1_documentation.md

OpenClino

It is very difficult to access a 3D clinostat, there are some companies that sell it but can be prohibitively expensive for gravity research. OpenClino can be built for £100 using off the shelf parts. OpenClino can run in continuous clinorotation or as a Random Positioning Machine (RPM).

This is a side project for me and is very much work in progress.

Contents list

• Bill of Materials
• Build Guide
• OpenClino
  • Contents list
  • Notation
  • Code

Convention & Definitions

• X body is the external larger square.
• Y body is the internal smaller body.
• Motor pulleys attach to the motor.
• X/Y pulleys attach to the body.
• The "m2y" pulley is the one with 2 belts attached.
• The "y_turn" is the bearings bending the long y belt.
• The "y_guide" is the L shaped bracket holding the y pulley.

Code

OpenClino Documentation.

Usage

To run in clinorotation mode simply add these to your arduino's loop function, this will run the x axis at 30 rpm and the y axis at 60:

void loop() {
    spin_continuous(30,60);
}

Or to run as a random positioning machine, this will run a random walk routine as specified in ESA's work:

void loop() {
    RPM();
}

Don't forget to set the output pins for you motor controllers!

Circuit design

This is a very simple arduino circuit with a button and 2 stepper motor controllers.