BTD sockets), reset button, general-purpose button, indicator LED, multiplexer to allow auto-ID to work on both channels.
    Supported microcontrollers: SparkFun Arduino RedBoard, Arduino UNO, Arduino Leonardo, Intel Galileo.

    Range: 0 to 200 NTU; Typical resolution: 0.25 NTU; Standard: StablCAL Formazin Standard 100 NTU; Accuracy: ±2 NTU for readings under 25 NTU; ±5% of readings above 25 NTU; LED wavelength: 890 nm.
  • Info: Manual 

Circulation Information

 

NXT Sensor Adapter

Vernier LabQuest 2 data logger

Specifications and Info.

Circulation Information

 

Hand Tools

The Spark has a variety of hand tools that is tools that are manual operation and do not require electricity to perform their intended job. For our purposes the selection of The Spark collection referred to as hand tool's is primarily the traditional work tools for either a garage or a tech space such as screwdrivers, hammers, etc.

 

Power Tools

The Spark offers a few power (electric) tools at each locations. Denton has Ryobi while Frisco has Rigid power tools. Power tools do require training and basic safety protection for use.

Reference Tools

Do you want to know more about the equipment you'll be working with in our makerspace? We have a small collection of books that can be used within The Spark as reference materials when working with our equipment. Some titles are physical books for reference, others are e-books. 

 

Reference and Research Tools

Electronics Reference/Research Tools

 

Fabrication and Replication Research Tools

 

Reference Tools

Do you want to know more about the equipment you'll be working with in our makerspace? We have a small collection of books that can be used within The Spark as reference materials when working with our equipment. Some titles are physical books for reference, others are e-books. 

 

Databases

We recommend that you search the library catalog for narrow topics, but have provided links to several searches of frequently used categories that may be of interest to you:

Programming Research Tools

 

Robotics Reference and Research Tools